The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-06-29
ALIEN. II. IRWIN, chm.
.scHENCKS Bill AND THE TOBAC
60 TRADE.

The tobacconist, IL he has no rights wor-
,hy"f confederation rs citizen, Is at least
entitled e. some respect n u Taxpayer,
Tor ID Il his traffic which nost contributes
o. keep pleihoric the Golfers Of the govern
nant. But the house of representatives
o., ~ IL they wished 10 crush out the trade
by petty annoyanccs and imposi'ions,
rather than 10 make i, rs profitable rs pos
.ible b. the government and the country.
A provision in the Schcnck tax bill is cs-
pccially complained of. The tobacco Sec
ton of that bill, after prescribing the spc-
cial taxes which shall be paid 10y 'oanufac-
turers and dealer, impose the following
ON tho latter class:
Every person who sells or~oilcrs for sale
manufactured tobacco, so~G ar cigars shall
be regarded as dealer IN tobacco. Deal
ers IN tobacco shall keep book, and shall
enter daily therein an accurate account OF
the quantity packages and number 81
pounds at tobacco purchased by them cneil
day; the date ol purchase the name ana
place of residence of the per-On from whom
purcha-od the name of the manufacturer;
the registered number of the factory whore
manufactured and the district and state in
which the same l. situated Said book
shall De preserved by them for two years
and shall nj all times bo .pen 10 the in
spcction Of any reycnu. officer; aud in
case Of any refusal, or wllliul neglect Ia
keep and preserve said book aud account,
or 60 permit such inspection, said dealer
shall l.. fined not less than one hundred
dollars nor moro than two thousand and
imprisoned not les than three months nor
moro than one year.
A. was correctly remarked by Mr..
Cleveland of New Jersey, when the bill
was on lis passage, this provision will have
tho practical effect to shut mp the small
shops where tobacco is sold, aud throw the
whole trade into the hands Of the large
dealers who are able 10 keep the compli-
Gated book required. Many Of these shops
are kept by women, the wives orpoor men,
who thus exc out the scsniy maintenance
Of household, and who not having the ed
ueation ola book-keeper, ARE totally in
competent To fulfill this provision Of the
law. Representative Cleveland probably
hi, the eAact truth when he said II can
see no other reasons for tho
adoption of this provision than
these two poin,s-that Of taking
the business out of the hands Of the small
dealers for the benefit of large dealers, and
Of making u marke, for somebody's book. -
After showing how oppressive must be the
perpetual yisitaiions of revenue detectives,
to which tho law renders the dealer liable,
even for two years aftor lie or she may
have discontinued business, Mr.. Clcve-
land continued: II catch the suggestion
that one Of the objects Of the book is 10
assist the detectives in watching the manu-
facturer; but you have no right 10 turn
these small dealers into goyernInon, dctec-
tives. You have enough already, and most
rascally ones they are, as a general thing"
Persons who venture % touch tobacco
asa business have need 10 keep keen eye
out towards Washington. Here is another
little provision Of the Schenck bill which
might easily be overlooked to tao sorrow
Of whom IT concerns
"Every cigar maker shall cause his
name and residence 10 be registered.
soithoat prepioias demand, with tho assistant
assessor of the division la which such
cigar maker shall be employed; and any
manufacturer of cigars employing any
cigar maker who shall have neglected or
refused TO mako such registry, shall, on
conviction, be fined five dollars for each
day such cigar maker so offending by ne
glecl or refusal shall be employedby him"
We publish the above in the hope that
all our tobacconists may get timely notice
vot " requirements, In case the Schenek
~ ~ - bsss'se law il