The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-13

adjourned on Monday night we were unable
to get in rs full n report as was desired. AS
stated In Yesterdays Dispatch, the meeting
was organized by the election of r. w.
Jackson as chairman, and L. F. Lottier, Esq,
rs secretary.
The chairman having stated the object OF
the meeting TO be the consideration OF me-
mortal to Congress pctitioning that body to
take some immediate steps towards the
equalization of the tax on manufactured to-
bacco, introduced Mr.. ". p. Burwcll, Of this
city, who addressed the meeting at some
length He said that he had but recently re-
turned from Washington, where he mao
been as chairman Of Il committee appointed
BY the tobacco manufacturers Of this city.
That he had addressed the Committee Of
WAYS and Means of the House Of Reprcsen-
tatives in behalf of the bill equaizing this
tax, now locked UP in that committee, show
ing the unjust and injurious discrimination
which the tax, as at present laid, imposes On
the plug interest Of the country. He read Il
letter from the Hon. W. d. Kelly, OF Penn
sylyania, = member Of the Ways and Means
Committee, sympathizing with this move
merit, and promising to exert his lnilu-
cnce for the passage Of the bill. MIR. Bur-
we'll then detailed at some length the injury
NOW oli lIlC piiE lheSi'ot " viz 'ss-N
of 80 cents, whereas the tinc-cut interest was
protected by a tax of only 1G cents. He said:
=. In short, sir, we want simple justice. II
this unequal tax is kept up the discrimination
will kill The tobacco interest Of this communi-
". The closed doors Of many OF our fac-
tories already show the working of this
iniuuitous discrimination. 4 large portion
of our colorcd population are already thrown
,,r al, ..t,t md ~ ha 20
Our factories will inevitably be broken up,
our presses and fixtures sold, it may be, for
old iron, and many will have to seek other
and less profitable employment or starsc.
Grim want already Stares many of the tobac-
co laborcrs in the face. Let us, then, have a
lust and uniform tax on all grades Of tobacco,
and VIC can reopen our factories and give
lucrative employment to thousands of now
idle hands"
Mr.. Burwelps remarks were received with
appreciation by many Of the better class OF
the audience, but others received them with
that suspicion and blind prejudice character.
iStic OF ignorance. They could not or would
not see how an equal taxation could be of
mutual benefit to employer and employG, and
interrupted the speaker with many foolish
questions not at all pertinent to the subject,
one fellow desiring to know ii the Govern
mcnt reduced this tax from thirty-two cents
TO sixteen cents whether "he was gwine to
rit any part of it, The speaker explained
that the tax being lower it would enable the
manufacturer to lower the price, thereby in
crcasin9 the consumption and demand, and
consequently pay higher wages for labor.
4 voice: & Promises like pie-crust. "Iou
all done gone back on Us once before Here
some confusion ensucd, and the tendency OF
the discussion WAS evidently taking politi-
ca! turn, when 4 motion was made that
Colonel Danicls. of the State Journal, who
was present. be allowed to address the meet
ing. The motion was adopted, and Colonel
Daniels proceeded to address the meeting in
behalf of Il uniform tax. He said that ii WAS
an mdynml,lc and ncontrOvertlblc princi-
pc of political and social science that 10 one
| branch of industry could be put under ban
without affecting it more or less IN all its
| branches. No other system OF taxation than
IN equitable one can ever prosper any cou-
muntv. In this question Of uniform tax
on tobacco no party should be known. 1t is
| 4 question of practical labor, mutually rccip-
roc,l to the employer and laborcr, and one
| for the interest Of the whole State. lie ar
gned ut some length that labor and capital
! should have Il common Interest.
| He was listened to attentlyelv.
| i motion was then made that l-audon
! Boyd (colored United States asscSsor) be al
| lowed to address the meeting, but it was
voted down by large majority in much
confusion. and amidst cries of Don't want
to hear anything he's got to say; "Aint got
no use for him. &c.
By invitation, Mr. l.. II. FraysCr then took
the floor and in plain and coScnt speech
stated the injurious working Of this d!Scrimi.
natin" tlx He said the present law forr' s
tax OF thirty-two cents Oh all grades Of plug
tobacco, while the 1inc-cut grade was pre-.
tcctcd by Il tax Of sixteen cents. Now, We
do not object so much to the amount Of the
tax, but we do object to this discrimination
which keeps the plug interest from fail
competition in the markets. We want prompt
action in this matter. We want this just
and equal taxation because it is Just, and ie
czillSc il will open our many factories in this
state, and give employment to thousands
now actually needing the necessaries of life
am friend to the colorcd man, rs many
| here can testify, and | want to see him
prosper as well as myself.
| Thespcaker was here interrupted by James
Turner "a manufacturer himse.f), who said
"Mr. Fluyser, you say you are friend tt
the colorcd man. Why, then, don't you give
lis an equal right to compete with you, anC
allow lis to enter the Tobacco Exchange or
equal terms and purchase our tobacco, with
out having 10 pay some one to do 1t for us
and he cheated in the operation, as l have
been on more than one occasion?"
Mr.. Fnyser: "You all ought to know a:
well as I do that the Tobacco Exchange !!
governed by Il certain set of rules and regC'
iations requiring applications for member
ship to be Signed by at lcast two members
and then laid before the body for its considc
ration" [To Turnor:l 80 you see, sir,
have no authority to admit you to the EN
change"
Turner: ~Will you sign my arplica
tion:"
Mr.. FIayser " Yes, sir, will"
Turner was rather taken a-back by thlt
prompt answer, and took his seat, with ,
grunt of decided doubt.
The resolutions heretofore published wcro
then read and put upon their passage, whel
scene cnsucd beyond description.
Mr.. Price said, "That in his ignorant
Judgment these resolutions ought not to pass
he for one want agwine to sign no paper witt
his eyes shut; he was for sending them papers
to Mr.. Charles II. Porter fust, and hear what
he had to say about them." Cries of" That
so." Good" Bully for you" ""That's me-"
Price (warming with his subjecD "No, sir
l aint agwinc to tie my hands. You all bet
ter not have muffin to do with this ere thing
You aint knowing what you is doing" And
amidst great cheering and cries Of "Nuther
AIN | -" Nary time" &C., he took his seat.
Mr.. Jones here got the floor, and said
"Mr. Churman, these ar am good resolu
tons sir. and hope every man will vote fol
them" Cries of "Set down." "Shct up
"What YOU know bout it?''] Mr. Jones
q. .h.In:t .nt dou., Mr Ghn1n,nIr, Loy