The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-08-21
THE CIGAR MAKERS.
Memorial to Congress

Memorial to Congress
The following Is the correct text Of the
Memorial presented 10 Congress BY the
Cigar Makers Of the State Of New York,
part Of which only was published in a
former issue
We, the cigar makers OF the State of
New York, in convention assembled, very
respectfully submit 70 the hOnorabic the
Senate and House of Representatives Of
the United States, the following petition,
and respectfully ask that they be received
and the proposition thoroughly investiga-
ted. We are confident that thorough in
vestigation will demonstrate the fact that
great injustice has been done 70 the manu-
facturer and to the maker Of cigars by the
existing internal revenue laws. The law
as Il now stands prohibits the sale Of tob
acco by the wholesale dealer In quantities
less than hogshead, case or bale. He Ia
not permitted to break bulk, nor can he
sell to any person except licensed tobSc-
co or cigar manufacturer. The tobacco
grower ls prohibited from selling his crop
otherwise than in hogshead or case or
from selling or giving away tobacco except
to licensed dealer or manufacturer The
result is that the entire tobacco trade IL
fast growing into an immense monopoly,
controlled by a small number Of large deal
ers and manufacturers, who oppress the
farmer at one end OF the line, and the
workman at the other, while the public is
charged high prices The retail dealer in
tobacco is crushed by the veritable iron
clad provision. He may pay $500 for his
license, and if, in the course Of the year,
Az IN ha
has 70 pay a revenue tax Of 90 cents for
every dollars worth Of tobacco sold BY
him over that amount. The consequence
is that the retail dealer in leaf tobacco has
been forced wholly out of existence, and
here Is the reason why journeymen cigar
makers favor a change in this respect.
Formerly, thousands W people III the
country made a comfortable living by man
ufacturing cigars III a small way, buying
from fifty to one hundred pounds Of tObac-
co at a time, and working It up at home.
These men, who generally kept small cigar
stores in the poorer sections of cities Or III
country towns, we're compelled to quit
business entirely OF to become Journeymen,
since 1t was beyond their power to buy
leaf tobacco by the case or bale. We claim
that this feature Of the law has the ten
dency Of clearing the country Of small
and Of building up huge
monopOhes, which Is contrary to the spirit
Of American institutions.
We ask the abolition Of the cigar makers
bond. The bond requirement ceased to
have either justification Jr utility when
the cigar tax became 1ayable in advance
by stamps. IL reflects dIscredItably and
uaJustly Oh an honorable and influential
trade. IL compels responsible and self-re-
liant tradesmen 20 solicit from friends and
favors which ii IL humilia-
ting TO ask and which Ina the nature Of
things are seldom or never cheerfully
granted. II prevents, Ill mn instances,
the humble workman from hecouIlng q
useful proprietor. II enables collectors Of
revenue To frequently extract Oney from
the manufacturers for making out new
bond papers, under the Plea Of necessity
for changing. examining, Ur renewing
bonds and finally II docs not exist IN tbs
excise regulations Of any other country.
and ought never to have found a place in
those Of the United States.
We submit that tobacco growers should
be allowed 70 pack their crops in packages
less than a hOgshead on bale
that the retail dealer should pay no more
for his license than the wholesale dealer,
which Is SO for year. The tax on sales
of fifty cents for every dollar over 81 600
should be repealed. Do this and il viii
have most encouraging effect upon small
and taAe from large mana-
factories that monopOlizing superiority and
eXclusiyeness which they nov enjoy. We
favor a return to the Law taxing cigars $5
per thousand The late advance of one
dollar per thousand is unjust, for under
the present financial depression, 1t ls ut
terly impossible for employers to advance
the prices Of their goods, ami as a natural
consequence the tax il taken AZ a general
thing from those that can least afford it
the jOurneymen cigar r-makers-by reducing
their wages one dollar per thousand for
making. If the necessities Of the govern
ment demand an increase Of revenue, 1t
should be obtained from such articles Or
commodities az can not be manufactured
OF grown IN this country.
We also claim that there should be no
difference In the size or color Of the cigar
stamp used for imported OF domestic cigars.
Under the Law there exists such differ
ence at the psesent time, which does great
injustice 70 the American manufacturer,
who imports his tobacco, pays the duty Ia
gold Of 80 cents per pound, and nanufac-
lures an article as good IN all respects -
that imported.