The San Francisco call., 1909-06-01
FLINT HANDS ROOT
CALIFORNIA LEMON
Senate Votes to Increase the
Duty TO " Cents a
Pound
Senator From Southern Part OF
the State Worsts His 0ppo.
nent in Argument

WASHINGTON. May S1.-More than
Two hours were consumed by the senate
in a debate on the proposition to in
crease the duty on lemons from one
cent a pound, as provided by the Ding
ley law. to Il cents pound, and after
earnest opposition by Mr.. Root the
increase recommended by the COM
mittee was sustained. 43 to 2s.
Without the competition of Cali
fornia growers on the New York mar
ket the price of lemons will increase,
said Senator Flint The small duty
asked for this industry, he said.
amounted on small sizes of lemons to
] cent dozen. and without this pro-
lection against lemons from Sicily. he
argued, the lemon industry OF Cali
fornia would be wiped out It's destruc-
ton, he asserted, would Immediately
cause the price of lemons in New York
to advance 81 box, as the price of the
foreign supply was only kept down by
the competition of the American
product.
ROOT OPPOSES INCREASE
Senator Root made an impassioned
appeal against any increase in the
duty on lemons over the DingIey law
rate OF I cent. He said:
In this industry last year the
lemon growers of California have made
an average profit of $3.50 per acre. with
expenditures amounting to 1870. That
was under the present tariff.
7 would not eliminate the lemon
growers OF California or other Ameri-
can industry, but It is q little too much
for them to come here and ask an in
crease OF duty when they are already
MAILING over 100 per cent"
Mr.. Root having referred to the Cali
fornia fruit growers association Mr..
Flint asked If it was not an associa-
tion Of farmers.
NOT INCORPORATION OF ANGELS
1T is not an Incorporation of angels.
and IL il gets control Of our market
and you put UP q barrier against the
foreign lemon the white winged farm
ers Of the California fruit growers as
sociation may yield TO the temptation
to get the highest price that they can
for their product"
Does the senator believe that state
rnentg' asked Mr.. Flint, as Mr.. Root
declared that foreign lemons are laid
down in New York at $2.42 box
The New York senator, replying that
he did believe his own statement, Mr.
Flint responded that in that very mar
ket the price was Gown to SI15 to
$50 a box. which fact Mr.. Root ac-
counted for because the fruit was sold
at auction.
PROFIT BUT 4 PER CENT
Mr. Flint met the statement of profits
made by lemon growers by declaring
that they have made only per cent
upon their business, and Senator Page
expressed his hope that the duty would
be made high enough to permit Cali
~ Iii
lemons used in this country.
Mr.. Gore. in Offering an amendment
placing a duty of cents a bunch on
bananas, said the republican party had
promised the people a fish, but had
given them a bunch of serpents in
stead. He hoped the people would
give them a nest of scorpions in re-
turn.
Il think I have treed a trust" said
Mr.. Gore. 4 am convinced there is a
banana trust in this country"
The amendment was defeated.
TILLMAN IN EVIDENCE
The house duty on bacon and hams
and on lard was restored upon motion
Of Mr. Aldrich. who withdrew the COM
mittee amendments increasing it.
When Senator Baspn began speak
ing upon the duty % bacon and hams
he noticed Senator Tillman conversing
with Mr.. Aldrich and protested against
the South Carolina senator diverting
the attention of Mr. Aldrich
The senator from Rhode Island is
regarded by so many senators as be-
ing the senate itself that the senator
objects TO any one talking to him
while he is speaking" retorted Mr.
Tillmsn.
Wen, that is a fact" acquiesced Mr..
Bacon.