The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-09
BIG FALLING. OFF
IN FOREIGN Wines
Champagne Imports Show Great
Decrease-Beer Taking
Its Place.

New York, January ST. YOU kept
chain around his neck running from
noon on Sunday until well into Mon
DAY morning, and tho word came back
10 you that the celia rman was sure
you had ordered but six quarts and
you replied that you must have had a
aozeh' and you read In the papers the
next morning that never in the his
tory OF New York was there so much
champagne drunk Oh single New.
Years Eve and you knew that you
would have TO drink water for the
rest OF your life or 90 bankrupt, per-
maps you VIII not believe what the
importers were sayirss, that tho i'm :
Portauons of champagne have fallen
OH several hundred per cent in tho
last three or four years.
According TO my figures" said an
Importer las, night. there We're only
S1s.ooo cases OF champagne brought
INTO the United states last year. Three
or tour years ago almost any one of
mo leading brands furnished as big
hsures as that. And now look at us.
getting along With fraction of wha t
we uHcd to use: that's what II is"
a man who knows what oil the I'M
porters are doing said that one OF the
Dig houses. which imported $4,000 cases
as recently as 1910, brought in only
5000 cases in 1911. Another establish
ment imported $4,000 cases as against
100000 cases a year ago 4 third.
which imported 10000 cases in 1910,
brought in $4,000 last year.
What are they doing, drinking
heer?' asked an inquirer
lney are, wac the answer. Lots
OF 1t The importa,ions OF German
beers have increased greatly. Even In
inc good restaurants people seem con-
INT to order n pitcher or Pllsene,
where they used 10 Gull for cham
payne"
y queer thing about the importa lions
said thas man. Is that tho vintage wines
do not seem TO nave fallen off In the
| same degree The Importers OF tht
usual brands secuted this idoa, how
ever. and said that the vtntages were
, subject TO the same decrease The,
did not believe that hotel prcprde tor.
| and owners of large private cellars
were buying as much champagne from
the largo London dealers in vintages-
But perhaps it's So" said ono man
The people who have the big cellar.
are not SO likely to feel tho pinch OF
higher duties and general business de-
preston"
The cause for the trouble seemed to
be in this matter Of duties and a mum.
Der Of other matters which came tc
pass at tho same time.
There was the panic Of 1901 We
began to feel 1t in this business late
In 1905. 1t takes people some time
TO get down 10 palmer living"
Samuel Robert, who represents one
OF the larger wine growers. pointed
out the distress caused by tho higher
tariff.
There was nat increase of so por
cent" he said, though tho politician:
would have you believe that We arc
paying only 20 per cent more than We
! were charged under the Dinsley tariff.
But the fact is that President Rooso-
Welt had taken advantage Of tho rec
| iprocity agreements with France and
Germany and had decreased tho duty
from the Dinghy rate OF 90 case TO
Sc. Under the Payne-Aldrich sched-
u!e we pay $3.50 a case"
He said that Just as tho tariff went
into effect the hard times began to BIZ
felt. Then, too. the hotel men thought
they had to charge moro for their
wines than the bare increase OF tariff
rates Justified. and instead of increas-
ing the cost 80 cents a bottle they
raised It 30 cents.
Mr.. Robert declared. too. that bare
statement OF quantities imported
scarcely showed the truth.
The tariff agitation began In Fob
ruary OF 1909" he said. land the new
rates went into effect the following
November. In the interval the import
ers brought in a great deal of cham.
payne in anticipation OF the higher
duties. Some of them brought IN two
years' supply.
>Innpa L., taI
you remember. which provided that In
case France attempted retaliation for
tho increased duties the rates should