The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-30
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. JUNE 80. Is47.
Tobacco Duties.

The administration sparing efforts to obtain re
duction of the duties upon tobacco in foreign mar
kets. The late treaty with Hanover is one of the frs
fruits OF its exerons. We trust that the system will b,
prosecuted under the present Secretary of State and thai
shall have TO record the ratification of similar treaties
effected under his auspices We cannot doubt that our
new ministers TO Great Britain and France will exert
themselves to effect reduction OF the oppressive du-
ties which are imposed upon its importation in England
and modification of the reggie monopoly in France
The present system of high duties operates very
oppressively Great Bran and in like this, when
Sir Robert Peel has distinguished himself by so liberal
modification of the laws, is astonished at seeing
these high duties continued tobacco the effect of which
is almost certain to encourage smuggling Witness such
paragraphs as the following in the British prints
"ExrENsIvE SEIZURE ToBAcco AT LEirH L.
On Friday week very extensive seizure of smugglcd
tobacco in leaf made board a Hamburg steamer
lying in the dock No less than six erces and hogs
heads seized The contrabnnd article disguised
asa consignment OF potatoes The seizure effected by
the landing Surveyor and is, apprehend ono of the
largest made for many years."-Caledonian Mercury.
Mr.. McCulloch, in his :" Commercial Dictionary
states startling facts in relation to the smuggling Of
tobacco He says:
The price of tobacco in bond varies from 3D. Cd per
b that the duty of 3s 200 per the in
ana TO 0OU cent the qualities
magnitude of the tobacco duty altogether ndetensble
is neither calculated to produce the largest OF
nue., eradicate the for the article. Its exorb
fancy is advantageous to the smugge and to him only
with the exception ofbrandy and geneva tobacco is the
principal article candestinely imported II, might
be half inclined to suspect the duty intended give
life and activity to the nearious practices of the Illicit
traders, has pleey answered its obec but every
other point of view its failure has been signal and
plete.'
Mr. Poulett Thomson, in his speech on taxation on
the Goth March, 1880, says:
sit is fact which established in evidence before
committee of this house, that serenity cargoes of tobacco
containing 36i4OOO lbs, struggled in year, the
of Ireland from the port of Waterford the Giants
Causeway alone! In Scotland, smuggling in article
also carried great extent There is doubt added
the right honorable gentleman, that the only mode OF
meeting this system of smuggling consists in ary reducing
the duty upon the article. believe that the duty up
on it reduced Is. Is. Cd. per b. the public would be
greatly served and smuggling put down."
Mr.. McCulloch adds
Under the present system, government collects
brilliant duty upon about fourth part OF the tobacco
sumed in Ireland, the other three fonhs being supplied by
the snugger the duty being incentive his
energies and premium indemnify him for his risks
fourth part of the demand of Great Britain probably
supplied in the same way