The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-26

IHE TOBACCO lRADE-NAIlhNAI NpN-
ytNTinN OF TOBACCO DEALERS AT STEIN
wAY ll>LL.-A convention OF those into
rested in the various interests of the to-
Naccc trade residing in various sections Of
TIE Union was held at Stcinway Hall yes
trr!av afternoon at O'clock. The attend
ancc was very large. S. NJ. Bailey, of
Richmond, was one of the vice-prcsidcnts.
Air. Palmer, on taking the chair, briefly
thanked the Convention for the position
assigned him. and tersely set forth the un-
equal burdens imposed on the tobacco trade
by the present internal revenue law. Tie
object OF this gathering, he said, was to
seek by every honorable means the repeal
"f the laws bearing heavily and unequally
against the tobacco interests. An interest
which pays into the Government treasury
annually tax Of loco, 6OA was not to
%e ,riie1 with by Congress. The trade de-
mauds fair bearing al the hands of the
Government, and it must have il.
i'r. I. K. Spence, of Cincinnati, followed
in strong speech. lie denounced the idea
on Which the present law is based. That
idea is that tobacco is q luxury, and that
luXuries must pay the greater proportion Of
Tie tax. He denied this. Tobacco was
pcoi
NAN. and while it is Unfortunately taxed the
carriages and velvet tapestries of the rich
mans dwelling 90 tax free. The burden
VI the gentleman's remarks were, in effect,
tina; all tie interests of the trade should
unite in demanding the repeal Of the pre-
sent law. One reason why they had not
hcen respected in Washington heretofore
VAS because they had gone there disjoint-
"lly and without unison in making their
demands.
4 committee on resolutions was then ap-
pointed, which subsequently reported the
following, which were adopted
RsSoirta, That while we approve of the
present stamp Law, and Of every safeguard
calculated to prevent and detect fraud, yet,
IN our opinion, the necessity for monthly
returns and annual inventories has ceased,
and therefore they should be abolished,
since they subject the trade to humilia-
ting and detestahle espionage.
Re$olrsd, That we urge upon Congress TO
restore the duty on imported cigars to So
per pound and so per cent. I'D ra'orem,
which is absolutely essential to protect our
home industry against the cheap labor Of
foreign lands.
the repayment of the taxes unjustly col
lccted upon all goods which can conclusively
show that they have once paid the tax.
Mr.. Frayser, of Virginia, offered the fol-
lowing additional resolution, which was
also adopted
EeSolred, That we petition for uniform
TAX Of sixteen cents per pound OH tobacco,
for the establishment Of bonded warehouses
wherever the necessities of the trade may
require them 10 be allowed two removals
Of goods in bond instead of one as now
and against the proposed compulsory pay
ment Of all taxes at the factory.
Short speeches were subsequently made
by Hon. James Gallagher, of Connecticut
W. p Pierce, of Utica Colonel Wilder, of
Boston; Hon. L. II. Frayscr, of Virginia,
and Mr.. Koch, of New York, after which
The meeting adjourned.
In the evening a banquet was given at
Delmonico's by the National Tobacco Asso-
citation. Hon. William F. Lawrence, its
president, presided. JohD R. Thompson
and L. H. Frayser, of Virginia, were
among the speakers. .
The best of feeling seemed to animate
the entire company, the gentlemen from
the South and West being in full accord
with our own representatives of the trade
in uniting in every honorable means to re-
lcve the tobacco interest of its present bur
dcns.
At meeting Of the National Association
held at the Aston House in the morning the
following gentlemen were elected officers
for the ensuing year: W. E. Lawrence,
president; Joseph Frake, Of Richmond,
Va, vice-presideat; and Joseph Hall, of
New York aacretarv.- Mem Tork, Times.