The San Francisco call., 1901-10-23
DUTY ON FLOUR
TO Be OPPOSED
Merchants Give Recep-
ton to Commissioner
SharrettS.
California Interests to Be
Cared For in Chinese
Tariffs.

The Chamber of Commerce gave re-
ception yesterday afternoon at 2:SO
o clock to the Hon. T. S. Sharretts, the
recently appointed United States Com
missioner to China, who will sail this
morning for the Orient to look after the
interests of the United States in the re-
vision of the tariff laws Of China. The
most prominent merchants of San Fran
cisco gathered 10 meet Mr.. Sharrctts and
to discuss with him the interests of the
Pacific Coast in the Oriental trade.
President George A. Newhall introduced
the honored guest. Mr.. Sharretts spoke
as follows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Cham
Der of Commerce: When your distinguished
president and delegation OF your Fellow mem
ners requested me last evening to address TO
purpose of explaining briefly the object OIL my
! mission to China ana soliciting from you such
suggestions as would best ASSIST me III pro-
noting your interests.
This gathering of prominent residents of
your beautiful city warns me that my remarks
devoted to business details like an array OF
figures WILL / fear, prove dry and uninterest-
ing to many of YOU In eXtenuatlon plead an
viii aid me in adding to your commercial
prosperity. This is my nrst visit to San Fran
cisco and your hosptable greeting will insure
an abiding and pleasant recollection or the
metropolis of the Far West. Chosen by Mr.
assassin+s Bullet to represent the United States
as its commissioner to revise the Chinese tariT
l feel honored that President Roosevelt con-
hrmed that choice and called on me TO Eli
such an important post, but the responsibility
OF the position outweighs all feelings OF per
sonal pride and makes me wish that more
competent person had been selected to promote
the interests of our country in the Orient.
Unsolicited the honor came to me and l could
but obey the order of chief executive with
the firm determination to surrender none of
the rights TO which our nation is justly en-
titled.
Trade Expansion Is Essential.
hat of exiS ST
regarding territorial expansion. there can be
but one opinion that expansion of trade is es-
sental to our future prosperity To-day the
United States stands among the nations Of
the earth as competitor for the trade and
commerce of the world and with an open door
and equal rights in China the products of our
mills and factories can and will be marketed
side by side with those of all Europe, and
am empowered by the President to demand for
the merchants of our country the same rights
accorded TO tradesmen Of other nations. but
let me warn you, gentlemen, that however
successful my mission may be it must be sup
plemented by diligent efforts on your part to
secure and hold the trade opened to you by
Freight rates based upon our geographical
active agents to advertise and push your
wares be located in China. Adopt the same
business PRINCIPLES there that you have ave an in
tant when your exports to the Orient will be
enormous.
Flour is entitled to free entry into China
under the terms of the protocol signed by the
allied powers and -four will be on the free
concluded my abors. Canned fruits and jel-
lies 1 am informed the next most import
ant articles exported from the Pacific Coast.
To the shippers l ask that you prepare and
forward to me at Shanghai the home value
per can of every description of this class of
merchandise and 1 will then be in a position
to advocate a tariff thereon advantageous to
you and l trust acceptable to the other pow
American products 1 urge similar expeditions
action.
New Commercial Treaty.
sion of the Chinese tariff to specific basis
have been notified by the President and State
upon in conjunction with Minister Conger to
negotiate new commercial treaty with China
suggestions in the near future from merchants
! in the United States regarding such changes
as in their opinion will prove beneficial.
In conclusion l wish to say that President
| Roosevelt in recent conversation l had with
him spoke Of my mission TO China as one of
! ing the States west of the Rocky Mountains.
| and he expressed earnest desire that l
/ promise you, gentlemen, that 1 will carry out
| his wishes and demand for you every privilege
enjoyed by citizens of other nations. am
! proud to stand in your midst to-day and have
! you speed me on my way with words of friend
! ship and esteem. I will feel far prouder when
| by the hand and say. We'll done, good and
faithful servant welcome home Gentlemen
| 1 thank you for your courtesy.
Trade With China Discussed.
| dent Newhall to speak on Flour" Mr.
/ Davis traced briefly the growth of trade
in -four with Asiatic ports and spoke of
it's enormous increase in the last ten
years, within which period the leading
/ millers of California have all established
! permanent agencies in the Orient. He
said that if no duty were placed flour
by the new tariff regulations, within ten
or twelve years the expectation of flour
| TO China would take all the surplus of
the wheat production of the. State, leav-
ivaor and
independent of the Liverpool market. The
farmers would, he asserted, reap much of
the benefit.
ming industry. He said that all the mar
kets of Europe, except that of England,
were closed by high tariffs against Cali
fornia, canned goods. In the opening up
of Oriental trade California saw a ray of
nope and if the Commissioner were sue
cessful in protecting the interests of that
industry there ought to be vast in
crease in expectation of that class Of mer-
Hugh Craig spoke briefly for the lum-
ber and shipping interests. He said all
this country asked was fair held and no
resolutions Of thanks to Commissioner
Sharretts for his interest in California in
dustries, introduced by R. G. Sheath
were adopted. Members spent an hour IN
conversation with the guest upon details
Of trade with China
to Judge Sharretts at the Merchants Club
by George A. Newhall. There were pres
ent at the luncheon: F. S. Sharretts
George A. Newhall, J. P. Currier, E
Scott, c. E. Bancroft c. H. Bentley, Jo-
seph S. Spear. Alfred ]. Marcus, E. N
Bee, William H. Bunker, George W. Nc.
Near, Fred S. Stratton, A A. Watkins
F. l.. Symmes, Horace Davis and E. w
Newhall.
BARBER EXAMINERS
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