The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-03


taliate by prohibiting the importation
of German cutlery" he said
Senator Hansbrough also opposed re-
taiation, saying Germany would think
better of its course hereafter
Senator Mcbride of Oregon says he is
confident that the discrimination of Ger
manyis not occasioned by the condition
of Oregon fruit, for it has always held
high place. He says that methods of re-
taliation can easily be found, if desired.
by the United States
The Berlin cable announcing that
Germany had closed her ports against
American fruits attracted much atten-
ton among members of the House of
Representatives.
Mr. Hit, Chairman of the Committee
Of Foreign Affairs, expressed surprise at
the step taken, particularly that it
should not have been preceded with no.
tice TO our representative at Berlin.
Without discussing tn motives of the
movement Mr.. Hit said it was evident
Germany based her course on sanitary
grounds, which would exclude the idea
that the move was of political and
prospective character
Hit felt that our authorities would
take steps to learn whether any sani-
tary evil could be attributed TO the con-
dion of the fruit crop in California,
and if this was established in the mega
tive he had no doubt a courteous but
firm representation would be made to
the German Government. with a view
to showing that their action had been
taken without a sufficient inquiry into
the facts. He expressed hope that
this was not a step in Germany's re-
taliatory policy which had been re-
ferred to in recent utterances by dis
tinguished German officials.
Other members of the House For
eign Affairs. Committee expressed the
view that this was part of Germany's
retaliatory attitude toward the United
States.
Barlow, who represents the Sixth CAL
ifornia District, in which is located the
fertile San Joaquin Valley, one of the
great fruit districts of the State, said
that so far as California fruit is con-
cerned the German decree prohibiting
the Importation Of American fruit is q
mere preteXt
California fruits" he said ARE
singularly free from vermin or disease
of any kind. So jealous are our people
in their desire to keep our fruits free
from disease that the delegation from
of bill which was introduced in the
House by Castle some time ago, pro-
viding for an inspection of all fruits,
plants. cuttings, shrubs, etc, imported
into this country. / look upon the
ground given for DR.. MiguePs decree as
a mere subterfuge. No doubt exists in
my mind that it is purely a retaliatory
measure"
THE reason advanced by the German
Foreign Office said Hilborn of Cali
fornia, is the thinnest kind of pre-
text Nowhere in the world is fruit
so free from disease as in California,
and nowhere is there more care taken
to keep it free from disease of all kinds.
We do not even allow fruit to come
into the State from other States with
out inspection"
Other members of the California dele
CATION expressed similar views.
Chairman Dingley looked over the
Berlin cable, and said: This is evident
ly device to prohibit the importation
of American fruits on alleged sanitary
grounds. in line with the similar pro-
hibtion of American pork. The impor-
tation seems to be prohibited on SAM
tary grounds. in order to evade the
provisions of commercial treaties with
Germany which give to imports from
the United States equal privileges with
imports from other countries. Ihere
is not the slightest ground for the al
legation that California fruits are az
fected as charged; indeed, the evidence
is conclusive that they are especially
free from parasites.
The United States would have much
more ground for prohibiting the import
alton of German wines on alleged SAM
tary grounds than Germany has TO pro-
bihit the importation of American iruit
or American pork on such grounds. we
have no objection to Germany's putting
whatever duty it sees fit on imports OF
any kind That is her own business.
But when that Government undertakes
10 prohibit the Importation of American
products on sanitary grounds which
do not exist in fact, it violates the spirit
of our commercial treaties with that
country The President under the Act
of 1890 has authority to meet just such
discrimination "a this
REPRESENTATIVE Tawney, another
member of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. indorsed Chairman Dingiey's
view. and said that if Germany began
such A course it was a game in which
two could play.
IT was said also that the result would
work serious results to German wines,
German hosiery. German shoddy and
many other lines of German goods
brought in great quantities to this
country.
Represe NATIVE Dinsmore of Arkansas,
the leading minority member Of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, said
he considered the decree of the Prus-
iation, based as was the decree against
the importation of American pork, on
a pratext of sanitary grounds.
Some of the Representatives from the
Pacific Coast say there might be a
slight justification for the Prussian
claims. so far as the fruits Of Oregon
and Washington are concerned, if it
was directed solely against apples. The
Goblin moth is said to be very preva-
lent in both States.
Representative Mcguire of California
late in the afternoon introduced in the
House a resolution calling upon the
State Department for all information
or correspondence between this Gov
eminent and Prussia relative to the
decree forbidding the Importation CT
American fruit, as follows:
Whereas, 1t is reported that the Prus-
sian Government has peremptorily pro-
hibi.ed the importation of all kinds Of
American fresh fruit; and
Whereas, 1t is vitality important to
the fruit growing industry of the