The Washington herald., 1909-02-21
WOULD FORM TRUST
Duty on Coffee Thought to
Lead to that End.
CONSUMERS WOULD SUFFER
New York Attorney Presents Brief
on Subject 10 the House Ways and
Means Ccmmitfee-AufhOr De-
cIares Revenue 40 Government
Would BE Comparatively Small.

Francis E. Hamilton, Of New York.
counsel for the National Coffee and Tea
Association, was in Washington last
week 20 present 10 the Ways and Means
Committee a brief that had been adopted
at meeting Of the association.
This association was recently formed
for the express purpose OF opposing a
duty on coffee and tea It's membership
comprises some OF the largest wholesalers
and coffee rossters in the country.
The brief points out that upward OF
S5o.Oo0.0o0 would be paid by consumers 10
large holders The government would
get no benefit for at least Two years.
The brief in part follows:
Representing important interests in the
importing. jobbing, wholesaiing. roasting.
and retail trade. as well as many millions
or consumers Of coffee and tea in the
United States. We. the National Coffee
and Tea Association. respectfully pre-
sent the following memorial TO your hon
orable body:
Consumes Much CO6ee
This country annually consumes more
than 10000 bags OF coffee. Of an average
weight Of 80 pounds each. being upward
Of S5ROO00O0 pounds.
Porto Rico and the Hawaiian Islands
produce annually a little more than IS
b00.000 pounds. SS.o0o.000 pounds Of which
they sell in Europe AZ good prices Less
thar 5.o00.000 pounds OF this coffee IS sent
into the United States
The Philippine Islands produce 10 coffee
for expectation.
The present visible supply Of coffee n
the world amounts 70 about 10000
bags This is divided as follows
100000 bags owned by the State OF Sac
PaulO and held TO cover their bonds. OF
which about ZO00-Oo0 bags are stored IN
this country 2.AOo000 bags Of other coffee
afiost for this country OF stored here and
cid by special interests; 5.o00,o00 bags
held in Europe: 10000 held n Rio ard
Santos
duty Of ; cents on coffee would
mean ar immediate profit Of at least
$3.50 per bag upon every bag in the United
States 10 the owners thereof
There being nearly 100000 bags a. pres
snt held here by individuals corporations.
and Wall street speculative interests.
such duty would mean a profit Of s26,-
a4e9 10 the owners and holders thereof.
Not Paid to Treasury.
But II would not mean 81 paid into the
United States Treasury
IF such duty was imposed upon coffee
there would naturally gravitate 70 this
country considerable part OF the re-
naming Z. 2.00o0Oa bags held in Europe and
South America
Enough would surely come here to sup
ply the demand for at least Two years
as L could easily be shipped into the
country before the duty became 2 law.
thus giving 10 the foreign and specula-
tive owners profit OF from SZ506o,0oo 10
Se.Gf000 more. but not one dollar Of
this amount would reach the United
States Treasury.
II is most positive therefore from the
above facts that duty upon coffee
would give the government nc benefit
for al least two years. but would transfer
from the pockets OF the consumers 10
those of the large holders. and bankers.
and the Spectators upward Of S50.000000.
such conditions would practically create
trust. would crush out the smaller
dealers. and would place the entire trade
for years 20 come in the hands Of a few
large operators; al To the great injury Of
the public
The suggestion that duty is required
20 protect the infant industries Of
Porto Rico and Hawaii is without force.
The present requirements Of coffee IN
this country aggregate nearly LOO. .G00. .0l0
pounds annually.
The total present production OF Porto
Rico and the Hawaiian Islands is less
than +000o.G0o pounds OF less than per
cent Of our present needs.
Takes Five Years to start Trees.
It takes Eve years TO establish a coffee
plantation and FIVE more TO bring 10 full
bearing; so that If the product OF these
dependencies were at once increased twen-
" times IL would take more than ten
years before this country could be supplied
theTefTOm- In addition 10 which the
natural increase in the population Of this
country and in its use of coffee would
have advanced at least . per cent so that
even then. the supply from these Islands
would be insufficient
Nor IS IL just 70 levy q tax upon tthe en-
tire population for the benefit OF a few
thousands who might desire TO engage In
the coffee business
We can recognize no equity OF national
protect the product Of Porto Rico OF the
Hawaiian Islands
These dependencies are already enjoy
Ing freedom from import taxation in
many lines. greatly 10 their benefit and
the American people do not owe them any
further favoTs. Certainly not so great a
favor as 10 assume a burden Of taxation
amounting 10 S50-000.6 GO in order TO stinu-
late so infnitesiUal an industry as coffee
now Is and VIII be for many years 10
come
The same arguments apply with even
more force to the Philippine Islands.
where the production Of coffee has almost
failed. and which could not supply the
demands Of this country in twenty years
70 come no matter how highly protected
Woman. Lovely Woman.
From Hsrper's Weeslr.