Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-03
Plan ACTION
FOR FLEXIBLE
TOMATODUTY
If ga Cent Rate On
Mexicz- Product Is
Obtained VIII Seek
High Seasonal Rate

AsKNEt0A ~ -
SAN BENITO, July 3.-"If the
tariff commission makes a favorable
decision on the application for an in
crease in the tariff on Mexican to-
matoes from 1-2 to 3-4 of a cent a
pound. then the fight will just be
started"
This statement was made by ]. r.
Bell, manager Of the San Benito
Chamber Of Commerce, on his return
Monday from Washington, where he
was one Of the three Valley men who
represented this section at the to-
mato tariff hearing.
Brown White. another Valley rep
resentative at the hearing. returned
Tuesday, and w. Z. McDavitt OF
Brownsville is expected 70 return
later.
Valley Meeting
Tomato growers and shippers will
hold a meeting in the Valley soon 70
employ an attorney TO D 4
brief on the case. Mr.. Bell said, the
brief 70 presented to the commission
within 80 days.
Then, If favorable action is Sc
cured by the Valley from the COM
mission, this section will 90 before
congress, and ask for a flexible tariff
rate, which will bar Mexican toma-
toes, and those from other foreign
countries, during the time the Val
ley and other United States points
are shipping.
The additional Ia cent a pound
will not check the import Of Mexican
tomatoes, and will not ~equalize cost
of production with tomatoes grown
in this country, Mr.. Bell said. But
IT will indicate to congress that the
tariff commission is in favor Of pro-
tecting tomatoes, and will mean that
the Valley and Florida will have a
good chance getting a flexible tariff,
with q rate Of three or four cents a
pound on Mexico tomatoes during the
time that tomatoes are being moved
in the United States.
Brown Testifies
A transcript Of the proceedings al
the hearing reached here before Mr..
Bell returned, and showed all Of the
testimony at the hearing. Both the
transcript and Mr.. Bells statements
indicate that the tariff commission
favors Florida and the Valley in the
effort to secure a tariff protecting
them from competition.
The testimony shows the testimony
OF Brown White Of this city, which
was mainly concerning the shipping
qualities Of the Marglobe tomato as
compared with the Globe, and about
relative costs Of growing tomatoes.
Mr.. Brown pointed out that tomatoes
are grown IN Mexico on land worth
from 50 to S25 an acre, and here on
land worth from $500 to 500 an acre.
he said labor costs in Mexico are
about one-half. He said also that
the Marglobe tomato u being grown
almost exclusively IN the Valley low.
and D q Il ships and yields better
than the Globe variety.
West Opposes
Mr.. White said that he spoke from,
experience as 10 costs. for several
years ago he grew tomatoes in Mex.
leo and shipped them.
Most Of the opposition 70 the tariff
was from persons in Los Angeles and
Nogales. Arizona. who are interested
financially in tomato growing in
Mexico, and from box manufacturing
concerns which manufacture boxes
Tor Mexican tomatoes. Mr.. Bell said
he said that the effort 10 place the
box manufacturing industry ahead ~
the interests of American farmers
produced little impression on the
tariff commissioners.
AS soon as an attorney Is emnlove6
10 file q brief for the Valley in the
case, meetings will be held to plan
the campaign before the next con-
gress.