The Washington times., 1913-07-28
DEALERS FIGHT ON
DUTY ON BANANAS
@Poer Mans Luxury Is Staple
Article of Food, Declares
Washington Merchant.

Whether bananas, popularity known
both as the poor mans fruit" and
the poor mans luxury" will rise
In price since Congress has been con-
sidering a cent tax per bunch on
the yellow fruit, has become a ques-
tfRn of much moment and concern to
Wilmington fruit buyers, who col
leSively import about $4,000 punches
yearly for local consumption.
"The proposed tax on bananas will
mean a serious discomfort to the
consumer" said Vincenzo Di Giorgio,
local agent of the Atlantic Fruit
Company, today. I'VE will have to
raise our price to meet the demands
placed upon u.s. and upon the i'm
porting concerns of Baltimore and
New York which We represent. 1t
would be misfortune should the tax
be levied, for the banana is nu-
tfitious and cheap food for the poor
man, and because we do not raise
bananas in this country Congress can
scarcely call tax upon the fruit
protective"
Works Against Il.
II. z. Beck, manager of the local
branch of the United Fruit Dispatch
Company, which does most of the
importing OF bananas for local con-
cumption, is actively engaged in
measures to dissuade the passing of
the tax. His company has issued q
bulletin in which are gathered editor
is1 remarks from newspapers all over
the country, against the proposed
measure, and he is circulating them
TO interest both retailer and con-
sumer alike in measure. which he
believes is a harsh one
~One of the most harsh features
OF the proposed tax" said Mr.. Beck
today, His that fruit importers would
have to mect a tax of cents on
bunch whether that bunch were a
small one or a large one. Our price
varies as to whether the bunch we
handle Is large or small. but we
should have to meet the same tax
on q bunch Of hundred count, the
same as we should for bunch OF
five hundred count, for the raw BAN
q mas as we get them run In punches
OF many different sizes and weights.
Baltimore which imports the greater
quantity of bananas entering this coun-
try. takes in from 6,0oo.Coo to 7.0o0, 900
punches annually At this season of the
year. the fruit enters that port in es-
pecially large quantities. coming from
Jamaica, Cuba, Nicaragua, Spanish
Honduras and Frontera particularly.
Much Labor.
When the banana, carelessly eaten by
the consumer. au naturel or with cream,
comes to him. it has gone through a
long and varied process on its way from
anture, and its final delivery has in
voived enormous labor and great ex-
pense.
In Jamaica, East Indian coolies are
employed to cut the fruit green, from
the trees. Then the punches are packed
in dried bana leaves and are Transported
in donkey carts to the coast where they
are loaded on the steamers outbound.
II the water is shallow at the coast
the bananas are carried on board the
ships on the heads of native women.
IL the water is deep they are taken in
surf boats. In Honduras and Nicara-
qua bananas are often carried as far as
fifty miles on the backs of donkeys ana
mules before they are loaded on the
ships, which carry them North.
The fruit at this season of the year
ripeps quickly and a great many
bunches have to be thrown away by
the importer or sold at a discount