New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-20
HIGHER DUTY ON COFFEE
4 PORTO RICAN REQUEST.
Fruits, Salt and Rice Discussed at
Tariff Hearing.
lr,rnm The tribune Bureau. ]


ru..b,nz+on Nov 1s-An increase OF hys Genus
mound on coffee was the most important Ia III
change suggested to the Ways and Means Co4.l---.
tee at the hearing to-day. although inOl
twenty witnesses appeared before that Oouy -
dozen schedules were discussed This increase WIS
advocated nv T,,lio LArrinags. the resioeht scOl
missioner from Porto Rico, and number OF c~pi-
tsIists who have invested in the coffee INDUSTRY u
that country. .-,
Mr.. Iarrinasa made a strong plea for higher
rate principally on the ground that II "oulo Gu
largo the coffee industry IN Porto Rico, but ne ap
parently aroused the interest OF the coulnl'te0
more when ne said that all American-rnaoe a.
were sold more cheaply in the English provinces
than in Porto Rico Representative Games, U
West Virginia asked him to name the InanuIace-
urers who sold those articles, but he was unable
TO do more than assert that all manufacturers VINO
sold goods in Porto Rico did so. The atutuoe o.
the committee toward the increase IN the cones
duty was probably outlined BY question 0iEec'eO
to Mr.. Larrinaga after the hearing Wnen ne was
asked If he proposed 10 tax the American people
five cents a pound more coffee Tor the dement,
Of the people Of Porto Rico"
That the CaseIn Company Of America, with head
quarters in New York. is a trust, was the con-
viction expressed by Everett w Burdette, OF Bos-
TON representing several large paper companies.
and by Julius NJ Mayer Of New York Mr. BUT
dette asserted that the Casein Company nad %
tanned a monopoly Of that article, which Is mace
from SKINNED milk and used extensively IN the
the company required contracts with the buyer
which prevented his buying from any other source
and that at the time the company was aware
that 1t could not supply the demand 10 correct
this Mr. Burdette asked that casein be placed on
the free list where according TO his contention
q actually belongs for the reason that It is al
most Identical with laCteTene, which Is not dutiao4e
Representative Payne expressed great pleasure
to-day that persons had appeared before the com
mittee representing the consumers. and had pre-
80 tho flTFrrf n
certain schedules He voiced the hope that in the
coming hearings any person who had Information
which would assist the committee would NOT iaA
to appear particularly those who knew the reialse
cost OF production at home and abroad he oepre-
Gated the position taken by some newspapers,
which he said we're attempting 10 discredit the
COMMITTEES in advance He referred particularly 10
editorials ~hch he said. he thought likely 70 dis
suade from appearing before the COMMITTEES per
sons believing in a reduction OF the tariff
Philip S saitta, representing lemon and orange
dealers and importers OF New York, was the first
TO appear before the committee to-day He asked
that lemons be put on the free list Herman RIA
Der Of Portland. Ore. and E C Horst, or San
Francisco, representing thirty-flye hundred mop
growers asked for duty Of "a cents pound
saying that The hops industry is on its last legs
W. C. Cady, Of Syracuse, y. Y NJ B Fuller. OF
Scranton Penn, and Edward W Brown. OF New
York, representing salt manufacturers, asked th2I
the present duty on salt be maintained H C. New
combe. of Philadelphia John Masee. OF New York
and w f Bode of Chicago. asked for a reduction
in the tariff on olives saying that protection was
unnecessary II was asserted that twice many
California olives could be sold as are now pro
duced William O. Johnson. George c. ROeding
and NJ F. Tarby all OF California, argued for pro-
lection respectively olives, figs and currants
Louis J. scaraneII representing the italian
Chamber Of Commerce, OF New York said that the
duty on ruacaroni should be kept as Il is He also
took up the duty rice, saying that II cents
pound should be imposed instead OF cents
You say you cannot sell any other rice in place
OF Italian rice to your customers" asked Repre-
sentative Griggs, OF Georgia
mo. cannot" replied the Italian importer
We'll then, they viii pay you any price" added
MI Crggs amid general laughter.
Tulio Iarrinaga, the commissioner from Porto
Riro. in arguing for duty Of cents on coffee
which ne said the principal crop OF the Island
said: 1T is the poor mans crop Under the
protective tariff the and tobacco production
Of Porto Rico has increased rapidly Corfee Is
not protected and its production has fallen OF 10
thirIy-hve million pounds The coffee planter has
always been in the hope of getting protection from
the government and he has been raising II 81 a
loss Many farmers who up to few years ago
could live comfortably now practically no more
than poems working for 80 cents a day The PEG
pie OF the United States not having the benefit
of free coffee. At the time coffee put the
free list Brazil put an export duty the coffee
bean which the American consumer has been pay
ing"
Tea was also taken up to-day. c. c. ChOlwen
and Charles r. Banks, OF New York. objected TO
the fact that Canada imposes duty tea from
the United States while this country does not i'm
pose a duty on tea from Canada He argued that
the proposed maximum and minimum tariff would
cause fair play. Mr.. Banks wants duty on the
fancy boxes containing tea
S Treke Breaux, president OF the Rice AssoCia-
ton OF America, and representing practically the
Louisiana and Texas rice growers. asked that the
present tariff rice be left unchanged. he said
that any reduction IN the duty would ruin the
American rice industry. in which Sa0Ce0000 Is in
vested
Witnesses appeared in favor OF an increase in
the duty certain nursery stock. and the in
clusion the free list of certain bulbs The COM
mittee asked to place ad vaIorem duty on
nuts. instead Of a specific rate. A specific for
Chocolate was asked for
Some humor was injected into the closing hours
of to-day's hearing when II. q. Keith. of New
York. asked for a specific duty dried eggs a
powder which, he said. was prepared from fresh
and stale eggs. He showed the committee samples
and said custards and other foods We're often made
OF dried eggs.
do you that / can get a dish OF scrambled
eggs made OF this stuT?'' asked the chairman.
rs that what is served In hotels and restau-
rants?" queried Mr.. BoutelL
Yes replied the witness.
The committee IN session until S O'Clock to-
night.