Connecticut western news., 1883-01-03
TIE tobacco growers of the Housa

HE tobacco growers of the HouSa- tonic and Connecticut valleys held convention at Hartford, on Tuesday of last week, the particular object of which was to take some action in regard to the importation of Sumatra tobacco. There were about 500 in attendance There were number of tobacco growers from this town, among whom we noticed the names of Frederick Bronson and Chas. H. Briggs. The committee on perma- nent organization reported the follow ing, the report being adopted: B. N. Phelps of Windsor, president; W. H. Dickenson of Hatfield, Mass, c. H. Briggs of North Canaan, H. 0. Comins of Hadley, Mass, J. H. Merriam of Soughtington, Ovin B. Case of Bark hamsted, 0. F. Fowler of Westfeld, Mass, William H. Boyle of East Hart ford, b. B. Moore of Tyringham, Mass, and H. O.Warner of New Milford, vice. presidents. J. N. Allen of Enfield, and s. G. Hubbard of Hatfield, Mass, sec retaries. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we ask our senators and representatives in the present congress to impose @ tax of $1 per pound on all foreign tobaccos except those raised on the island of Cuba. The principal speakers seem to have been MT Ham, merstein, MT Meyer and Mir Haas, all manufacturers of New York. MT Hammerstein, who is editor of the United States Tobacco Journal, spoke at some length. He exhibited samples of the Connecticut and Sumatra tobac- cos, and claimed that there is 35 per cent waste in the Connecticut seed leaf and little or none in the Sumatra. Cigar makers, especially the small ones, can make more money out of the Sumatra than out of the Connecticut, because it costs less, and car be bought by the single bale almost as cheap as by whole sale. The Sumatra is thin, oily, good looking tobacco, but lacks quality, a thing which the American smoker ap- pears to care little for. One pound of the Sumatra will wrap as many filters as four pounds of Connecticut tobacco. The Sumatra tobacco has therefore been sent to Germany, but now there are 13 importers in New York city, and 12, 464 cases were brought to this country last year. It is said that there are 5000 bales of 175 pounds each now on ahip-board ready for delivery. The tobacco busi- ness of this country has been bad for a year or two past because of the large stocks on hand and unless the Sumatra tobacco is rooted out, it will kill the New England industry. He advocated 8 duty of $1 50 pound on all wrappers brought into this country, except those grown in Cuba. There was some dis satisfaction because the convention, which was called in the interest of the tobacco growers, seemed to be run in the interest of the manufacturers. There was unaminity of opinion that some thing should be done to protect New England growers against the importa- tion of the cheaply grown tobacco from Sumatra, but there was disagreement as to the best method to secure this result. The convention finally favored on mo- tion of MT 0. H. Briggs of North Can aan, duty of one dollar pound on all foreign tobacco except that from Cuba. There was also disagreement upon the question of the abolition of the internal revenue tax upon tobacco A resolution was finally passed in favor of either the removal or reduction of the tax. It was agreed to hold a meeting on the second Tuesday of January, for permanent organization, and commit tee was appointed to bring forward bus mess (including the preparation of a memorial to congress) at that meeting. Esquire Bronson of this town is mem- Der of the committee.