94 PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



In the address of President Cooper reference is made to the reciprocity treaties, and 

 we would offer the following resolution, and ask its adoption by this Convention : 



Whereas, The fifty-seventh Congress is now in session at Washington, D. C, and 

 the lawmakers of the land will shortly be called upon to consider and ratify certain 

 reciprocity conventions already entered into between the United States of America and 

 certain foreign countries, and now refer particularly to the convention with France and 

 Jamaica ; and 



Whereas, The fruit-growers of California and the Pacific Coast firmly believe that 

 the ratification of these conventions will seriously injure the fruit, nut, and wine 

 industry on the Pacific Coast, and that the fruit, nut, and wine industry at large in this 

 country will be placed in jeopardy and seriously impaired by the ratification of the 

 convention for Jam aica, signed July 22, 1899, which proposes a reduction in the present 

 tariff of twenty per cent on citrus fruits ; and further, the convention with the French 

 republic, signed July 24, 1899, which proposes a reduction of duty, twenty per cent on 

 nuts, ten per cent on prunes, fifteen per cent on olive oil, and a ten per cent reduction 

 on preserved fruits and vegetables ; and 



Whereas, Fruit-growers of the Pacific Coast look with alarm upon the unratified 

 conventions, fearing their ratification in the near future, in" which event serious 

 uncalled for and unwarranted damage will accrue to the fruit, nut, and wine industry, 

 in which at the present time millions of dollars are invested; now therefore, be it 



Resolved, That the fruit-growers of California, in convention assembled, do most 

 respectfully, but earnestly and emphatically, protest against any and all reductions or 

 changes in the existing tariff rates between the United States of America and the 

 Republic of France and the Island of Jamaica, so far as they affect fruits, nuts, olives, 

 olive oil, wine, preserved fruits, and vegetables ; and, be it further 



Resolved, That our representatives in Congress be, and are, hereby respectfully peti- 

 tioned to use all honorable means at their command to discourage and prevent the 

 ratification of these conventions as at present outlined ; now, 



Resolved, That these resolutions be engrossed and the copy forwarded to each mem- 

 ber of the Pacific Coast delegation in Congress in Washington, D. C, requesting that 

 this action on the part of the fruit-growers of the State of California in convention 

 assembled on this 5th day of December, 1901, and that the action herein taken, be made 

 known to the Honorable President of these United States and members of the United 

 States Senate and House of Representatives. 



We also ask the adoption of the following resolution on the Isthmian Canal: 

 Resolved, That this State Convention of the California fruit-growers, in session at San 

 Francisco, California, this 5th day of December, 1901, impressed with the utter inability 

 of the transcontinental railroads to handle the enormous and rapid increase in traffic 

 between East and West, urge upon our Senators and Representatives in Congress the 

 pressing need of adopting the recommendations of the Isthmian Canal Commission, 

 and of taking immediate steps for the construction of the canal. 



Your committee would also advise the passage of the following: 



Resolved, Whereas, the priceless relic of an ancient civilization, known as Cleopatra's 

 Needle, is now disintegrating and going to destruction in Central Park, New York, 

 efforts should be made at once to secure its removal to California, where its safe pres- 

 ervation for the ages to come may impart the. pleasure and profit of its contemplation 

 for future generations, and where it may stand a unique and expressive exponent of the 

 most valuable characteristics of the California climate ; 



Resolved, That the State Board of Horticulture be requested to bring the matter to the 

 attention of the scientific associations and municipal authorities of California cities, as 

 suggested in detail in President Cooper's annual address. 



A. H. NAFTZGER, Chairman. 



