The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1880-03-17
THE TOBACCO REGGIE.

THE TOBACCO REGlE. -
Everything appertainihgI 't"tlle
tobacco business has deep interest
to usIall, IespeeislIs What concerns
its final disposition. II is this last
over which we have the least con.
troll and under Witch We are placed
at the mercy of opposition foreign
tariffs, and, What IS far worse, OF
foreign monopolies. These last,
under the name Of Regies, are the
mediums , through which alone all,' E. to-
bacco ~ is admitted into France,
Austria, Italy, and Spain, The l'ls re- re-
spective governments, Of those co IN
tries enter into contracts with one
or more, Of theiryoownI citizens to
furnish an annual specified supply
of tobacco. aaTheseiu turn enter i'll
to contracts with agents oftheir own
or with citizens ofthe United States
to buy the allotted amount, it being
the interest ofthebuycrs to,pay the
lowest possible SUN, in order that
they may be compensated by pro-
fits divided among so many. )" d."
Once we thought it would be wise
in North Carolina Il" enter into
competition for these reggie compe-
tition, seeing that Significant pro-
portion Of the supply. sought was
classed as Virginia tobacco. Of
which a large, proportion xas in
eontcstably Of North Carolina pro,
duction; and we did not see why
the negotiations should not be con
Quoted on our own soil. But better
acquaintance with the workings Of
the regies satisfies us that it is bet
ter they shonldas come voluntarily
rather than through solicitation, in
asnluch as the tendency Of their
operations is to depress rather than
enhance prices, coming,yoluntarily,
they stand OH the sames footing Of
competition with other buyers; So
licited, they. may demand conces-
sions which must be yielded But
nevertheless we do'not agree tina,
the regies shall be leftin undisturb-
ed possession Of their monopolies
which are uttcrly ont ofplacc'in re-
lation to tlefSisttiiiig spifi'f and laws
Of COMMERCE. =, Why tobacco should
be the target Of nnfriendly, Or rath-
CT hostile legislation at home and
abroad is an unexplained anoma-
ly, seeing that it is one ofthe great
main springs Of commerce, and one
Of the products of !, agriculture in
universal demand and Of almost, in
exorable necessity. Yet our own
government taxes il with a venom
that threatens 10 sstife its culture.
England meets it with a tag Of 20
per cent. But the continental pow
ers do worse than fills. 3 They abb
solutely prohibit its entry except
through the hands of'thc rtgies.
France contracts } for about ,6,o00,,
coo worth, on which. she makes a
profit of s4O,000,0OO. II is safe to
say That in addition to this the con.
tractors make. . satisfactory profit.
II is equally safe tosay, that ITO
bacco were admittedito continental
ports under tile restrictionsput mp.
on other articles Of import, the dc.
Inand, and that for better tobacco,
would at once expand enormously.
IT would enter into consumption al
known and definite prices. -1I ".'
We think therefore that all to
bacco Boards OF Trade should unite
with that Of Nashville in calling
npon our government to enter int,
negotiations with the powers We
have named for the abolition Of tho
Regie system. and enforcement Of q
definite and fixed scale Of duties
This may bea work OF time, but W,
feel surethat negotiations will throv
such light upon u subject now fet
tered with the ANTICIPATED forms o
tie middle ages asto put II on com
larativc level with the ordinar,
subjects Of commercial life.
$685. -
The Raleigh STATE still classes vi
among tie journals non committa
on the subject Of the sale Of the w