Evening star., 1898-02-03
Reprcsentntive Mngutrc,s BiIl.

Representative MaEutre's Bill.
| Representative Mcguire of California has
| introduced in the House resolution call
| ing upon the State Department for all in
formation and correspondence between this
government and Prussia relative to the de-
| cree forbidding the Importation Of Amer
| lean fruit.
Mr.. Mcguire said: 1.-THE Prussian edict
excluding American fresh fruits is un-
doubtedly measure of commercial retail
| iation. There is no foundation for it in
| the condition Of California or other Amer
lean fruits. Our tariff legislation has been
distinctly and purpcsely hostile to German
| interests in our commerce with that coun-
try They naturally feel that it is just to
, meet our embargo on their trade by similar
embarrassment of our producers in trading
| with the people of Prussia
Some of the representatives. from the Pa
cif1c coast say that there might be a slight
Jrstitication for the Prussian claim so far
! as the fruit of Oregon and Washington is
concerned II it was directed solely against
apples The codling moth is said to be
very prevalent in 10th those states.
senator Mcbride of Oregon says he is
confident that the discrimination is not oc-
casioned by the condition of Oregon fruit
Tor IT has always held a high place HI,
says that methods of retaliation can easily
be found, If desired, by the United States
Awaiting Germnny's Statement.
The officials of the administration are
awaiting with anxiety an official statement
of the position of the German government
with regard to American fruits, as they
desire to know just how far that govern
ment is willing to yield to the wishes of
the Agrarian party, which insists upon the
exclusion or all American farm products
which enter into competition with the Ger
man farmer.
For two years the State Department has
been engaged almost fruitlessly to secure
from the German government the reversal
of decree like the present one, but ap-
piled to our meat products.
To the knowledge of the State Depart
ment no complaint has ever before been
made against the character of American
fresh fruit. The reports Of the United
States consuls show that the imports of
the latter have found great favor in Ger
man cities and the universal testimony of
our consuls is that our apples are su-
perior in every respect that there is hard
ly market for the German apples in their
vicinity.
At the Agricultural Department.
The officials of the Agricultural Depart
ment are disposed to believe that Ger
many having in mind the recent legisla-
ton of the American government impos-
ing a discriminating duty on bounty-paid
sugar, has taken this action as sort of
retaliation.
Mr.. G. B. Bracket, the chief of the pomo-
logical division of the department. said:
1T is surprising that any charge should
be made that California fruit is infested
with pests. The fruit from that state is
the freeSt from vernlin of any in the whole
country. The pests from which American
apples suffer are the lava of the codling
moth, which develops into worm, and
also from the apple maggot. The possi-
bility of any harm from these pests in ap-
pies shipped abroad is, however, very re-
mote.
The growth of the shipment of apples
abroad has beeh enormous in the last six
teen years. In 1SS0-'S1 the shipments
amounted to 1,32S. .So6 barrels, while in
1S9S-'97 they aggregated 2.9l9.S4G barrels
OF this aggregate Ill o90 barrels, valued
az S2l3 4S2, were shipped to Hamburg, the
remaining number. with the exception of
approximately 100000 barrels. going to
English ports The fact of this whole mat
ter is that we are the ones that should be
protected, for nearly all the insects i'm our
fruits have been imported from foreign
countries.