Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-22
SENATOR FLINT
GIVEN BANQUET
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
GUESTS OF FRUIT MEN
SHORT TALK BY CHIEF FORESTER
PINCHOT
Railroads Condemned in Speeches for
Raising Rates, and Congress Is
Praised for Raising Duties
on Lemons
fcontInued from rnre onel


(contInued from Pare OneD
there was a storm of opposition. The |
strongest argument in favor of it was
the citation Of the fact that the only |
country competing with Southern Cali |
fornia was Sicily. The members of the
committee were shown that the only |
one in the United States capable of
providing for the demand for lemons in
this country should have such protec-
tion as was necessary to foster 1t and
bring 1t to it's fullest productivity. The
increase was granted.
Gentlemen, it was expressly stated |
the tariff was for the benefit and pro- |
lection of the industry and not for the
enrichment of the railroads. 1t seeps
to me the railroads are cutting off
their noses in this matter as they will
Inevitably reduce the tonnage of ship |
ments You must fight out this issue
yourselves-but you must fight"
FIint's Address the Climax
The address for which every man in
the great room had waited was now TO
be made. The air of the banquet hall
was electric with anticipation and
unbounded enthusiasm, only awaiting
the touching of spring. The touch
came when Chairman Chapman, in
of Senator Frank p. Flint.
Senator Flint said: II have been
misrepresented and misjudged, but to-
night my heart is warmed by your re-
ception to me on my return to my own
home city An evening paper said
was an enemy to Clifford Pinchot, and
he comes here this evening and tells
YOU am his friend and his supporter.
"I was greatly pleased with the
statement made by the president a
few days ago that the present tariff
bill is the best that has been placed
upon our statute books. This is I'M
accord with my own views and comes
at an opportune time, as there has
been a persistent effort made to dis
credit this bill by certain newspapers
of this country.
Defends Tariff
I'VE have heard much criticism of
this bill by those who contend that the
duties are too high, and a great ef-
fort is being made to create sentiment
in this country in favor Of further
revision of the tariff downward. The
influences that are at work to create
this sentiment are the representatives
of foreign covenants, manufac-
turers and producers in foreign coun-
tries, the importers of foreign mer-
chandise in this country, those who
price to the ultimate consumer and
those who favor the reduction of the
tariff on articles manufactured by
great combinations, upon the theory
that there Is a competition in the sale
of the goods manufactured or produced
by these combinations, and that they
have made excessive profit by reason of
the protective tariff
1.-THE question as to whether the
protective tariff policy shall be con-
tinued as the future policy of this
country will be determined by the re-
suit of the present tariff law and the
legislation of the congress in remedy
ing evils that now exist by reason of
these great combinations of capital
1.-THE fact that the president has so
enthusiastically approved this bill will
do much to counteract the efforts of
certain newspapers and individuals to
have another revision of the tariff.
crIticIses Railroads
1.-THE action of the officials Of the
Transcontinental Freight association a
few days ago in raising the freight
rate on lemons shows a boldness and
lack of knowledge of the temper of
the American people that is almost in
conceivable, and I know of no action
that could be taken by the railroads
of the country that is so certain to
force further legislation regulating
railroads as this unwarranted and
unjustifable act OF these railroad Of
ficials.
1.-THE. congress of the United States,
after full hearing, decided that to pro-
tect adequately an industry of this
country the rate of one and one-half
cent per pound should be placed on
lemons. The railroad officials, with
out any investigation, arbitrarially
raised the freight rate on this COM
modify so that 1t nullifies the act of
congress. The question is a far more
reaching one than mere increase in
a freight rate, and their action will
convince any fair-minded man that the
arbitrary power of raising and lower
ing rates-deciding whether an indus
try should be permitted to exist or not
should not be left to body of traf-
fic officials, and I shall favor the en-
actment of law that will not permit
the raising or lowering of a freight
rate by railroad officials without the
approval of the Interstate Commerce
commission.
Blow for Protection
mo severer blow could be struck
the protective tariff policy than this
action of the railroad officials. Noth-
ing could have been done that would
give those opposed to this policy bet
ter argument tnan LnaL t1e DeHeul "
be derived from this increase of tariff
should go to the railroads and not to
the producers and that instead of haV-
ing large acreage planted to lemons
the industry is to be discouraged by
this action.
'I desire to assure you, my friends,
that if 1 have been active and rendered
any service in the matter of increas-
ing the duty on lemons, 1 Will be
lust as active in assisting you to com
pel the railroads to restore the freight
rate on lemons to 81 per hundred
pounds.
test is not to stop with merely pro-
testing against the increase in the
freight rate on lemons, but that your
organization is to take the necessary
steps not only to have the rate on
lemons restored, but to have the rate
on oranges reduced to 81 per hundred
pounds, and also have the icing
charges reduced.
Promises Cooperation
at can assure you, my friends, that
I will cooperate with the officers of
your association in having hearing
of this matter and aid you in every
way possible not only before the in
terstate commerce commission. but in
the enactment of any legislation that
may be considered necessary to bring
about the solution of this problem. For
I feel that the protective tariff sys-
nd Wa |