The record-union., 1899-12-07
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ANNUAL MEETING HELD LAST
EVENING.
Memorial to Congress on Citrus
Fruit Tariff-Chamber to Aid
River Improvement

The annual meeting of the Cham
Der of Commerce, called for the pur-
pose of nominating candidates Tor Of
fees and for Directors for the ensuing
year, was held last evening.
The minutes of the annual meeting
held a year ago We're read, and on mo-
ton of p. s. Lawton, President Miller
appointed a committee Of five to pre-
pare and report a list of candidates.
The committee consisted Of P. S. Law
ton, D. A. Lindley, George Boyne, L.
L. Lewis and O. P. Willis.
While the committee was out, Secre-
tary Coleman read the following COM
munication from the Los Angeles
Chamber Of Commerce on the subject
Of the
CITRUS FRUIT TARIFF.
Los Angeles, Dec 4, 1899.
Gentlemen: Enclosed we hand you a
copy of resolution passed by the Board
of Directors Of the Los Angeles Cham
Der Of Commerce, respecting the treaty
between jamaica and the Unites States
which has already been signed by the
President and only awaits the ratifi-
cation of the Senate to become a law.
This treaty admits the citrus fruits
of Jamaica at a reduction of ~ pei
cent. on the present 1-cent tariff rate
which tariff rate is not sufficient t6
compensate for the difference OF freight
between foreign ports and our ports
and from California to the same ports
The claim Is made that the entrance
of Jamaica fruit does not interfere
with the California product. This is
erroneous, as the early shipments Of
California oranges come into competi
ton with the greater portion of the
Jamaica product.
The reduction of the tariff on the
latter product will in no ways bene'
fit the Jamaica grower but will mater
tally affect the California producer
We respectfully ask that you pas
resolutions on similar lines and for
ward the same to your Representative!
in Congress.
Thanking you in advance for the in
terest taken, I remain, yours truly,
FRANK VIRGINS, Secretary.
The petition adopted by the Los An
geles chamber was also read, anC
George B. Katzenstein, who had give1
the matter considerable attention
spoke on the subject. He said in part:
1.-The matter under consideration
more seriously affects the northern por
ton of the State of California than an.
other section of our country.
Laying aside the unfortunate sec
tional jealousies and the good naturet
joshing, the fact is now pretty thor
oughly established and generally ad
mitted, that the northern portion O.
California-that portion lying to thu
north of Tehachapi-produces the earl,
oranges.
For month past orange shipment:
have been going forward from th'
country around Porterville, Oroville
Palermo, Orange Vale, Auburn, New
castle and adjacent points in the north
ern part of the State the bulk of who's
crop is practically, if not quite, mark
eted before the great volume of citru
fruits from the southern part of tn
State begins to move.
1T is claimed by the proponents tina
the entrance of Jamaica or West In
dian fruit does not interfere with tn
Californian product. AS I have al
ready shown nothing could be NOR
erroneous than this bald statement.
why, only on yesterday morninI
among it's Geographic reports from tn
East, the Record Union contained a.
account of an orange sale in New
York City, which would appear to b
right in point. The item reads:
New York, Dec. AT the auc
ton to-day carload of California
oranges sold at Sc. c563.5O for nayels