The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-06-04
.SUCCULENT FRUIT
SUBJECT OF DEBATE
BY GRAVE SENATORS
SOUR STATESMEN WORRIED
ABOUT THE DUTY ON souRER
LEMONS.
CALIFORNIA HEARD FROM
Alleged That Growers Out There Are
Getting Away With Hundred Per
Cent Profit-suggested That This
is Enough.

! WASHINGTON, June 1.-Senators
wore very sour looks as they entered
the Senate Chamber Monday because
of having to meet on a legal holiday.
AS soon as the tariff bill was taken up,
consideration of the paragraph on lem
ons was resumed and Senator Flint
proceeded to defend the amendment
proposed by the Committee on Finance
which increases the duty to 112 cents
pound.
A roll-call being demanded, only for
ty-eight Senators, one more than a
quorum, answered to their names.
Senator Root made an impassioned
appeal against any increase in the
duty on lemons over the Dingley law
rate of cent. Mr.. Root declared that
the lemon growers of California have
made on an average a profit of $3.50
per acre during the last year, with ex-
penditures amounting to 1870.
Il would not eliminate the lemon
growers of California or any other
American industry, but it is a little too
much for them to come here and ask
an increase of duty when they are al
ready making over 100 per cent"
AS the debate proceeded, wordy ex-
changes between Senators became
acrid.
Does the Senator believe that state
ment?" asked Mr.. Flint, as Mr.. Root
declared that foreign lemons are laid
down in New York at $2.42 a boz. The
New York Senator. replying that he
did believe his own statement, Mr..
Flint responded that yet in that very
market the price was down to $1.15 to
$3.50 box, which fact Mr. Root &C
for because the fruit was sold
at auction.
Mr.. Flint met the statement Of
profits made by lemon growers by de-
claring that they have made only
per cent upon their business, and Sen
ator Page expressed his hope that the
duty would be made high enough to
permit California and Florida to raise
Ill the lemons used in this country.
After speeches by Senator Smith, of
Michigan, supporting, and Senator
3urkett opposing the Finance Com
increase of the rate on lem
ms to ~ cents per pound, the vote
vas taken. 1t resulted in sustaining
he committee, 43 to %. Senators
Foster, of Louisiana, and Fletcher, OF
Tlorida, Democrats, voted in the az.
Irmative with the Republicans, and
senator's Root, Beverage, Brtstow,
surkett, Crawford, Cummins, Curtis
nd LaFollette, Republicans, with a
majority of the Democrats against 1t.
Mr. Gore, in offering an amendment
lacing duty of 6 cents a bunch on
ananas, said that the Republican par
Y had promised the people fish, but
as given them bunch of serpents.
lie hoped the people would give them
nest Of scorpions iA return.
II think l have freed trust" said
Lr. Gore. 81 am convinced there is
banana trust in this country"
He added that the 6 cents duty he
roposed was equivalent to 10 per
INT ad valorem, or one-tenth OF
mt on each banana. He believed
lis burden could not be transferred
: the banana monopoly to the people,
1t that 1t would add $2,250,O0O of
venue to the Treasury.
81 charge that the United Fruit
ompany has practical monopoly Of
e banana importations and the ba-
ina business in this country" Mr..
,re declared. IF we lay this tax on
Inanas, we will soon raise all the
.nanas consumed in the United
ates..'' ra Frfe