The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-12

MASS MEETING OF TOBACCO EN-
PLoYEs AT THE AFRICAN CHURCH.
Pursuant to call previously issued q large
and enthusiastic meeting of the employees of
the various tobacco factories of the city
took place at the African church last night.
The meeting was organized by calling Mr..
f. w. Jackson to the chair. l.. +. Lottier,
ESQ.,, was requested to act as secretary.
The Chairman stated the object of the
meeting to be the presentation Of memo
rial to Congress requesting that body to
take some immediate steps towards the re-
moval OF the taxes now imposed on the
tobacco interest of this community. The
Chairman then introduced Mr.. w. P. Bur-
well, who addressed the meeting. He was
followed by Colonel Daniels, of the STATE
JOURNAL, and Mr.. l.. II. Frayser, all of
whom advocated a uniform tax. The fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions were then
offered by f. R. jackson:
"Whereas the great uncertainty which
has for some months hung over the inter-
nal tax on tobacco, occasioned by the pro-
posed changes in the rate of taxation on the
part of Congress, has had paralyzing eff
feet on the trade of manufactured tobacco,
resulting in closing nearly all the factories
for nearly three months, depriving for that
period of time alarge number of operatives
of their usual and accustomed occupation,
and throwing them on the charity of the
city during a long and pinching winter,
causing great suffering and want among
hundreds of families:
"Resolped, /. That we, the operatives
of Richmond and Manchester, do most ear
nestly petition Congress that this tobacco
question, on which the sustenance of so
many of the poor of this State depends, be
taken up at once and disposed of.
"2. That uniform rate of taxation, in
the opinion of this meeting, will not only
be just and equitable among all classes of
manufacturers of tobacco, but is alike de-
manded for proper execution of the law
and the prevention of fraud.
SO. While we do not desire to dictate
the amount of Revenue which the General
Government shall derive from manufac-
tured tobacco, we do yet desire to express
the opinion of this meeting, that this in
dustry is more heavily taxed than any
other subject of internal revenue, being
three hundred per cent. on the average cost
of the raw material, being thereby tax
mainly on the labor which enters as a large
constituent in the manufactured article.
81. That it is the opinion of this meet
ing that the establishment of bonded
warehouses, which has enabled few of us
to engage in the manufacturing of tobacco,
| is one of the surest measures passed by
| your honorable body to prevent fraud, and
enable those with small capital to earn an
honest living; and the abolition of bonded
warehouses will terminate in the destruc-
ton of all smaller manufacturers, thereby
throwing many persons out of employment
and the government deriving no benefit
threfrom, therefore, we would pray Con-
gress to continue and extend this system OF
| bonded warehouses.
:" 5. That we feel sincerely grateful to
the government that gave us our freedom,
and do highly appreciate the many acts Of
Congress guaranteeing to us the right oi
citizenship, suffrage, and many other
privileges.
''6. That the tobacco operatives sign a
memorial presenting these views to Con.
gress, and request the president of this
meeting to present copy of the same tc
Hon. William d. Kelly, Republican mem
Der Of the Committee of Ways and Means
through Hon. Charles II. Porter, Republic
can member of the House Of Representa-
tives from this district.o
After some confusion, caused by de
termined effort on the part of some to max,
political question of the matter, the vot'
was taken, and amidst considerable con
fusion, the chair decided the resolution
adopted.
, POLICE ITEMS.-The case of VIM. liar
ris, charged with feloniously aiding an,
ahettinu ono VIM Hall in fnlnninuSlv nh
tanning, under false pretenses, from Jane
i Turner, s2,300 in United States currency
with intent to defraud, was continued unit
J tomorrow for further inquiry.
VIM. Madison, for unlawfully assaultin
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