National Republican., 1882-07-19
THE TOBACCO INTERESTS.
DiscnasIon as Co Reducing the Tax In th,
senate.

senate.
The discussion in the Senate yesterday in regard
to the reduction of the tax upon tobacco was
opened by Mr.. Bnyard, who eudeavored 10 show
that the tax could be safely dimini, he'd Both with
reference to the revenue and the propriety OF
the country, but was not prepared now to pro-
ceed
Mr.. Ingalls, said he would favor restriction to
twelve cents, and Mr. Beck modified his amend
ment acc rdingly.
Mr.. Logan read telegram from tobacco manu-
facturers in Quincy, ILL.,, who, he said, employed
about two thousand hands, complaining that the
agitation is hurting them, and asking that the tax
be taken OF entirely OF, allowed to remain un-
facturers and wholesale tobacco and cigar dealers
OF Chicago protesting against the reduction as not
that, owing to the understanding reached in the
House some time since that there would be no
change IN The tax this season, they had nc
ing to be p-oected by rebate upon stock ON
hand, If a reduction takes place.
M salisbury inquired as to the he
to what had appeared in the newspapers concern
ing an agreement of the House Republican caucus.
Mr.. Butler suggested that the Illinois dealers
that he understood that the caucus alluded To
had given forth TO the world that 1t did not in
tend to disturb any Of the internal revenue.
Mr.. Logan explained that his own reference to
the caucus was merely by way of reply to an In
qulfy.
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin read protests against
The reduction, received by telegraph from two of
the largest tobacco manufacturers in Milwaukee,
who represented that the proposed change on
January l would be ruinous to the trade gen.
orally.
Similar kilograms were read by Mr. Dawes from
an association Of Massachusetts manufacturers,
aud by Mr.. Conger from Detroit firms.
Mr.. Jonas OF Louisiana, also read one from large
dealers and merchants of New Orleans, detailing
the necessity for rebate upon cigars, cigarettes,
and tobacco on hand. He said that, nOtwithstand-
ing he had laid before them like communications,
the Finance Committee had stricken out the pro-
from the House. The House bill was, he thought,
acceptable to- the tobacco trade, and he urged that
under the circumstances, IL was due to the deal
ers, who had in good faith purchased large stocks
that they should be saved from heavy loss.
Mr.. Allison, chairman Of the committee report
ing the bill, said that he was not Mt liberty to
state what had transpired in the committee. room;
he could not say to what extent the majority and
minority OF the committee were mututffly reSpon-
sible for what had been done lie regarded the
matter of II rebate as wholly impracticable thing
as III all re ;uctiOns of taxes ii involved aconsid-
Grafton that 1t was practically impossible to carry
out Therefore the uniform praCtce was to make
the reduction take effect at some time In the fu-
ture.
Mr.. Beck said that every change of taxation was
rebate on the part of parties having stocks on
hand. The other day the patent. medicine men,
then the match men, united for this purpose
Everybody wanted rebate. If the practice were
adopted we should have rebates for ten years.
His amendment avoided doing injustice as far rs
possible by postp1ning the reduction until Janu'
ary l.
Mr.. Farley read n telegram from California deal
eIs, asking that the rebate clause contained in the
House bill be retained in the Senate bill.