Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-25
THE TOBACCO TAX.
Ex-GOv. Curtin On Lancaster count v
baccO Farmers.

Ex-GOv. Curtin On Lancaster county To-
baccO Farmers.
In the debate in Congress the other day
on the Ieduc ion Of taxation Hon. A. q.
Curtin, in the course Of his speech said:
notice that in June, 1880, Congress
passed law permitting parties who paid
license of s. to buy Leaf tobacco by re-
tail to the amount Of 25 900 pounds per
annum, and to such licensed dealers the
farmer was allowed 10 sell his tobacco in
any quality provided he raised it on his
farm or received it as rent from tenants,
but even this trifing boon to the small
farmers and producers is taken away by
the bill under consideration.
Mr.. Speaker, will present case which
might readily occur, and it shall not he
located in the South, whero the prOduc-
tiOn of tobacco il one Of the great staple
industries, nor will l draw this question
geographically. will suppose that far
mer in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania,
where the tobacco crop this year is esti-
mated at 81, ,O0O, ,OOO, may choose to Guilt
vate four acres ofgrOund which he owns and
where he lives. From one acre he may pro-
duce potatoes, from another turnips, from a
third corn, and from the fourth tobacco. The
sweatof his face falls upon all alike from the
time he puts the seed in the ground until
his crop is matured and mother earth rem
ders back to him the reward of his labor.
The crop raised by this man, except that
upon one acre, is as free as tue air he
breathes.
Beneficent providence gives to all alike
tho earlier and the later rains, with the
warmth necessary to give productive earth
all the stimulants which will reward his
labor II tn, re <,f, ofu,ro
the appliances, care, attention, au6 works
come to all that he has placed in the earth
in full confidence of return. The man is
NO doubt good citizen-for the people
of Lancaster county are generally law
abiding aud industriOus-and pays all bis
dues to the government and honestly dis
charges all other personal and relative
Obligations. He takes the product of three
acres in corn and potatoes and turrips
and sells them where he can get tho best
market, aud applies the proceeds to the
support of himself and his dependents,
but the product of the acre Of tobacco he
dare not sell except to the licensed agents
of this government.
The Federal power of this great people,
having its seat in this capital, with all its
appliances and appointments, watches
that tobacco rs it grows and unfOlds its
leaves and is prepared for tho harvest in
it's maturity. aud through its agencies its
collectors, its licensed dealers, it's privi-
legged class declares that as to that pro-
ductiOn he is not free man., and that be
shall sell and sell only where this central
government directs, and by and through
the agents it has licensed. can con-
ceive Of no reason why the iron hand of
this government should be laid upon that
acre and its production while it does not
rest upon the other three nor why,
according to our great living policy
of right and equality he should not be at
liberty to cultivate and sell the product of
the soil where ho pleases. And as our
government, which is an emanation from
the people, should be parental, We disturb
this harmony and that generous quality
by an espionage searching ~ are the laws
to which have alluded. and the citizens
who discharge the duties imposed by such
laws become as distasteful and odious as
was the tithe- gatherer in England, the
gsuger, excise man and agent in Ireland,
aud the oppressive exactions made by the
farmers of the revenue from the Christian
people of the provinces of Europe domi-
mated by the Turk.
It is said that tobacco is . luxury. That
is no reason for discrimination and for an
unjust and odious tax. There are thou
sands of luxuries that are not taxed. Tho
cereals and meat maintain life, and that is
about all that is given to labor. Wealth
can purchase luxuries, and most of the
luxuries can only be enjoyed by the
wealthy who can purchase them. There
can certainly be no serious objection to
the purchase or tho use Of tho luxuries of
life in addition to the ntc ,ssities which
sustain it, provided you do not interfere
with the growth and progress Of the coun.
try; and the man who raises his acre of
tobacco and the man who tolls from morn.
ing till evening has right to solace him
self ut the close of the day with the use
of tobacco Is those who have means have
the right to the enjoyment of tho luxu.
rios which they purchase where they
please, produce at their pleasure, and buy
and soil without the interposition by this
government of Q middle. man, or being