The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-22
They Ask for Cana
dian Recognition.
SUFFER BY DISCRIMINATION
FRENCH WINES ARE ADMITTED
FREE OF DUTY.
California's Vinous Products Are
g Compelled to Pay a Prohibitive
Tax-Hopes of Securing
a Reduction.

The wine men of California are much
concerned over the deliberations of
the Canadian-American Commission re-
garding reciprocity between the two
countries. Canada and British Columbia
are large consumers of dry and sweet
wines, as we'll as champagnes, and by
reason of the existing Canadian tariff
the California products are practically
Shut out of the markets of these northern
neighbors
. 1t is understood that about the only
product of this coast that is securing any
consideration from the American Com
missioners is lumber, and this is due
- principally to the interests of the lumber
producing States Of the East. There is
no one in Washington to set forth the
claims and rights Of the great wine in
dustry Of this State, and for this reason
there is considerable anxiety as to what
will be done for American viticulture.
FOR some reason the treaty with Can
ada places tariff of one shilling per gal
ION and 70 per cent ad valOrem on wines
produced in the United States, while the
wines OF France are admitted to that
country free of duty. If the proper rep
presentations were made ii is confidently
EeneVed that American wines could be
aaiforded the same favor as the French in
the REIMBURSEMENT of the reciprocity
schedules. In view of the fact that the
people of Canada and British Columbia
are more generous consumers of wines
according TO population than Americans
IL Is natural that the producers of this
country should be DESTROYS - get their
proolctS into those markets on an even
basis with their competitors,
The substantial demand tina: has been
created in those countries, notwtthstand-
ing the hardicap of an almost prohibi-
1--we tariff, shows that under favorable
conditions large, profitable and growing
export trade could be established.
Whether or not this advantage will be Sc
cured depends almost wholly on the
prompt action of those most vitality inter-
. ested. As there is no one in Washington
Hgently explain the case to the Commits
sionerS the wine merchants and pro-
ducerS have decided that their only re-
course is to shake up the California dele
cation by means of letters setting forth
their claims in the premises. This cru
SADIE has been inaUgurated and it is car
neStly hoped that it will result in victory.
has taken up the cudgel in behalf of the
lndustry is c. ]. Wetmore, president of
the WetmOre- Bowen Company. In a re-
cent letter to Senator Perkins he called
that gentlemans attention TO the existing
'unfair conditions of the Canadlan-Ameri-
Facts be. set properly before the commits
s!9u.r Senator Perkins Immediately re-
piled as follows
dear Sir: l thank you very much for
your communication relative to the duty
on American wines in Canada and British
Columbia. 1 have brought the, matter to
the attention of the Commissioners and
the President"
o An assault is to be made along the line
upon CALIFORNIA; representatives in or
der that they may be made to realize the
Importance of the movement.