The San Francisco call., 1898-06-03
WINE GROWERS
 TAKE ACTION.
CONGRESS REQUESTED TO MoDI-
 FY RECIPROCITY MEASURE.
Strong Resolutions Adopted by Sew eral Commercial Bodies at
 Joint Meeting.

The wine growers of this State are up In arms against the proposed reciprocity tariff measure fixing the duty on still wines imported from France at 8 cents a gallon. A meeting was held yesterday morning at the offices of Henry J. Crock CT, president of the Winemakers' Cor poration, and there were present among others George Frank West, F. Rossi, Charles Bundschu, C. Schilling and Win field Scott, representing the Winegrowers and merchants. The meeting was pre- sided over by A. Sbarboro. After posed measure, which was characterized as iniquitous and inimcal to the best in terests of the wine industry of the Pacl- fic Coast, the following telegram was or dered sent to Senator George C. Perkins:
 California Wine Makers Corporation:
 SAN FRANCISCO, June 2. 1898.
 Hon George c. Perkins. United States Sen ate Washington, D. C.: Meeting wine dealers .nd producers held to-day. Pending further consideration as to other points. it is our belief Government will recognize that error has been committed in not construing section of tariff act in connection with article 296. schedule H, so as to limit 35-cent rate to still wines con taining IA per cent less of alcohol. You will remember that in 1894 representatives, import CTS and native producers submitted to Treasury Department proofs that if any goods contain ing alcohol were admitted at less duty than internal revenue tax the door would be open to importation of artificial compounds of cheap potato and beet root spirits to initiate wines for use of rectifers of spirits, thereby defrdud- ing and reducing our internal revenue. Deputy Commissioner Wilson is familiar with this question and can explain necessity of having limitation included in Presidents proclamation. Please submit this to Senator White and Cali fornia Representatives and ask for united ac- tion HENRY J. CROCKER, President California Wine Makers Corporation.
 CHARLES A WETMORE,
 F. A WEST,
 Sweet Wine Association.
 A committee consisting of H. J. Crock CT, C. A Wetmore and r. A. West was appointed to attend the joint meeting of the various commercial bodies of this city held in the Mills building in the aft the movement. At this meeting were present representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade and the Merchants Association. After the com mittee had stated its case the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
 Whereas. The President has issued a procla- nation extending to France the benefits of the tion of the present tariff law. in consideration of certain concessions to American products and whereas 1t appears that by some over, intention of said section cannot be clearly understood without construing 1t in harmony with article 296 of schedule H, which dis tinguishes between natural and fortified wines; and. whereas. 1t cannot have been the inten- ton of either Congress or the President to ad- init foreign alcoholic compounds at a less rate of duty than the internal revenue tax on simi- lar compounds made in this country; and whereas, it appears that under the proposed new arrangement with France compounds of cheap alcohol made to initiate wines with a strength of 24 per cent of spirit, nearly half the strength of proof spirits. may be imported at duty of thirty-five cents per gallon and be used by rectifers to compound with spirits taxed In this country at s1 10 per proof gal lon thereby reducing public revenue and giving an advantage to foreign trade do- mestic producers, besides demoralzing the pure wine. industry.
 Resolved That the attention of our Senators and Representatives in Congress be called to this danger menacing our public revenues and threatening our local industries and that they be requested to urge the President to modify his arrangement with France by amendment thereof or by regulations and instructions to Collectors of Customs that the reduced rate of thirty-five cents still wines shall apply only to wines containing IA per cent or less of alcohol and that the principle shall be recog- nized that no foreign goods containing alcohol shall pay a less rate of duty than the tax i'm posed by the internal revenue laws domes- tic spirits and compounds thereof
 Resolved That In any arrangement with France for reciprocal purposes. the benefits of the same should be limited to the genuine products of France and should not be extended to German spanish and other foreign goods imported through French ports where they are suffered to be treated in imitation of genuine French products
 graphed at once to our Senators and Repre- sentatives in Congress with request for mme- diate action