The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-23

Tbe ToI,acco Tax.

The Philadelphia North American, in
an article of great ability and force. en-
dorses the position of the New York Bulle-
tin that the tax on tobacco discourages
production 1t claims that the removal
of taxes would stimulate production,
cheaper the cost, and lead to an increase
of exports.
The North American says:
1--WE, therefore, agree with the New
York Bulletin in what it says in favor of
the repeal of the tax, and entertain no
doubt that such repeal would accomplish
all the good results predicted. But regard
ing the probable opposition to such repeal,
we think it would perhaps be better to ask
for gradual reduction of the tax. Twenty
cents per pound is entirely too much, espe-
cially when we consider that, through the
operation of we'll known mercantile laws,
the consumer pays much more than that.
Even ten cents per pound is high tax
upon any domestic product, and warranted
only in case of necessity, which the large re-
venues of the national government show
not to exist at the present time. The Bull
letin evidently does not hope for an imme-
diate repeal of the tax, and therefore
wishes for a reduction to sixteen cents or
ten cents. Perhaps it might be adjusted
upon sliding scale, allowing OF a regular
annual reduction of limited amount until
the whole impost should disappear. This
would guard against all possible fiscal ext
gencies. and at the same time operate as
an important stimulant to the extensive
cultivation and manufacture Of tobacco.
sWhen we look at the enormous quantity
of tobacco consumed in this Republic an
nually, and compare the cost of it in the
present era with what it was before the war,
we see that here is large difference the
whole of which enters into the cost of pro-
duction of every article raised or made by
those who use this tobacco. We see that
the tax has not in the faintest degree dis
oouraged the use Of the article, while it has
affected disastrously our export trade ant
the domestic cultivation of the crop, ant
injured the manufacturers. We desire
therefore, to remove this tax or reduce i
steadily in the way proposed. We speak
now Of the domestic article, both raw ant
manufactured.
"With the improved railway and othe
facilities for trade and transit we have witt
the southern tobacco states with ou
new lines of foreign steamships, and tn
increased enterprise OF our manufacturer
and merchants, we ought to do large ex
port trade in tobacco, and would do it j
the tobacco states could recover more rapid
ly. During the last fiscal year we exporte
from Philadelphia leaf tobacco to th,
amount Of 2,3sl, 035 pounds, valued a
$532,637 proving clearly that tn
spirit is in the trade here, bu
the discouraging operation of the tax
shown in the fact that our exports of man
ufactured tobacco were only valued a
$4,S24. Indeed it almost looks as thong
the tobacco manufacturers had been sacr
feed to other interests that were deeme
of more importance. They have RICH
to ask for further relief in case the revenu
laws are to be again amended at the ensl
ing session of congress. The tobacc
grower, the consumer aud the manufactl
rer are all directly concerned in seeing thi
matter attended to-"