The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-06
Grfitiug State gu,stnaL
WEDNESDAY EvE'G, MARCHG, 1872.
Tobacco in the House.

Those Of our friends who desired an ex-
pression of opinion in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes on the tobacco question on
"bill-day," succeeded in obtaining it on
Monday last, the Goth inst. During the
proceedings, Mr.. Leach (Dem.) of North
Carolina, moved to suspend the rules and
adopt resolution declaring it to be the
Indictment of the House that the tax on
manufactured tobacco should be uniform
tax of sixteen cents pound. Mr.. Dawes
remarked that that would take $l6,000,-
600 out of the treasury. The rules were
not suspended, by SO to 6S, less than two
thirds voting in the affirmative. As to the
adyisability of such course, we
have already expressed our views,
but since it has been pursued, we
may extract what comfort from it we may.
And in the first place, the trade at large
will no doubt be astonished to find that
had only q majority been necessary, it
would have required but thirteen more
votes to have carried the measure. That it
would not have been impossible to obtain
these under other circumstances, is evil
dcnced by the fact that many voted in the
negative, not because they were opposed to
A low, uniform tax-rate on tobacco, but
DeCHuSG LllCJ "GiG ullNllll W lthG Tie
matter out Of the hands Of the Committee
of Ways aud Means in so unceremonious
manner. One of the Washington cores
pondents, opposed to the reduction COM
ments on the vote as follows: "Soon after
Mr.. Leech, North Carolina Democrat,
introduced another resolution, declaring
that it is the sense of the House that the
interests of the country demand a uniform
tax of sixteen cents on manufactured to.
bacco. For THIS all the ProtectioniSts ooted,
and it became very apparent that they and
the tobacconists had formed COALITION
In spite of this union Of forces, the resolu-
ton was lost by so TO IS, not two-thrds.
And this effort to take 5000, 600 out of
the treasury failed. 1t was noticed that
Democrats who had voted for free tea and
coffee, free coal and salt, and reduced tariff
on iron, voted also for this tobacco mea-
sure. If there is no revision of the tariff
this year, it will be because these Demo-
Gratis who vote for free-tradc bills vote also
to sweep away all the internal taxes"
From all this it will be seen that when
the tobacco tax comes fairly before the
House, through the report of the Ways
and Means Committee, our interest will be
able to combat for sxteen-cent uniform
rate with better prospects Of success than
some of US had imagined. And this leads
us to observe that the duty of the hour is
now to direct all our batteries on those
members who voted in the negative on
Monday. It is no use wasting more time
on the Committee of Ways and Means.
What we need now, is concen-
tration Of strength brought to bear on the
floor of the House should any other than
Uniform siXteen-cent rate be reported, as is
now probable. We must show Congress
that the assertion of Mr.. Dawes, that the
rate we ask for would take SIG, 000, 900 out
of the treasury, is the merest ''buncombe."
1t can easily be shown that it would not
take out more than $S,000,000 at the out
side, and such an amount can very well be
spared. But to convince Congress of this
much patient labor is still needed in both
Houses, as the Senate will soon have some
thing to say on the subject, and there will
doubtless be numberless conferences, even
after the bill shall have passed one branch
of the National Legislature. With this
work faithfully done, however, we do not
think the prospect by any means dis
heartcning one. Tobacco never developed
such strength as it did in the House on Mon
day thereby proving that the good seed
already sown at the capital is commencing
to bear fruit. Similar causes in the future
will produce similar effects, and if our
friends will work together for brief period
our end will be secured. The tobacco
trade is not divided on the question of q
low uniform tax let not the ill-advised
action OF any half-dozen manufacturers
make it appear otherwise, and thus defeat
the virtually unanimous desire of power
full and loyal industry.-7he Tobacco Leaf.