The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-03
'rfc Tax orr To5acco---Eet Agitation
Cease.
prTppSBrpc December Al 1877

PETERSBURG, December 81, 1877.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
In the issue Of your paper for to-day
YOUR correspondent 'sB." solicts an eX-
preston OF the views OF the tobacco manu-
facturers Of Richmond in regard to the
movement now being made in Congress
looking to reduction OF the tax on manu-
fact,lred tobacco. We are OF opinion that
all manufacturers OF that article should
deprecate the agitation and endeayor to
prevent it; and we believe that in so say
ing we reflect the views and hopes OF the
tobacco trade at this poiut.
The article OF tobacco is one OF many
subjects from which the Government OF the
United States derives revenue for necessary
public purposes, and whatever action is
taken with respect to the tax upofr it will
have to be carefully considered with refer
ence to the whole scheme Of public income.
Every interest has active representatives
before the Committee on Ways and Means
OF the House, who never give over their
efforts to throw the burden away from
themselves until the last moment. Conse-
quently, il the readiustment of the tobacco
tax were undertaken, from the necessities
OF the case, whatever preliminary and spe-
cific votes might be given, the whole queS-
ton would practically lie open and unde-
termined until the general revenue bill was
reported and came up in the House for its
action. This is usually one OF the last
bills considered by Congress towards the
close OF its sessions. Now, il the reduc-
ton could be fixed at once, there might be
some benefit in the organized effort to Sc
cure it, but the indefinite agitation OF the
question, while entire uncertainty prevailed
with res pect to its issue, would mean moth
ing more nor less than the shutting up OF
every factory in Virginia, as was the case
when the tax was reduced from 80 to 20
cents per pound.
The Government, falling short Of revenue
in 1874. had OCCASION, as is known, to re-
scind that action, and readjusted the tax,
this time at "a cents per pound. The ma
chinery for the collection OF the tax is so
perfect as to make tobacco 1aVorlte SUD
ject of taxation with the Government. Ihis
&C, was passed in March. 1875. Its ellecC was
again to paralyZe trade By sudden and
heavy change.
Certainty.and uniformity are The condi-
tions deemed essential by manufacturers to
the successful prosecution OF their business.
There is i'm it ut best small margin OF
profit, which is SO greatly endangered by
experiments and variations Of legislation
that the prudent man prefers to incur no
risk, and, while the discussion is going for
ward. is content to shut up his doors and
await the return of calm and steady wea-
ther before he ventures out on the indus
trial sea. 1t is needless to demonstrate that
such q suspension OF manufacture is OF cor
responding inju ury and loss to the leaf-dealer
and to the planter; all of them being tied
up and compelled to wait till Congress quits
tinkering with the tax, and thus enables all
parties to know exactly where they are and
what they have to expect.
We conclude that manufacturers OF to-
bacco ought, with all others interested in
the production and handling OF the article,
to unite in requesting our representatives
in Congress to let the subject alone until the
Government is ready to remove the tax
altogether. Nothing but stagnation can re-
suit from the yearly interference with the
rate. Agitation one year begets agitation
in never-ending succession; and il the tax
were located at twelve cents this session,
next year there would be q chance to change
it to eight cents or raise it to sixteen.
AS the merchants Of Paris told the Min
ister Colbert, all we want is s.LaisSez .f0ire.'
Hoping you will! pardon the length OF this
letter ON account OF the gravity OF the sub
ject and the mischief to be anticipated from
its unfortunate agitation,
We are, very respectfully,
g.. A. JACKSON i Co.