Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-28

Will be likely to demand the old prices. and
consumer will have to pay just as much as
before the reduction.
have never heard a tObacco-smoker or O
tobacco-chewer coming before the committee
to ask for any reduction.
The Idea that any increased consumption
VIII be stimulated to compensate for the pro-
posed reduction of the duty, must be regard
ed as wholly groundless. 1t use at home and
abroad Is limited to a fixed and inhexible
quantity. To obtain us much revenue for
the present fiscal year from manufactured
tobacco taxed ut sixteen cents rs We obtained
last yenr at twenty-fOur cents per pound
there must be an increase of consumption
from 10, JOU. 736 pounds to 15S. 2J0, 9oS
POUNDS per annum, or a gam IN the amount
consumed of %, 7jG. 252 pounds. There is
no sane man who cannot see that this is All
impossibility. There can be no increase of
consumption until we have an increase of
population. nor then unless that population
becomes addicted to and afflicted by the use
OF tobacco. Snuff has almost disappeared,
ana only fingers among venerable ladies.
rug or cavendish tobacco Is no longer cur
rent among the younger generation and
the trade In cigars is the only branch which
more than keeps pace with the growth of our
population
1t was most unfortunate, both for the grow
ers OF tobacco and the manufacturers, that
the agitation of a reduction of taxation. which
commenced last year, should continue to the
present time. This has closed manufacto-
ries and stopped the purchase by them Of
tobacco as well as the trade of jobbers, until
! the quantity Of leaf-tobacco accumulated has
become 80 large as to greatly depress the
price. This is a loss on last years crop and
the next, from which the growers of tobacco
generally will not escape. The stock on
hand Is greatly in excess OF what it has been
| for five years. If this agitation had not &C.
| CURED much of the raw material would have
been disposed of, and at better prices, the
men in the tobacco factories would not have
been idle, and the Government would have
| received at least two or three million dollars
more of revenue.
Our system of collecting revenue from to-
bacco was in excellent working order. No
frauds of great Importance were or could be
practced. In point of fact. not until the
manufacturers were worn out with the agita-
ton of the subject and their business wholly
interrupted were they in any manner agreed
in asking for n reduction of the tax, but they
all earnestly asked, as they do now, that the
question should be definitely settled. Few,
ii any, among them believe that n reduction
of the tax will enable them to pay any high
er price to the grower of tobacco. That
price is dependent upon the export demand,
with which only they have to compete.
The instability of laws regulating COM
merce and trade is an evil of very serious
consequences, and an evil possibly of more
frequent occurrence when such laws are sub
ject, as they ought not to be, to the vicissi-
tudes of political parties. The Government
is TO be supported whether democrats or re
publicans are in the majority, and can only
be supported by taxation, which if not i'm
posed in one way must be in some other. To
justify the removal of any existing item it
should be shown to be either unnecessary or
that it can be replaced by some other of
lighter weight. In the present case l have
seen no such justification. On the contrary, |
the success OF this agitation is only the fore
runner of the next.
1t will be remembered that manufacturers |
are no more losers by the tax than growers. |
They are reimbursed at once for all the |
stamps they use. Consumers foot all the
bills. If could believe the tobacco plant
ers, as such bore the slightest fraction of |
the tax. | would vote for its whole and utter
extinction but do not. They only hear a
burden Just equal to their individual con-
sumption Of the manufactured article, and in
most Of the older tobacco-growing States
very little of the manufactured article is
used, as they have the general habit of using
The Government tax. therefore. takes very
little from them as consumers and nothing
at all as producers Whether taxed or not,
they will still mainly consume free tobacco.
OF the revenue produced from tobacco, IN
questionably the tobacco-growing States con-
tribute less than their proportion according
either TO consumption or population.
There are some miner considerations rela-
tive to the change of tax now proposed not
wholly undeserving OF consideration. One
is that new stamps or alterations Of the old
will be necessity The cost of the stamps
on hand is supposed to be about SIS, 0000
Another point certainly cannot be dismissed
rs unworthy of attention. The tobacco in
the hands OF dealers. numbering over three
hundred thousand unlike that in the hands
Of manufacturers, has been subjected to the
tax OF twenty-four cents per pound, and
whatever may remain in their hands at the
time this act takes effect will beyond any
loubt subject the owners to loss
equal to the reduction of the tax. At
.GIs time this loss would be reduced to its
point and yet a loss that these
5ersons, after season of great depression in
heir trade. are poorly prepared to bear.
Their estimate was that it would amount to
rom 81. 100000 to 49, 500. 600. and the esti-
nate of the Commissioner OF Internal Rev.
niue WAS that it would not be less than
s.. 600. 000. and might he mnra. They hold
rom three to six months supply, or from
wenty- light to iifty-siI million pounds. If
my of these parties are so unfortunate as to .
lold large stocks the earnings of many years
nay suddenly vanish and perhaps be follow
d by hopeless bankruptcy. The Govern
nent may trample upon these victims who
will only utter feeble cry against the in
liability of its laws.
Mr.. President, whenever the Treasury
hall be in q condition to cut Oft revenue, !
here Il no Senator who will more gladly !
all the day or more cheerfully Join in the !
eduction of taxation than myself. No argu- :
lent is needed now to show that we are ]
Iithout any surplus to throw away. This Q
act must be known to every Senator That y
he present measure will prove to be of no
enetit to those who grow or manufacture or r
onsume tobacco is my sincere belief and ! t
annot old in the delUsion thai the loss to
he Government will accrue TO the advan- /
,ge of anybody save to the retail dealer. u
BUSINESS will. of course. revive with the ten v
undred and forty-nine tobacco manufsc- r
lrers when the question is put at rest, and I
ould MS surely revive on the basis of !,
yenty-iour cent tax as one OF sixteen. Nor I
IN | indulge in the hope that We have h
lacked the point Of stability. ii | could a
ccspt the arguments deemed by some +
efficient for reduction. they would be h
inclusive with me for the full and COM h
lete repeal OF the tax. The internal-rev- ;,
lue taxes and duties on imports are meas q
res which can be most properly considered u
,Gether and when tho time arrives that T.
Q can part with millions, let us be sure !,
lat burdens the most onerous are those /.
rst to he removed. Feeling very certain ~
lat reduction Of the tax on tobacco is
-eat economical mistake, which will bring h
, relief even to those who ask for it. | t
we been unable to give ii my support. &