Evening star., 1864-12-09
THE EVENING STAR.
Convention Of the Tobacco Trade.

PROPOSED TAX ON LRAP TOBACCO
ING sTArIsTICs OF THE TRADE
Recently the tobacco and cigar mauuractu-
rers OF various cities convened at BainmoTe Iol
the purpose of taking such measures as might
be deemed adyIsabIe TO secure uniformity in
the operations Of the Internal revenue law, as
re fte cted the sale OF cigars. IL was tnen re-
solved to call great meeting OF the tobacco
dea.ers of the United States, in order to form
permanent organization, to protect the 10 utual
interests of the trade. Accordingly conven-
uon of the m manufacturers and dealers IN tobacco
In the United States was held on Wednesday
in the Cooper Institute, New York
delegates we're present from Missouri, Penn.
syIyanis, Rhode IslanG Massachusetts, Mary
land, New Jersey, Ohio. Connecticut District
Of Columb bia and New York.
Gentlemen there made brief remarks, after
which permanent officers were elected Pres
Sdent, VIM. K Lawrence, OF N. Y; vice pres
idents. G. W. Gail, of Md, F. w. Sellhau sen,
of the District OF Columbia, and others, with
Two secretaries.
a lengthy report on the tobacco trade was
then read by DIR. Burke. 1t commenced by
stating that i29 ,3S0.77l pounds OF tobacco were
reported in the statistics OF the Agricultural
department At Washington. To determine the
proper rate of assessment for tobacco IN the
leaf Is q question of some nicely, as opinions
are some what diverse upon this point. But we
m ust first see what the Government demands
OF Us, and whDt we are paying. Of the i've
Grades of cigars contained In the schedule,
there are only four OF any great Importance,
and these range under the So, SIS, S2j, and the
s4Otax.
The majority of the cigars made this year
will un dou Otedly be returned At and under the
So tax. But AS there will be a CO lsideraole
Number returned at the SIS, and me under
the S23, and perhaps very few under the $40
tax. we may take 215 per thousand as the aver
are tax. 1t usually requires about twenty-dv
pounds OF tobacco 10 make thsusand cigars;
the Government thus demands at the rate OF
sixty cents a pound for the tobacco contained
In each Thousand OF cigars that may be made
hereafter. On smoking tobacco the tax is
twenty five cents; on snuff, thirty i've cents;
and on fine and chewing tobacco, thirty a We
cents pound.
Smoking tobacco as 1t is usually nj xed, does
not decreaee much in the manufacture-IUO
pounds OF leaf yielding the same amount of
manufactured tobacco. But there is O great
disparity in other kinds-I00 pounds OF leaf
yielding about s. pounds OF snuff, 63 of fine
cut ana 50 OF plug tobacco. The manufactu-
rers OF snuff and plug, therefore, pay about 20
cents pound on the raw material and the
manufacturer of fine cut II ceots pound.
From this it would appear that almost any re-
ducuon would be agreeable 10 cigar manufac-
turers; while to the tobacconIsts a proportion.
ate reduction would not but be acceptable.
Twenty-Five cents pound on all leaf tobacco
wor d seem to be a fair rate of assessment.
ThiEty cents would not be objected to by cigar
manufacturers, II they were protected in other
respects. There would be no necessity of eva.
ding this amount, as the former will yield all
The Government needs. At the rate of - cents
pound, the tax on i29,2SO.77i would yield the
enormous sum of Sl09,322692. The rebellion
having rppressed the growth Of tobacco in sew
Pral OF the principal tobacco gro wing states
included IN ihe above. of course this estimate
has no significance further than TO indicate
what might De expected from thls source in
time OF peace. The war, however cannot last
always, ar d five years hence there will prob
ably be as much tobacco raised in the country
as there was in 1860. Come cticut, New York
Ohio and other Northern and Middle States
are annually Increasing their prod ctions.
The report then alluded 10 the want OF uni
formity In the Internal revenue law, and the
difhculties under which the tobacco interests
labored. 1t closed by asking Congress to fix
the tax directly upon the leaf tobacco.
Ii IS proposed to print the reportin pamphlet
form and send ii to Congress by the hands Of
an efficient committee, who Will endeavor to
seenre the passage OF q law fixing the tax on
the leaf.
Mr.. Lawrence said that several members of
Congress had changed their views on the sub
ject durirg the past year.
The business committee subsequently, re-
ported preamble and series OF resolutions in
accordance with the recommendations set
forth in the report, and directing a memorial to
be prepared calling upon Congress to SO amend
The law rs 70 have q uniform tax on the leaf OF
80 per cent. The meeting then adjourned until
Thursday.