The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-12
Richmond Tobacco Manufacturers I'm
Ceuncil-Protest against the Pro-
posed Increase or the Tax ON Mann.

PU8yU AnCRS08O0 0l the lux ON manu-
factured Tobacco. IS ...
An adjourned meeting of the tobacco
manufacturers OF the city of Richmond was
held at the Tobacco Exchange on Saturday.
The meeting was called to order, and Mr..
David Baker, Jr., elected chairman. MIR. r.
A. Mills was requested to act as secretary,
Colonel w. +. Burwell offered the follow
ing resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas the Secretary of the Treasury
has In especial report lately recommended
TO Congress al increase of four cents per
pound on manufactured tobacco, thereby
increasing the burdens on this. subject
S4,T2O, 900, when it already pays annually
into the national Treasury more than S34,-
600, 900, and that, too, in face of the fact that
two years ago it was conceded In the con.
test before Congress on this subject that
$40, ,000, 900 would be all that the require.
ments of the Government would then need,
ana that only fora few years, when this
last amount could be reduced; and where.
as That policy which thus selects STA
ple production of six or eight States of
TINS Union to heap up the burdens OF
taxation, ii not against the terms of eoual-
tty guaranteed by the Federal Constitution,
is certainly against its spirit, end is based on
a false analogy TO the English system Of tay.
alton on this article Of tobacco. In which
country it is leaisiated on only witha view Of
wringing the greatest amount OF revenue
from it as an article Of pure luxury rather
than as a great industry OF our country on
which millions depend for their daily sup
port, and therefore should be an especial OBJ.
iect of the fostering care of this Govern
ment; and whereas the reduction Of nearly
seventy per cent. resulting from the contest
before Congress in 1872 has greatly stimula'
ted the consumption of manufactured to-
bacco, carrying it from $4,000, 900 pounds
up to 11S,000,O00 annually, and thereby
greatly bencfitlng the planting interest of the
whole country, to the extent that it has ere
ated an additional demand for their leaf
therefore
Resolced, as the sense Of the tobacco men
of Richmond, That the late recommends
ton of the Secretary of the Treasury to IN
crease the tax on manufactured tobacco foul
cents per pound is as UNJUST as it is USNEcEs
sARY; unjust because 1t selects staple pro
duction of six to eight States of this Union
to heap an additional burden of over foul
millions, which is now pouring an immense
revenue into the Golfers of the Government
| unnecessary because the experience OF tht
last few years shows that reduction of til,
rate of tao has so greatly increased the con
sumption that more revenue flows into th'
Treasury than under The older and hsghel
system.
t. 2. Resolced, That a committee of five b.
appointed TO communicate these resolution
to our senators and representatives in Con
gress, and request them to use all prope
means to defeat this unequal recommends
ton.
8. Resolved, That the cooperation of tn
tobacco men throughout the country be re
| quested to aid US in defeating this scheme
additional taxation on this our great indus
try, and the press of the State and countr.
| be requested to lend their powerful indu
ence in antagonizing proper public opinion
against this measure,
4. Resolred, That the secretary OF thi
meeting present copy Of these resolution
to our papers and send one 10 each OF GU
senators and Representatives, with the re
quest that they be laid before their respec
| tive houses.
Under the second resolution the Chair up
pointed the following committee W. 7
| Burwell, Samuel NJ. Bailey, James b. Pace
| Alexander Cameron, Lewis II. Frayser.
On motion, David Baker, Jr., was adde'
to the commit ce. Adjourned.