The New York herald., 1870-01-13
THE CIGAR TRADE.
Important Meeting Of Cigar
Manufacturer
No Reduction Of Wages-Congress to be
Petitioned for Higher IarlE-Inte-
resting Disclosures as to How Laws
Are Passed at Washington.


Yesterday afternoon the Cigar Manufacturers
Association met at No. 10 Water street, Mr.. David
Hlrsch presiding, MIR. John Straiton acting secre.
tary. The object OF the meeting was twofod-the
election OF officers OF the association for the current
year and mutual consultation as to reduction Of
prices paid to their employees. the cigar makers,
proposed by three OF the manufacturing lrms. The
election OF Officers resulted In the choosing or all the
old Oficers ana the same executive committee that
served last year excepting Mr.. Fooe, the vice presi
dent, who declined, stating that his old nrm had
dissolved, ana he Is Low preparing to 20 into the
| cigar manufacturing business his own account;
but he felt the necessity OF pursuing independent
course as to wages and no believed 1t proper de-
! cline reelection and withdraw from the
tion. In his place Mr.. s. JacoDy was elected.
NO REDUCTION OF WAGES.
In regard to the second special object OF the meet
Ing, It was announced that committee OF the Cigar
Makers Union, No. 90, consisting OF Messrs Kuhne
and GGbey, were present. MIR. STORM stated that it
thought best to consult the association, that
they might be able TO act united!y which would be
less embarrassing than If they proceeded separately
| and Individually.
Mr. CONRAD KUHNE, on behalf of the cigar makers
| said they understood that they were not TO act
as conference committee, but but right that
both sides should communicate with each other and
explain their views whether the state OF the cigar
trade was such as 10 nece5Sate reduction OF prices
tnat they might come to an agreement to DO some
thing 10 improve the business throughout the country
| Mr. bon urged That the Cigar Makers Union was o
large and important body. They could do mucn to as
slst their employers BY agtane throughout the land
petitions TO Congress Tor the relef or trade from
the injustice oi tne presen. tariff IL was suggested
taat tae committee OF the cigar makers Tor the
/ present, which they did.
Mr.. GABEY before leaving the room asked that the
manufacturers do consider a'so whether their labor
ors could afford to work at reduced prices
i n. pu rna ptaa aItslfa a
relating that the price now paid cigar makers was
| too high, leaving no prof. to the manufacturer;
whereupon his men lett him, and by order
OF the Union his shop was declared closed. lie
his hands TO work again at former rates. lie Thought
proper to lay the mater before the association
| and II reduction Is thought advisable they could
all introduce It, Business Is now SO situated lhat
they could NOT afford 10 pay present prices and
| pcte with imported and key West cigars.
| Mr. FooTa believed 1t Impossible 70 continue to
pay present rates But IN no Two factories the same
rates prevail; each had schedule OF prices oil its
! own lie mad ans own schedule and II he cannot
/ get workmel at that he canloG 20 on.
- the PRESIDENT, Mr. hiRscH, called upon Messrs.
| SJraton, Smith storm, who are known TO pay ND
eral prices TO say whether tney could AFFORD 10
tinae them.
Mr.. STORM, In reply stated that they knew
that manufacturers for the last year dld not
make money enough, but they had 1851 none and he
dld not believe tnaG tue cigar makers could live with
less money Than they earn now. His 1rni paid b-
esal prices, but The earnings Of their men DO nos
average over eighteen dollars per week. AS TO
| equalAlng prices, that canEog DO done, for their
large Capital and experience would cripple Tie
small factories Every manufacturer has trouble
avoid trouble witA tler employees, with whom they
had been on satisfactory terms Tor montns past
source CT the evil lay IN the present trIr the old
| rate Of duty on cigars should 10 restored.
MI; HIRson though. II best 70 let every one pad
die MS own canoe. He was willing to continue pre-
sent prices. He had no grievance on his part
Mr.. HUTCHINSON referred to resolution passed by
the association on October 26 1863 providing that
no member shall reduce prices without consulting
the Executive COMMITTEES, who snail confer with the
Cigar Makers UnaOn; out the chairman said thai this
| resolution was subsequently repealed or az least
materially altered.
Mr.. FooTE asked whegher by establishing ana adj
| herring to his own prices ne could remain q member
| "Of COURSE" was the unanimous answer.
Mr BON said II was the general understanding that
prices are reduced In any ono shop, and the men
| strike, the Association Of Manufacturers Will not
| strike agalnst,thc cigarmakers generally.
| HOW CoNGBESS LEGSLATES ON THE TARIFF.
Mr. HRsCH called upon all not yet members OF the
National Tobacco Association to join tnis important
| body, who have even now committee Ut Washing
ton to urge Congress the necessity Or raslnx tue
present import duty OF u copper pound Of cigars
rate OF three doa per pound and ty per @ cent M
CatOre7n, which would yield them relief to the extent
OF from ten to fifteen dollars, gold. per thousand.
| Mr.. STRAITON read report from the Executive
| Committee OF the National Tobacco Association 10
the efec that the present reduced OF duty was
snuggled into The eighty seventh section OF the In
ternal Revenue act OF July 1865 while the former
higher rate OF thres dollars per pound and fifty cents
| al Udore,f as provided IN the Tariff acG was never
repealed and Ia by many believed be still IN force
| This tariff prOyiso IN the Internal Revenue law
1 slipped IN by an unknown hand without any ones
knowledge. The first eignsy-six sections passed
SeridttUt by Q two-thirds majority, and when the
cighty-seventh was put TO y vote. some few DIS
covered the trick and the vote on 1t was tie-65 TO
66--when Speaker COlax gave the casting vote,
| aud IL Was passed by hla vote. Afler the
passage OF this act neither the importers nor the
| Collector OF the port knew what the duty really
was, and nearly all invoices were held back until
| che secretary or the treasury sustained the tax
proviSo IN the Internal Revenue law ana thus re-
duced the duty.
TIRE EMPLOYEES SATISFIED.
AT TINS stage the cigar makers committee having
In the meantime returned, MIR. KUHN rose and, the
CHAIRMAN, MI. Hirsch naylng communicated 10 him
the acLon OF the ASSOCIATION, SAID that the interests
OF all producing cl asses were Identical, ana the
pioyerd ana employees should 60 hand In hand. IL Is
the duty of workln2nen to protect the business OF
their emDloyersaDd Of the country. TheCgarmakers'
Union would propose to petition Congress to protect
the interests OF the trade IN the manner indicated
and they would have the united assistance OF all the
workingmen In the country. II is necessary to pro-
tect our home labor Even free traders see this IN
view OF the heavy taxation and the national debt.
To do this Congress should either increase the I'M,
port duty on cigars or reduce Is on the raw mate
| rial.
MIR. GABEY stated that they would leave to the
| manufacturers To draw up the petition and they
| would circulate II among the cGarmakers' unions
| throughout the land.
The committee OF employees having been informed
that there S no present intention TO reduce prices
they declared themselves satisfied and the meeting
| adjourned