The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-15
JOHN SIIERMAN'S NEW JOB.
A VERY PECULIIR SYSTEM OF WRAP.
PIERS FOR TOBACCO.
Quietly Cooking Upn Contract and Awarding
tt without Advertised Proposnis-Why
Lobby Agents are Kept In Warrington.

Quietly Cooking Upn Contract aud Awarding
~ without Advertised Proposais-Why
Lobby Agents are Kept In Washington.
To THE ED1ToR OF THE SUN--Sir: Per-
nit me to call your attention. and that OF your
million Of readers. to whnt must be character
ized as most fragrant abuse OF official power.
allude to the circular recently issued by Mr..
Green d. Raum. Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue. providing for the issue OF tobacco la
bells or wrappers having the internal revenue
stamp printed on them. and awarding tho con-
tract for printing said labels or wrappers with
stnmps TO the Grdphic Company. q concern do
ing business In this city, From tho copy OF tho
circular enclosed herewith you will readily see
what an arbitrary and most unfair arrange
ment has been entered into. In fact the whole
thing is a job. No advertisement was issued
calling for proposals for the printing OF these
stamped labels. but the matter was cooked up
quietly and n contract awarded which affects In
greater or less degree the Government. the to-
bacco manufacturers and last. but not cnst,
every printer photographer or engraver OF labels
in the country
The Government Is affected by tho great OPP
portunty the printing OF tho proposed stamp
affords to tho cOuuterfctcr. Prior 10 the issue
Of this circular the stamps affixed 10 packages
| OF tobacco were printed from steel plates By ono
| OF our bank note companies on special paper
made expressly for the purpose under the
! supervision ol the Government The paper
was issued to the company by the Government.
and every sheet had 10 be accounted for. When
| printed the stamps were delivered to the
! Treasury Department. which issued them TO
| the various collectors who In turn issued them
| to the manufacturer Thus every possible pre-
caution was taken To- protect the Governments
! interests. As will be seen, the circular pro-
vides that the stamped labels can be printed on
| any kind OF paper and rs they will be printed
either from stone uithographed) or from cleo
trotypes. II will be in the power Of the smallest
| country job Office or ol any tenth rate litho-
| graphic shop to counterfeit them.
The tobacco manufactures is affected by tho
! fact that in order to avail himself Of the saving
| To be produced by putting stamp and label on
| Mt one operation he must 20 to the Graphic
| Company TO get his labels printed. and that es-
! adjustment can charge him Just NJ much rs
| they please. for they have no competition. To
| be- sure he can send his paper TO be stamped,
| and aiterward print his labels on the stamped
paper: but the Grdphic Company can charge
| him such rates for printing the stamps rs 70
compel him either to allow them to print the
| labels. stamp and all. or TO continue TO use tho
| Old style OF stamp. But how long the manufac-
turer will be permitted to have this option is
| question. M n widespread feeling exists among
the trade that this circular is but the narrow
end Of tho wedge. and that before long its scope
Will he extended to embrace all classes oftobac-
co. and making the use OF the Graphic stamp
| compulsory.
How the printing trade will be affected Ia
easily seen. What manufacturer will pay A to
print or Autograph his labels when u lthe
GrdPtc Company stands ready TO print the
! stamp at the snrne operation, and. In case OF
| competition. without extra charge. And this
point is where the coiored gentleman Is con.
| cealed. for the GrdDhic Company are not sigh
INK for the money TO be made out OF the prtnt-
| ing Of the stamps. but are longing with euger
| eyes for the opportunity this contract affords
| them to control the printing and lithographing
| OF all the tobacco labels and wrappers used in
the country. II is perhaps not an exaggeratlon
| to state that Mt least two million dollars IL an
| nually spent for such label- and wrappers "a
are immediately affected by this circular while.
| should the plug or manufactured tobacco be in.
| cluded. the sum would easily be doubled. No
| wonder that n concern whose financial troubles
| are historic should keep lobby agents at WASH
| ingtOn by the score spending the poor Cana
| dian Stockholders money!. with such bonanza
in view. or TINT the columns Of the obscure sheet
issued from their Office should bespatter with
praise and aduation the present Adminstra-
| ton.
II any one wants stamped labels. let the Gov
| ernment make arrangements by which any
| printer or manufacturer of tobacco can send
| bis labels to the stamp printers and have tho
| stamp printed on them but. for obvious rea-
| sons. the contractor who prints the stamps
stamps. PRINTER.