The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-01-20
Genesal Sheridan viii Make a
Tour Of Inspection of His
Department.
General Ewing Asks for Power TO Send
for Persons and Papers TO Inycstl-
gate the Amount or Coin Avail.
able for Resumption.
LOrrllard 4 Co., the New York Tobacco
nists, Before tho Ways and Means
Committee Want a MonOp.
oily Of the Business.

WASHINGTON, January l9.--The sub
committee on banking and currency
have directed their chairman, General
Ewing, to report resolution asking
power to send for persona and papers,
and otherwise investigate the amount
of coin in the country available for re.
sumption.
General Sheridan will shortly make
u tour of inspection of his department
General Whipple, of Sherman's staff,
will accompany Sheridan.
Mr.. Seidler appeared before the su b.
committee on ways and means to-day
In the interest OF Lorrilard ~ Co.,
Of New York, protesting against the
proposed reduction on tobacco, claim
ing whereas he had orders for l,200,-
600 pounds in November, in Decem.
Der, after the agitation set In, he had
only 100000; that his establishment
worked $500 men; that II had capac.
ity OF 10000 pounds per day, and that
his orders would average 90, 600; that
he was surprised that the Virginia
manufacturers agitated this subject /;
that the price OF leaf tobacco depended
upon the supply and demand; that
consumption was entirely irrespective
OF price; that there We're only eight
millions of consumers, consuming an
average Of fifteen pounds; that the
price has nothing to do with the num-
her of consumers or the amount
consumed; that the tax OF twenty.
four cents WAS low as compared
with England, France, Germany,
Spain and Austria. The tax in Eng
land was three shillings on manufac-
tured tobacco. That II the tax was re-
duced the tariff would have to be In
creased and an income tax would have
to be imposed; that If the tax was res
duced from twelve cents the income
from il would be reduced to half, con,
sequently the cost OF collection, which
was now four per cent, would be eight
per cent. Business was now In very
improbable condition, but he attri-
buted II to other causes than the tax;
that one of the reasons why II was SO
Improbable to Virginia manufacturers
was because 1t was shipped to commits
sion merchants, and was, therefore,
sold with heavy charges against them.
Another reason was that they didn't
have the advantage of the chemical
processes which were had in New
York, and that they make inferior
goods for the purpose OF I'M
derselling; that these were the
reasons why Virginia manufacturers
were so deeply depressed not because
of the tax.
The finccut men OF the west and
northwest came in for their share of
these criticisms. Kentucky was not
alluded to. He further said, If the tax
was reduced now it would have to be
restored very soon. He was further
questioned, by several gentlemen
present, that If the present tax was
building up such giant establishments,
as he claimed would 1t not he better
to double the present rate. He said
that the smaller and poorer manufac'
turers were more liable to defraud the
government than were the larger ones,
because from the latter larger bond
was required, and more people were
watching them, the argument being
that 1t would be beneficial to the gov
eminent to concentrate the manulac-
turers In the larger establishments.
He admitted that tobacco was very
low now. Sugs In New York and the
western markets were sold at two or
two and a half cents and In Virginia
at three cents, in order to save their
western trade.
Loriilard 4 Go. gave guarantees to
their customers that In the event OF u
reduction Of the tax, II would involve
them in loss Of over $4,000. In re-
gard to the abate on tax Mr.. Seidler
argued that the stock On hand would
be nearly one-half of the years supply,
some sixty million pounds at twelve
cents would cause loss to the gov.
eminent Of s7,2OO,OO0. He said that
Mr.. Klmball, chief of the tobacco bu.
reau Of this city, had stated to him
that it would open a vast era Of per-
Jury and fraud. Colonel Burne!l,
was present and prepared to present
argument in behalf oftheVirginia man
ufaclurers, but owing to the prolonged
session he was requested to furnish his
views in writing, which he will do
early next week.