The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-12-25
{ By telegraph TO the Riehmond Dispstchl
TOBACCO. MEN BEFORE TILE SEN.
q: ATE FINANCE COMMITTEES. .

L E lE rlS ANIL tNOMMil FE.
WAsuiSGToS. Decen,ber.i7. "A dele
CATION Of cO>mannflciurcr appeared
hefure the Senate Finruce Commlttre 10
day in advocacy nf reductin u the pre-
sent rate Of tax on manufacturer tobacco
DR.. spence. Uf Chic. was the first speak.
er Tie maintained that the public mind.
50 far as il rrlsied 10 tobacco manutacinr
ers. was entirely unsettled. and until the
pending controversy regarding the perInan.
ent tax which should be levied nn tobarcu
was definitely sst:led. the state Of sffiirs
could not he improved. ss@5 sts@ @ "f. 4
q. After making detailed statement re.
carving ,hs:Swouhis consumed BHdeT PIE
vious rates Of taxation, lie sid that the nc.
tion Of Congress increasing the rate from
twenty 10 twenty fbur cents stupcie1 the
trade generally. all reisil dealers having
fixed their prices upon she bAsis uf twenty
rents. The manufacturers were compelled
10 aud four cents 10 ih-ir gods in order To
cover the increased iaxatiaI. On Isss than
sixty days, huwever. every mansfaeturer
vas compelled TO reduce ais stock 30 pre-
yious prices, aud the result was disastrous.
Under the sixteen aud twenty cents iax
there was an aggregate Of 10000, 900
pounds sali annually. Under the twenty.
four cent TAX The aggregate has been re-.
daeed to ll.uDfI, 600 pounds. Under the
existing las farmers and Others are slowed
to groW their own tobacco. aud in may cases
they sell to their neighhors. thereby avoid.
ing the tax. Which the manufacturer has 20
meet. Ils prcdictel, should this proceed.
ure he permitted 10 continue. that il will
be bu, short time until cpnnion smoking
tabscco ccases 10 exit. IIc produced
-sm,l" n iLe rnmm.nest smoking-t0hacco.
which is retailed at ten cents per package
IL fur omners--a prn6i Of Jne cent 90 each
package lie thonght the consumption pf
/ iosscro vas increasing sbro.d - lwall b. in
tie United Staies. but under les tax tie
etnsumcF wauld he materially bensf'ed :
I IL order 10 make the Ameriesn prsduct i,f
tobacco popular abnsd. be- sid. y. sl,uuld
tSx II lightly. IL ennela.ipu. VI. Sperrs
gave il ~ tie opinion II The en,iIs trade
that In the event h = reduction Of tile lax
60 iC cents the Government and the mann.
faefnrrr would 10Th very smm realize the
bshsft Of the same. On the oiher baud. u
I The reduction j. Hi made. tie tobacco in.
ierest will be jeopardized throughout the
Il country.
Mr.. W. .. B6rseli Of Virginia, sub.
mitted statement showing immense re-.
duc,ions IN the aihonnt Df inbscco cansum-
ed under fhe high ~ or taxation ~ COM
pared wiih the lnwer rate. lIrfnTe eonrlud.
ing b.. rrmsIks Vie eommi,tee aljoarnedtU ~
attend the meeting u the Senate. md de.
cided ~ hear gthef pentlemen adesiE nc "a
present arguments upon the question To-
morrow. .M@a l5aa
Its JifTieult 10 make intelligent senJen.
slti"n n the Business NJ the wcek. Tier.
va. snimaicd discussion 10 Taesdsy 81
Thurmah's smsniment 10 Blaine, re.olu.
ton fOrin,cIigaiioo into alleged rrrrc',iI
ofths eOlered yois. Mr. Thurmap' amspd,
men, pmpo'cd an open inquiry. THIS val
opt~pet BY The Republican, aud ona yoi'
there we're 80 ayes and 30 rays. and fh'
pfesidsn, u tie scasie gave The easing
vote IL lie negative. The smopdmeot vi
warmly Supported by Ransom. Mcrrimyn
|. IIuti.r of 5. q. HnsiD 81 L.. and. Slhc
souiben men. sIl drmsnding rr,sn inquiry
I,at II. other Sias fear that hs much Hs The,
: seek investigation II their own way. JOS
9 iies 10 Tie soa,h and . fsri exposition .
. fac's !. ,hs la.. ihisg they desire.
No action has Jet been taken On The hil
10 reduce tie isx On tobseeol bat ID
measure u laining friends. and sspociall
.jnts Mf. IIasiefs Iof Va exposure Q
! Tie ,nonarous irjus,ies d ne isx. u
. sbosed that op ) large portion u ibe q
lbsseo sroP. lie lar levied smoupied