Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-27

SOUU, anu IOr every uOlldr WOftH vi TO-
bacco he deals in over $1,000 he is re-
quired to pay fifty cents to the Govern.
ment. OF course no one can afford to
follow business in which he is requir-
ed to pay one-half of it's proceeds as a
tax, and it follows a sa logical sequence
that there are no retail dealers in leaf
tobacco; and therefore no one of that
class fixed by the law to whom the pro
ducer can sell in quantities less than
hogshead.
This must necessarily prove oppress.
i've to small farmers who do not raise a
hogshead of tobacco. There is pre-
tense in the bill now under considera-
ton that the small producer may be re-
lieved by a reduction of the license of
the dealer in leaf-tobacco to $3.50, and
requiring him to pay thirty cents on
every dollars worth Of tobacco he sells
over 81 900 but this of course is quite
as much prohibition to retail dealers
as the provision in the law it is intend.
| ed to repeal, for no one can afford to
pay license of $3.50 and then pay thir.
| ty cents on each dollar of the proceeds
| of his business for all he sells above
900 worth. So in this respect the
bill is simply deception, unworthy OF
| our Government, and was drawn in ig.
norance of the law or was designed for
the continued oppression of that class OF
the people of the United States who are
| producers Of tobacco in small quaint.
ties.
THE TAN. GATHERER AND THE TOBACCO TAX
| | notice that in June, 1880, Congress
| passed law permitting parties who
| paid a license of s. to buy leai-tobacco
| by retail to the amount of $4,000 pounds
| per annum, and to such licensed deal
| ers the farmer was allowed To sell his
tabacco in any quantity provided he
raised it on his farm or received it as
rent from tenants, but even this tritiing
boon to the small farmers and produ
GERS is taken away by the bill under
consideration.
Mr.. Speaker, | will present a case
which might readily occur, and it shall
not be located in the South, where the
production of tobacco is one of the great
staple industries, nor will | draw this
| question geographically. | suppose thai
farmer in Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
yania, where the tobacco crop this year
is estimated at 81 100000 may choose to
cultivate four acres of ground which he
owns and where he lives. From one
acre he may produce potatoes, from
another turnips, from third corn, and
from the fourth tobacco. ] he sweat OF
his face falls upon all alike from the
time he puts the seed in the ground until
his crop is matured and mother earth
renders back to him the reward of his
labor, The crop raised by this man,
except that upon one acre, is as free as
the air he breathes.
Benefcent Providen$e gives to all
alike the earlier and th9 later rains, with
tho warmth necessary Eto give produc.
tive earth all the stimuli Yants which will
reward his labor. All the employments
of nature, the appliances, care, atten.
ton, and work, come tC Hll that he has
placed in the earth ia fully confidence of
return. The man is no doubt a good
citizen-for the people lof Lancaster
county are generally law,abiding and
industrious-and pays all his dues to
she Government and hone4tly dischar.
ger alI other personal and relative ob.
legations. lie takes the prloduct of the
three ao.es in corn and potatoes and
turnips and sells them wlIere he can get
the best ma:,e.t apdniHH plies the pro
ceeds to the support 6Rrq lseif and his
dependents, but the bduct of the
acre of tobacco he dare II BIT sell except
to the licensed agents OF this Govern
ment. -
The Federal power of this great peO-
pie, having its seat in this capital. with
all its appliances and appointments,
watches that tobacco as it grows and
unfolds its leaves and is prepared for
the harvest in its maturity, and through
its agencies, its collectors, its licensed
dealers, its privileged class declares that
as to that production he is not a free
man, and that he shall sci! and sell on.
ly where this central Government di.
rects, and by and through the agents
it has licensed. ! can conceive of no
reason why the iron hand of this Gov.
ernment should be laid upon that acre
and its production while IL does not rest
upon the other three nor why, accord.
ding to our great living policy ol right
and equality he should not be at liberty
to cultivate and sell the product of the
soil where he peases. And as our Gov
ernment, which is an emanation from
the people, should be parental, we dis.
turb this harmony and that generous
quality by an espionage searching as are
the laws to which | have alluded, and
the citizen Who discharges the duties
imposed by such laws becomes as dis
tasteful and odious IN was the tthe.
gatherer in England, the gauger, ex
else man, and agent in Ireland, and Il o
oppressive exactions made by the faT
mers of the revenue from the Christian
people of the provinces of Europe dom
mated by the Turk.
is VICE LOCALIZED IN PUBLIC REVENUE?
1t is said that tobacco is a luxury.
That is no reason for discrimination and
for an unjust and odious tax. There are
thousands of luxuries that are not tax
ed. The cereals and meat maintain life,
and that is about ali that is given to
labor. Wealth can purchase Injuries,
and most of the luxuries can only be
L L.. Al ltI, ~