The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-18
LEAF TOBACCO DEALERS ASSOCIATION.

Progress or Enthusiastically Com
filming Trade to the Larger Capitalists.
In consequence Of the Congressional enactment
known as an amendment TO the act OF 1868, by
which, as Is claimed, trade in leaf tobacco
has been confined to the larger capitalists,
there was large gathering OF retail
dealers in leaf tobacco last evening at Brookes'
Assembly Rooms, Br0ome street, to protest against
the enforcement Of the act as amended by the last
Congress. The chair was taken by J. ].
Kuhn, and the following was declared to
be the substance OF the grievance CON-
planned Of as entailed by the amendment named:-
The object declared to have been sought through
the enactment Of the amendment was to suppress
the real or fanced extensive manufacture and sale
of Illicit plug tobacco in the South ana Southwest.
The effect, 1t was claimed, Is to wipe out ofexist
ence" the small manufacturers Of cigars
and small dealers In seed leaf tobaccOs, the
''smal cigar makers" who, with their families,
have been accustomed to work at home-tenemeBt
necticut or Spanish leaf or sell IL In small guam
titles, or less than case or bale, the former
pounds. Dealers or manufacturers who cannot
afford to purchase such quantities-and there
are thousands IN and around the city, so
trade. These Dealers who used to sell to the cigar
makers, having lost their customers, win have to
ers, losing the retail leaf dealers, will have
to find their patrons among the large cigar
makers, into whose hands the business Of
was claimed is an outrage, because it, as Is
claimed, egisates against the poor in favor Of the
rich, charging the first $500 special tax license
and the second only $25-makng the first also pay
fifty cents on each dollars worth Of goods sold In
excess of $1,000, and the second pay. nothing
on the latter account. When the case
had been thus stated the question came up for con-
sideration as to whether It would not be well to
send a committee to Washington to explain to the
revenue authorities how grievousy the act will
affect thousands OF men and families In this locality
to be appointed by the Chair. The Chair declined,
but named a committee to nominate a committee
to visit the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue and
secure all that may be possible.
Mr.. BONN favored q postpOnement OF the appoint
Ment of a committee until the reports of the pre-
sent meeting should awaken the entire trade to the
necessity for esrly and effective action,
Mr.. CONRAD KUHN favored the appointment OF q
committee to visit the members OF the trade In this
city and surroundings and secure their signatures
to de finite trade action.
The committee selected to name committee to
go to Washington returned and named L. M Craw-
ford, J. j. Kuhn and M. Oppenhemer. The selec-
ton was confirmed unanimously.
Mr.. BONN moved that the committee on re-
turning from Washington, call meeting of the
entire trade to take such action as the result OF the
visit may seem to require.
The motion was carried.
Mr.. OPPENHEIMER then moved that q committee
be appointed to draw up memorial setting forth
the grievances Of the trade and to have 1t signed.
committee or three was then named, and a mo-
ton was also carried to secure the names OF work
men rs well as the dealers, until fully 5000 names
should be attached to the memorial. The commit
tee named was Mr.. ]. M. Bonn, ]. L. Gassert, Con-
rad Kuhn.
In conclusion, Mt. Nissen, secretary of the asso-
citation, directed to send to the trade outside
the city and invite the cooperation Of all in
ing the non enforcement OF the law.
The meeting then adjourned.