Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-27

WASHINGTON, Oct. 81 OPP
position TO the proposed reduction
Of tariff rates on vegetables was
registered this week by Rep. John
N. Garner OF Texas who filed a
statement with the Tariff commits
sion at the opening Of a hearing
ordered by the commission upon
request OF Mexican west coast vege-
table growers and eastern import
ers who charged that the rates
constitute an unnecessary burden
upon consumers.
Rates Essential
Garner said that maintenance
OF the rates is essential 10 the win
ter vegetable industry OF south
Texas, Florida and the Gulf coast
region. He asserted that "the rates
for those vegetables upon which a
reduction has been requested rank
among the few rates that are really
effective and Of material benefit
ia the agricultural interests Of the
United States" Following IS the
text OF his statement:
LAS representative OF the 18th
Congressional district of Texas,
which includes the Lower Rio
Grande Valley and the Winter
Garden area, both OF which rank
among the major producers OF
winter vegetables. I desire to reg
lister my opposition TO any reduc-
ton OF existing tariff rates upon
tomatoes. snap beans, okra, pep
pers. cucumbers, lima beans, peas
or eggplant in their natural state.
Protection Means
"One OF the major detectives OF the
1929 revision Of the tariff was TO Sc
cure for agriculture some measure OF
protection against the ever-mount-
ing competition from foreign sour
ces, which competition was felt
most keenly by those engaged IN
the production of winter vegetables,
I believe that a careful analysis OF
Schedule z OF the 1929 Tariff Act
will convince the commission that
the rates for those vegetables up
on which a reduction has been re-
ouested rank among the few rates
which are really effective and of
material benefit 10 the agricultural
interests Of the United States.
I'm the extreme southern part
or Texas-in what is known as the
Lower Rio G-ande Valley. COM
prising the counties Of Hidalgo,
Cameron. Willacy and Starr: IN
the Winter Garden rea which in
Guides the counties o. Zavala, DIM
nit. FRO and La Sale. in the
Corpus Christi district, comprising
the counties OF Nueces. Kleberg,
Jim Wells and Live Oak; and in
Maverick, AtascoSa and Brooks
counties-development of the winter
vegetable industry has been handi-
capped in recent years BY impor-
tation OF foreign products.
Direct Competition
"Importations into the United
States OF the products cited above
are largely from rfexico. Cuba and
the Bahama Islands. These impor-
tations come into direct competi-
ton with the production OF south
Texas. especially that Of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley. as well as that
OF Florida and southern California,
and to a lesser extent with the
production OF Louisiana. Alabama
Georgia and other southern states
There Is much more involved in
this than the difference in the cost
OF production In the United States
and the foreign countries from
which these importations are re-
ceived. When these commodities
ara npe they must be placed upon
nc market without delay and sold
Irrespective OF the condition Of that
market. II is impossible 10 hold
them off the market for even a few
days. The real hardship comes Il
the American producer when he
sends his products to the northern
markets and finds upon arrival
that the market has been DESTROYED
by the dumping OF large quantities
OF these products.
Throughout the southern part o.