The San Francisco call., 1909-02-24
COFFEE TARIFF IS
NOT WANTED HERE
Local importers to Join in Pro-
test Against Big Job
of Financiers
Millions in Profit for Specula-
tors if Government Inn
poses Duty

Importers and jobbers in San Fran
cisco have been asked to affiliate with
national organization but recently
formed to oppose the proposed duty on
coffee and tea. The local trade is
strongly anita gonistic 20 the projected
tariff and several firms will join In
the protest. 1t is pointed out that San
Francisco will be seriously affected not
only as distributing center, but as a
place of import.
The opposition to the duty is based
not only on the argument that it
would work a hardship upon that ele-
ment among the consumers who can
i'll afford it, but upon the further
ground that the entire movement is
part of speculative conspiracy en-
gineered from the offices of the Ma
tional City Bank of New York.
Advices received here from the east
indicate that the Morgan -Stillman in
terests are working in conjunction with
such large operators as Arbuckle
Brothers and the Havemeyers Ar
buckle and HavemeSer are said to be
loading up with coffee in anticipation
of the duty of cents a pound. The
Morgan -Stillman pool is in control of
100000 bags of vaIoriZation coffee of
Brazil and has alreacy begun to move
it to the United States. The Arbuckles
are also known to have made importa-
tions of great size. The plan, as ex-
planned previously in these columns, is
to get several million bags into the
country before the duty goes into ef-
feet. The profit on each bag will
reach $3.50 and it is believed that
spectators stand to make profit all
= y nm n.n
if the deal can be put through.
The coffee dealers say that the gov
ernment will reap no benefit for at
least two years to come, as enough
coffee will be rushed into the country
before the new tariff went into effect
to fill the requirements of the trade
for two years. In preparation for this
arrangements have been made to ship
into the United States the accumulated
stocks of European ports. Some big
shipments have already been made
from Havre. In addition a heavy sur
plus has been planted along the Cana
dian boarder and can be brought in at
a moments notice. Last week $4,000
bags were brought in from France.
Regular weekly shipments are sched-
uled from Havre.
The association which has been
formed to combat the proposed duty
has presented a memorial to the ways
and means committee of congress of
which the following is a part:
This country annually consumes than
100000 bags of coffee of an average weight Of
pounds. Porto Rico and the Hawaiian islands
produce annually little more than 3S,0G0,000
Europe at good prices Less than 5,000.00O
pounds of this coffee IS sent into the United
states. The Philippine islands produce no coffee
The present visible supply Of coffee in the
world amounts TO about 5000 600 bags. This Is
divided as follows: 100000 bags owned by the
state of Sac pauIo in Brazil and held TO cover
their bonds, of which about 100000 bags are
stored in this country; 100000 bags of other
Reid by special interests. 5000 600 bags held in
Europe. 100000 held in Rio and Santos.
imnadiste nro6t Of nj least 81, 70 nor hag unon
every bag In the United States 10 the owners
Hereof There being nearly 100000 bags at
present held here by individuals. corporations
and Wall street speculative interests such
duty would mean profit Of 600 TO the
owners and holders thereof. But it would not
mean 81 paid into the United States treasury.
II such duty were imposed upon coffee
there would naturally. gravitate to this country
a considerable part of the remaining 1900 600
bags held in Europe and South America. Enough
would surely come here TO supply the demand for
into the country before the duty became law,
thus giving TO the foreign and speculative own
ers profit OF from S2o.oo0OO0 to S5o. 1000 600
United States treasury.
1t is further stated that the duty
would mean an extra tax of from 81
to s25 year upon 100000 families.
the revenue going to the spectators
and not to the government.
Among the local importers who have
taken a deep interest in the matter is
Webster Jones of the Jones-Paddock
company, dealers in coffees and teas
I'VE are strongly opposed to this
duty" said Jones. because it would
merely act as a tax upon consumers
who can not well afford it and would
play into the hands of the spectators
Furthermore it would be disa strous TO
the coffee trade and would injure it
instea.; Of helping 1t. l have before
fae figures showing that as the ta.!ff
on coffee in other countries has gone
III, the consumption has decreased
The per ca pita consumption is greatest
in the United States where no duty is
imrosed. and second in Holland where
there is also no tariff on coffee"