The San Francisco call., 1909-03-16
PLAN FIGHT ON TEA
AND COFFEE DUTY
Merchants of State Join With
National Body in War
Against Tax
Brief Forwarded to Congress
Shows Tariff Would
Foster Trusts

The California coffee and tea asso-
eietior recently organized in san Fran
cisco to combat the proposed duty on
tea and coffee. has decided 10 cooperate
with the national body formed for
the same purpose. To this end the
local importers. jobbers and whole
ssIers have indOrsed the brief sub
mitted TO the ways and means COM
mittee Of congress This brlef en-
braces the views OF the entire trade
from the importer TO the retailer and
presents an array OF arguments against
the projected tariff. After reviewing
the situation the document shows that
a big speculative interest is at work
TO bring in the yalorization coffee
from Brazil. The brief continues in
part:
Enough would surely come here TO
supply the demand for nearly two
years, as II could easily be shipped
into the country before the duty be-
came law, thus giving 10 the for
eign and speculative owners profit OF
from S25, ,00o.0 600 10 $4,000 600 or more,
but not one dollar OF this amount would
reach the United States treasury.
1t IS most positive, therefore that
e duty upon coffee would give the
government no benefit for nearly two
years. but would transfer from the
pockets OF the consumers to those Of
the large holders. the banks and the
spectators, upward Of $4,000 900.
such conditions would practically
create trust, would crush out the
small dealers and would place the
entire trade for years TO come in
me hands Of a few large operators; all
10 the great injury Of the public
The suggestion that a duty is re-
CURED to protect the infant industries
OF Porto Rico and Hawaii IS without
force. The present requirements Of
cofee IN this country aggregate nearly
1000, 100000 pounds annually The to-
Lsl production Of Porto Rico and the
Hawaiian Islands at the present time
is less than 4O,000,000 pounds or less
than per cent Of our present needs.
The present supply OF tea in this
country rs sufficient 10 meet all needs
until the new crop comes in. but in
anticipation Of a duty and before IL
can become a law, q large quantity.
now IN convenient ports for shipment
would be rushed into the country, and
IL would IN ali probability be a year
al least before any duty paid tea
would be required TO supply the mar
ket-
The present consumption OF tea is
less than so,o0O,00o pounds annually
even while II is on the free list. and
y placed under a duty that quantity
De-Nf uvuolless, De reduced at least
25 per cent.
It will be seen, therefore. that the
revenue from a duty on tea would be
OF very small benefit TO the govern
nent IN any event and would NOT he
gin until the unusual quantity brought
n before the duty became a law wa.
exhausted"
As Veridcation OF the prediction,
made by the national association III.
press dispatches state that vast cargoes
OF conee have reached New York within
the last few days The Arbuckle in.
lenests are said to have purchased
10000 bags on a specIJlatfon e.,
days ago.
The local association viii not sem
representative TO Washington. bur
VIII cooperate in every way win IN,
national associati
The labor council Of San Frsncfsc,
hss also protested against the nro,
posed duty. F''