Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-24
CONVENTION OF TOBACCONISTs.
Ene proposition 10 Tax EpRE TAha.Cp

The IobacConists National Association held a
meeting at Cooper Institute New York, on Wclnes.
day morning. for the purpose of appealing to Con
gresS to transfer the internal tax now laid
on the manufactured article to leaf tobacco
The Post says the attendance was large and dele
gates were present from nearly all of tho States
REMARKS OF W. +. LAWRENCE.
MI W. Il. Lawrence Of the firm of A. H. Mickle
N Sons presided. On taking the chair Mr. Law
renee sad the great object of the Convention was 10
other manufactures of tobacco to the leaf Hitherto
the efforts the organization had made were without
efect. Many OF the heads Of departments at Wash
ngton mad been visited and at first expressed them
selves i'll favor of the measure but owing to tho in
uence Of the dealers in leaf tobacco in this city tho
change was prevented.
REMARKS OF Mr.. CAITGHER.
Mr.. Gallagher, of Connecticut, was called unon
and Inade Jew remarks. He said the wise men MT
washington nave put their fingers upon the throats
Of the tobacconists They have taken the business
from the hands of the legitimate trade, and placed it
in the hands of contraband dealers practically they
have placed premium on fraud
The speaker said that after comforting with Con-
gressmen; the latter said that the convention was
right ana that the tax ought TO be placed the leaf
Mr.. stevens introduced bill for tax Ou the leaf
but unfortunately ne added 4 tax on exports which
killed the bill. The officers of the convention had
done much in enlightening Congress
The tobacco dealers must show the growers that II
is their interest to act with the legitimate dealers
The growers say they do not like to be taxed. The
speaker would say TO them submit to il with "a good
a grace as possible. There is better opportunity to
detect frauds on the part of the growers than there
is te detect frauds the manufactured article The
former cannot successfully hide his leaf
REPORT on THE TOBACCO TRADE.
Mr.. Edward Burke, one of the Secretaries, read
report. of which the following is a synopsis
The revenue act. which came into operation on the
lst of September 1862 found the tobacco trade Of the
United States in condition of unusual prosperity
The crop OF 1860 the largest raised on this con-
tnent, or in the same period any quarter of the
globe, having been upwards of four hundred and
DOun1s had -ba1o
dant material for the development of the manufac-
turing resources of the country: and the machinery
OF the mill and the busy hum of the workshop re-
sounded on every side. East, west north and south
felt the inspiration of well rewarded industry. and
every branch and member Of the trade fully sat
istactoriy and profitaay employed AT that time
the tobacco interest bid fair to become one of the
mightest in the land. But little more than three
years have elapsed SINCE the passage of the revenue
act. and now the trade is comparative wreck.
Planting has been partially suspended, about one
hundred and ninety-seven millions of pounds only
having been raised in 1864 while this year the de
crease Is from one TO two and one-Seventh below
lS6i the vast internal TRANSFORMATION which freighted
our railroads our Jake, river and fleets has
been materially lcssened; manufactures are
being deserted, our manufacturers disheartcned,
and dec "epitude and StagnatiOn where once
was enterprise and thrift 1t is now eleven months
since the organization first met, Since that time all
that could be done for the relief of the trade with
out adopting the measure recommended by the trade
has been promptly performed by Congress.
The proposed measure, however, was not adopted
and the application is again renewed to transfer
the tax to the leaf. Could the government obtain
tax upon all the tobacco produced it might reduce
the tax one half The illegitimate manufacture of
tobacco and its use in the natural state comprises
nearly one-half the entire crop. Tobacco and cigars
are often sold in large quantities for little more than
the amount of the government tax on the articles
and fraud runs riot throughout the city.
The sum and substance of the favor asked of Con-
greS is to warehouse the leaf before it reaches tho
manufacturer. The Secretary discussed the ware
house systems of European nations and said that in
those countries fraud was unknown. The revenue
from the tax tobacco during the year ending June
Tnl lStLl, : follows.
Cheroots .................. Si7,g90 p
Cigarettes all kinds dS......,............. 4,2i %
Cigars, including S380654.i7, accruing
from the act which took effect Septem-
Der 1st, S,O2l, ,f57 81
2S3;5l %
Plug tobacco all kinds ,093,97T 81
Fine cut chewing. ,S3i,26l 81
stem smoking. 5l6,S27 &G
Smoking, all other kinds 1563,25O 81
Total from tobacco ............... Ss.O16,lI9 IS
Total from all sources ST 1888, Sol S6
The whole number of cigars returned during the
year was 5l6,OS1,02l, and in the following order:
On thc - taA...'...... -, Il og0
Oh inc 10 taN..... : l,oU -Vn
IN ihe - tiA'.... Zs0I oH
On the 30 tax ............ $3.50
On the 10 2iI5 iD
The whole number of pounds of tobacco returned
were:
Plug cavendish, &c, Soc. tax.......... 10 306 664
Plug cavendiSh, &c, 40c. taX..........,. 1,2l66l2
Fine cut chewing, &c. taX............. 4il5.36i
Fine cut chewing, 4Oc. taX...........a. I22,2lO
Smoking, Doc. taX............. T. los, ,3S9
Smoking, ;i5c. taxi. l03,33O
Smoking, 1jc. taX......-..... 3 ii5,5l5
Tobacco twisted by hand, 35c. tax......... 26, 200
Snuff twisted by hand. 35c. and doc. tax. 70S.319
In the year preceding. the cigars returned were