The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-31


Tax 8 ~ 81
Editors Dtspatcd A large meeting 81
both manufacturers and all others interest
pound on tobacco has Just been held ia
Cincinnati. and other meetings are getting
uE in other points of the West for the pur-
pose of memorializing Congress and urging
Ion that body this as a measure OF Justice to
a great Industry now Ian gushing under q
rate OF taxation which drew from it more
+ than $41, O00, 600 OF revenue last year.
Think OF ii, AIr. Editor, that Govern
ment that was supposed by its framers to
have its taxing power SO carefully limited
as to secure the Utmost equality and UNI
formity in burdens among all classes and
Industries, should yet have selected this
great dgriCtlt stapEs OF the middle belt
OF the country, and imposed a burden which
has in the last ten. years Wrung from itmore
than 1925, 000, 900 for the Federal treasury (;
and in the same period S70,000,0O0 within
the limits of Virginia- more than double OF
her State debt.
w hen first proposed twas only urged as
a war measure, the burdens Of which would
fall iii great part on the tobacco-belt Of Fir-
ginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, and Missouri, part Of that rebel
land where Thad. Stevens and his coadju-
tors were very willing to impose utequaI
and unconst itusionat basrdens.
Happily for the country the great Demo-
cratic party has now come. into power, and
with equality and Justice blazoned on their
relieve and lessen this most onerous tax
thus imposed on this Tobacco belt, the back
bone of the republic. y s. -
To effect this Democratic member from
Virginia fMr. CabelD has introduced bill
reducing this tax to - cents, and providing
for draubdck OF the difference between the
new and old rate on all stock stamped in
hands OF manufacturers, their agents, and
others. .... $500 III
The question therefore arises, Will; the
Richmond manufacturers unite now with
those OF Danyille and the West for the pur-
pose OF memorializing and urging Congress
to pass this bill !? The question is not now
whether they would have started this move,
but whether they will ende&Yor to give
direction to it already agitated2 whether
this manufacturing centre, the greatest in
the United States, will not now put forth
Its efforts to bring II to saccessfu Ut termina-
tion, and that at an edrlg day?
AS much as the manufacturers desire a
reduction in the rate OF this tax, they always
shrink from prolonged agitation, because
the trade in it is SO disturbed during the.
period It'll passing through the two houses
LOT Congress.
But as this agitation had necessarily to
take place sooner or later, in consequence
OF the vast interests against which this to-
bacco-tax impinges, it is thought by the
most enlightened and leading manufacturers
that this is perhaps the best time at which
it could have been started, ia consequence
OF the small amount OF work done during
the winter season. The reduction OF this
tax from twenty-four to twelve cents will
not only be highly beneficial to the manu-
facturers, but to the great planting in
terest, inasmuch Us it will increase consump-
ton by more than 50,000,000 pounds an
nually, and to that extent create demand
for the farmers leaf. The chewing and
smoking tobacco, which is largely in excess
OF all other forms Of consumption, is mainly
used by the working classes OF this country,
whose wages have been reduced one half OF
what they formerly were, and proportion
ateiy their ability to consume. This has
contributed more to the now languishlng
condition of the market than all other
causes, and the proposed reduction Will
therefore cause at once vigorous and
healthy demand for all grades OF manufac-
tured tobacco to spring up, sucn as mas nos
been witnessed since the increase OF this
tax, March 3, 1875.
There is another grave consideration
which is now animating the tobacco,nen to
move in this matter, inasmuch as the high
nrices OF manufactured tobacco, III conse-
auence of this high rate OF tax, is causing
the raising OF patches and gardens OF the
leaf to be consumed by the grower oil over
the on-tobacco-raising States, thereby less
ening year by year the demand for the man
ufactured article, and injuring the tobacco
States 10 an extent not yet fully compre-
hended. This consideration alone is sllfii-
Gent for the move which Messrs. Tucker
and Cabell are now making on the floor OF
Congress in behalf Of the interest OF this
great tobacco State.
The question now is, Shall the manufac-
turers OF this city unite in this move and
endeaYor to give 1t such g direction rs their
interest shall dictate B.
AN ADMIRABLE DOcUmENT.-Last week
we bad only time to say few words about