The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-21
Trne Tobacco Tax.

MoNDA M Y ~ =, as.o.
- Tne Tobacco Tax.
- mna forjowfpe blank petition was re.
.o; i ~ ! tobacco manufacturer IN this
cstv and turned over 10 US, to show how
ths enemy Is at work. twas sent BY mr.. 1
IoauaIaD, os New Fork, who now pro
tiuces one tenth, Of all the manufactured TO-
bacco Ia this country, and Is guaran teeins
his customers against loss In cornectalson
with the tax 8. I,
phase circulate and send to yoesr repre-.
sentatiue IN the United STATES Congress a.
prTfrioS AGAINST ANY CHANGE OF TAX ON
70 TIE Honorable Senator's and Represensl l.,
Epes Of ne United Sgates OF Annertca,
So Congress assembled
Your petltioners, manufacturers OF To-
bacco in ---, earnestly deprecate any
proposition, discussion, or action WDateVer
on the subject OF reduction OF the tax
now iynpused on manufactured fobacco, Ior
Che reasons hereinafter stated:
First. The sGovernment finances, as we
understand them, will not admit OF the re-
ductiGn OF the tax upon tobacco Without
providing Tor increased revenue from some
other source.
venue cannot be raised from any Other
source as easily as from the tax on tooaeco,
for the manufacturers are the medium
through which the Government collects thas
fay. and the tax follows the tobacco, reach
inc and diffusing itself among the con-
sumers, who in the end pay it and make no
complaints.
Third. The manufacturers and the trade
have ADAPTED their business, to the present
rate OF tax: their prices, both wholesale and
retail, have been adjusted on that basis.
Fourth. No difficulty is experienced IN
collecting the tax at the present rate which
would net be experienced in coltectlng tue
tax at any other rate.
Fifth. Every change for the time being
and during its discussion DISCREPANCIES busl-
ness. isistLrbs prices, discourages and I'M
settles the trade, causes great losses by sus;
pension or manufacturing, ana throws
thousands of laborers out Of work. 80 -:
Fer these reasons and others which we
might name, we earnestly and respectfully
petition your honorable bodies not to change
the present rate Of tax on tobacco. ;:y {,
Now, we will look at the points in, this
document: - =.
: Ii is not fact that anybody but the men
Of large capital In the tobacco business
deprecate sany proposition, discussion,
&C., on the subject Of the tax" &c, AS 1t
involves the very life OF all The small manu-
facturers, they not only want the tax re-
duced, but they want it abolished altogether.
l. II the Government needs the money
covered by the tax, and still insists upon
expressing thestobacco interest because to-
bacco is luxury, let it be made to put
little on some of the manufacturers North
producing other luXuries-say silks, laces-
indeed, anything that a laboring man can
not afford to buy. They have gone 'scot"
free" too long already.
2. This is a very plausible point indeed.
While it may be very easy way to raise
the tax, it is not as easy thing for say a
Richmond manufacturer to raise the money
to buy these tobacco-stamps, more espe-
cially as they have to go on the boxes be-
fore they leave his factory, whereas Mr.. Lo-
R1LLARD, being in the naarket itself--New
York-he need not put them on until his
tobacco is sold. ,,,y.,.,, r.,r-.7 t.s, III u. /.
3. The drawback proposed by Mr.. CABELL
will fix all the trouble under this head.
4. There may be no less difficulty in col
lecting the tax at twelve cents, but the
manufacturer has only twelve cents to put
on the box, and not twenty-four cents as
now, and we know one factory in this town
where it will be the difference Of an interest
account on S240, 900, and on 1920, 900 year.
5. So far from the troubles occurring
under this head, it will double the power OF
every manufacturer and cause the employ
ment OF correspondingly greater number
The whole matter can be summed up in
very few words: The tag makes the rich
richer and the poor poorer. All the rich
manufacturers want 1t to remain where it
is-indeed, would not be sorry If it was
made little higher. The markets are now
loaded with Iow-grade tobaccos, because
nobody can afford to work such tobaccos on
tax OF twenty-four cents. Do away with
your tax, or even reduce itas proposed, and
the poor mans demand at once increases,
bringing into play these common tobaccos.
This tax is the nightmare on the breast Of
every tobacco-grower; and it is only ques-
ton OF time, under its operation, when the
whole business will run into few hands,
bringing back the tyranny that ex-
listed in colonial times in Virginia,
when a few traders met twice year and set
the price OF leaf tobacco. 1t kills all COM
petition as dead as HECTOR, and utterly pre-
vents the rise of young and energetic men
acquainted with the manufacture Of tobacco,
but possessed OF little or no capital. j
We do hope the friends Of reduction in
Congress will not stop until this fearful in
Justice and oppression is removed.
The Legislature on Per Diem.
The Senate this year plays off the retort
courteous upon the House Of Delegates.
It has been historical that the houses have
periodically played off upon each other the
expedient OF reducing the pay OF mem
beers but they have as often each recipro-
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