The San Francisco call., 1899-12-13
THOSE TRADE TREATIES.

A
missioner OF Reciprocity, is OF free trade
- sympathies He is also an Eastern man. with
but little knowledge and apparently less sympathy in
relation the great industries OF this State which he
so gayy sacrifices in order to secure trade advan-
tages for Eastern manufactures and products. His
French and Jamaican reciprocity treaties sacrifice the
interests OF California exclusively. OF course rec-
procity means give and take. The give is de-
manded OF California horticulture and the take is en-
tirey Tor the profit OF Eastern industries The French
treaty admits the Standard Oil Company into France
ms IS accomplished by a reduction of duty on olive
oil OF 10 per cent; vegetables prepared and preserved
10 per cent; plants, seeds etc. per cent; preserved
uit 10 per cent; prunes, 10 per cent; nuts 20 per
cent; liquors. 10 per cent. Sparkling wines share
like reduction. The Jamaica treaty cuts deeply into
the protection OF our orange crop. Mr. Kasson
processes TO have made the discovery that the ia
maica orange comes into market in the early winter
and therefore is not in competition with the California
orange II he sought information on that subject he
would discover that the oranges of California are
seeking market at every season in which any foreign
orange appears The range of orange climate in this
State covers the season OF every citrus fruit region in
the world The Porterve Placer County and Oroville
oranges are early in the market and are followed sue
cessivey by other citrus belts The early orange
TO the acreage of orchards north OF Tehachapi The
thermal belt OF the foothills, from Tulare County
north to Tehama, has been proved safe from frost
and IN every way suited to this profitable industry
The Call has heretofore shown that oranges grown
on the lands OF the county poorhouse in Butte County
contribute largely to the support of that institution
and promise to lift its burden entirely from the
taxpayers. In that county are some OF the largest
and finest commercial orange orchards in the State
The Jamaica treaty puts all OF this in peril The
olive industry is also gravely threatened 1t may be
stated as fact that the only pure olive oil found in
commerce in this-country is OF California origin.
Millions OF olive trees growing in this State
planted result OF the demonstration OF the profit
OF olives made by Mr. Ellwood Cooper at Santa Bar
bara The olive grows here thriftily from one end Of
the State to the other The orchards from those Of
Mr. Frank Kimball at National City to Judge Grav's
at Orove, are producing oil and ripe olive pickles
IN constantly increasing volume The counties
around San Francisco Bay boast many such fine
olive farms as that OF Busby in Contra Costa. while
the Robertson and other orchards in Placer and the
iooth counties are OF assured reputation Just why
this interesting and profitable industry should be sac
rhoed the Eastern manpulators OF these reciprocity
treaties have not chosen to explain.
The abatement OF duties on plants and seeds e
cuiarly the climatic field for the origin of improved
plants Burbank OF Santa Rosa the great hybridizer
has seemed to hold the whip hand OF nature in the
OF her peculiar business and the plants he
produces are as much entitled to protection as the
literary works OF an author are to copyright
The production OF field and garden seeds is a -four
ishing industry of Santa Clara County Nearly every
large seed house in the United States has sought that
county as its most important source OF supply. and
many OF them maintain there large seed plantations
OF their own.
While raisns are not directly touched by name. a,
preserved fruits preserved by desiccation they are
exposed TO harmful wranglc over Interpretation and
classification. Prunes, the pride of our State are
directly attacked and our almonds and wanuts are
given away to get good bargain and profits for the
East
As far as California is concerned IT may be stated
with emphasis that this treaty destroys every penny
OF value there Is in protection to this State Oar
manufacturers get but little anyway from the system
and it has been supported here solely in the interest
OF our vast investment OF $Iooooo,ooo in horticul
ture
To increase the gloom OF our position the Pres
dents message recommends that the terms OF the
Jamaica treaty be extended to Porto Rico and Cuba
by coolie labor in Hawaii and the Phil
ippnes, which implies the destruction OF our beet
sugar industry, California begins to feel the snub
that affcts stepdaughter in the family OF States
One feature in the situation is novel Senator Per-
kins in Washington interview is quoted as saving.
The reciprocity treaties be accepted or rejected
by the Senate 4 whole, and cannot be amended
If this is the constitutional situation the peril is
grave Heretofore has been held that every treaty
by the executive and submitted to the
Senate may be returned with amendments by that
body, which become the subject OF further nepotia
ton between the contracting parties Just why these
most important commercial treaties become an ex
ception TO this rule is not explained We trust that
the Senator is mistaken and that our interests NAV be
served by amendments proposed in the Senate
q MISIQKE OE IAE MhMnn