New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-18
TIE TOBACCO TAN IN THE SENATE
IuL IIUI .ITVN VIFIIT-I1T'' ~
wuOtT-A long srssIoN OVER TIir BILL

THE TOBACCO TAN IN TIE SENATE
TIE REDUCTION oRDTRED II COMMITTEE OF lAA
wuorr-AIoNG SESSION OVER TIN BILL
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBrNEI
W,eU,v6rON. Feb. Isl 4. M.-Ihe enormous
lobby of tobacco men gathered in the Senate gal
lo-cs in roat force to-day, each man being supplied
with copy Of the Internal Revenue bin and pre-
ored to watch the discussion Of the tobacco section
Closely. The bIll came up at 1870 as unfinished
business.
An earnest effort was made by the members OF
the Appropriations Committee TO Law aside ana
take up the Post Cacc Appropriation ill; Bat on
avca and nay vote they were defeated, the racine
Coast Senator'S IN accordance with an apparent bar
gain. voting with 'he tobacco men.
Senator Bryard, N charge Of tie hl-
explained ia provisions, and said that
tie graf part of it vas based upon II. On
meudatioas of the revenue officials and provided
moro efficient machinery for the-oIlcction of the
revenue. Norad.cal chang in the rate Of taxation
v.. rroposcd except IN that upon tobacco and
snuff. The present rate upon tobacco J.
O.. cents per pound, and that upon snuff
81 cents. The bill a. 10 came from the House Te-
Cn-,d these rates to 1G cents upon both toba't" and
s,gr. tc, tie senate Finance Committee Lad IL
creased the rate upon snuff to- cents.
Senator morrill, made a Sc, speech IN oQpc-
siaou 10 the reduction, citing tho opinion Of
Treasury officials, that the present rate bad
been proved by experience to be productive
Of greater revenue than higher or lower
rate. THIS movement was designed TO increase the
consumption Of chewing tobacco, he said. and Jay
additional burdens upon those articles when were
absolute necessities of life.
The debate was earnest but good tempered
throughout
An effort was made in the interest Of manufac-
turcr, and dealers who have large stocks Of tobacco
on hand. 10 postpone the time when this rcdCc-
ton shall take effect from April l to Nay
orJuue: but il was opposed on behalf Of the to-
hacco Growers who would not be able to sell their
stocks until the change took effect and the delay
was defeated.
Senator Mcpherson then took up the cudgel
and used 1t very successfully in behalf Of
fair play for snuff. He said that New
Jersey pays one-half Of all the revenue
upon suuffs that the article is made from the stems
and refuse Of the manufactures, which, by reason
Of the enormous discrimination proposed by
The Finance Committee against it, would be
rendered worthless and be thrown away. He made
stirring speech and an affective appeal in behalf
Of the idle operatives in New-JeTsey.
Senator Thurman said be felt he had been m
fairly dealt with by bis brethren in this matter.
They had reduced the tax upon their chewing to
bacco but taxed his snuff ont Of all proportion.
The rate upon snuff was chen restored to Is cents,
and the Finance Committee was defeated by yea
and nav vote IS to II. Senator Beck then injected
intothe debate characteristic assault upon Secre-
tarvShermau lie said that the Secretarvs rcpreseu-
tatlons Of a deficit IN the revenues al b)sL.
He believed the Secretary had purposely cx-
agrerated the matter. II there was deficit
let him use the 100000 surplus of the year
before Tie Secretary had never Obeyed the laws
with regard 10 the sinking fund.
THIS finished the tobacco section in Committee Of
the Whole, It being left substantially az II came
from the House, the Senate Finance Committee
being defeated I'd the only amendment il had at
tempted 20 nlTaft upon the section.
Senator Ferry tieu attempted TO effect removal
Cf the tax on matches. The House bill had now re-
moved this tax. but the Finance Committee restored
The tax. and u was sustained by majority on
Yea and nay vote.
At twenty minutes after midnight Senator Mat
thcws offered amendment, putting q duty Of
10 cents on tea ana 2I2 cents on coffee. W HIt
Tie result VIII he cannot I've foTeiod. ~ !
2. m. the senator Is discussing the measure
session fourteen hours. The bill seem, likely
20 pass the Senate by a small majority
with the help of The Pacific tJdrt
Senators but may be SO loaded with anu ndnent,
asto be killed III the House, where II must 90 iog
concurrence.
Several Northern Democrats say that the reason
why they supported the reduction Of the tobacco
approximations the part Of some o. the southern
members thar It's fuluTe would cHdaDgrr their rc-
election. The same reason Is not Of course. opera
i've now.