The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-09-04
THE GRIEVANCES OF CIGAR MA
KERE.

Th6 0hl6 ANO6o O1 Ox0A6 mn
KERE.
In our last we published the full text Of
q memorial to Congress from the sigar
makers of the State of New York, asking
that body to repeal the odious and unjust
bond system, and also for such changes in
the internal revenue laws as now prohibits
the sale of tobacco by the wholesale dealer
in less quantities than hogshead, case Or
bale, the result Of which is that the entire
tobacco trade is fast growing into an i'm
mense monopoly, which is literally crush
ing out of existence the small manufactu-
rers and workmen.
The reasons set forth in the memorial
possess national interest, and should
command the earnest and careful atten-
ton of every Senator and Congressman,
to whom it is addressed While all bran
ches of industry suffer more or less from
the baneful influences of an unwise and
oppressive system Of taxation, the cigar
makers, from the peculiar nature of their
calling, and the unwise discrimination
made against them, have suffered more
than any other class Of tradesmen in the
country.
We have been taught by all respectable
political economists to believe it to be the
duty Of government to encourage all
branches Of useful industry, but our
statesmen % do not appear to entertain
any such antedeluvian opinion. 1t is true
they pay attention to the political bar
ometer, but the study of statistics relating
to our industrial population forms no part
of their education and as natural Sc
quence, when any public or Legislative
measure relating to labor's interests in
general, or certain branches Of it in par
ticular, are brought forward for consider
ton, they find themselves profoundly ig-
norant Of the very subject upon which
their judgment has been invoked, and
which their dictun declares what shall and
what shall not be law.
OF all the departments Of useful indus
try, we know Of none that is 80 directly
injured by unjust legislation as that of the
cigar makers Of the United States. Then
business is entirely handed over to a class
Of men who, by their large means, mono
police the trade. No other calling in the
United States is so much affected by OF
Disseminated against In the first place
the bond system is a virtual barrier
against all beginners. 1t does not apply
to any other line of business A shoe.
maker, builder, jeweler, or machinist, car
set up and commence business on the small
lest possible scale, and government does
not interfere with them We are aware
government does not require duty on NOR.
tar, lumber, or homemade iron, but gov
eminent, or, rather, its representatives
should remember that the surest meanI
by which fraud can be established ano
fostered, is to pursue the very policy they
have marked out with regard to the cigar
makers. Honesty is the best policy, and
honesty should be learned by our Law
makers. For example, FIVE men engaged
in cigar making, desire to purchase
bundle of tobacco averaging $40 pounds
one Of whom must be the purchaser The
price Of this tobacco gauges from II cent,
to 81. 90 per h., from $50 to $500 per bale
The purchaser, according to law, must pay
$500 special tax in order to permit him t
divide that tobacco among the purchasers
Is such system Just or equitable Car
small manufacturers, buying tobacco un
der such circumstances, afford to manu-
facture cigars to compete with men who
buy it by the bale or bundle Certainly
not and as a result the small tradesme1
are crushed ben cath the wheel Of mon
opoly.
Again, if the dry goods clerk of yester
day, wants to be the retail dealer of to
day, there is no law prohibiting the whole
sale merchant from selling him from on,
to thousand dollars worth Why theI
should this discrimination be made to ap
ply to cigar makers Why should no
cigar makers have equal privileges il
matters of trade, with any other class o
citizens There is certainly somethin.
wrong in legislation which makes such
discrimination, and the sooner the peopl,
understand the matter, and the sooner tn,
peoples representatives determine to wip,
such odious laws out of existence, the bet
ter alike for all Interested