The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-06
Tobacco-Another View.


Moro sanguine than we, the amherst
Ne,c Era predicts that the tax on tobacco
is soon to be removed. and upon the
strength OF its belief that its prediction
win prove true, gives TO the tobacco-plant-
ers the following advice:
"Let the planters Of Amherst pitch their
erops with reference 10 this result, for il
means more In advantage to them than they
can well dream Of. As long as there is
even one cent tax per pound upon tobacco
the opportunity for manufacturing Will be
confined TO the few, who can easily keep
I'D the price Of the manufactured article,
for their own profit, but to the loss OF the
planter. No man can now engage in the
manufacture of this product without CIV
ing heavy bonds TO the Government for his
faithful observance Of all the regulations OF
the Revenue Department. Few men can
give such bonds, as few are willing to eX-
pose their property 10 the danger OF seizure
on trumped-up charges by the rascally
agents Of the Federal system.
Every influence al Washington is now
tending In the direction we have indicated,
although the aoyement is imperceptible to
the causal observer. TIE Morrison bill
will not become law, anybody can see.
The surplus in the treasury piles higher
and higher with alarming rapidity. Pay
ment upon the public debt no longer oilers
a saiety.valye, as the bonds are not due,
and the whole nationalbanking system is
endangered II much more Is TO be retired.
Dlminution Of revenue must be looked for
in some quarter.
alt cannot be expected from the tariff
direction; and neither the whlskey manu-
facturers nor the temperance element de-
sire the removal OF the present excise tax
on liquors, though IT would be more desi-
rable 20 collect 1t in some less objectiona-
BILE form. Look the field over in every di-
rection, and there is but one solution-the
total abolition OF the tobacco tax. the Ell.
feet will be to change the selling price OF
manufactured tobacco immensely inside OF
twelve months. There viii be factories
everywhere and OF all sizes. and the de,
mand for the raw product OF tue neld VIII
ne vastly stimulated by the active compe-
tt;ou set up. The big buyers can nc
longer control by collision. The multi
fude OF small buyers will make free mar
ket everywhere. Raising tobacco Is agaiI
10 be one Of the profitable industries o
yirginia. No more big fortunes for tn,
manufacturer, perhaps; but for the farm
ers fat pocket-books when they return
from the tobacco market"
To the everlasting credit Of our Virgins
tobacco manufacturers, large and small, lei
10 be said that but few OF them have evei
worked agaius. the planters interest and IL
fxyor Of the perpetuation Of the war-taS
upon tobacco. They have realized the fac
that the interest OF the community a
iargc--oi the body politic--is their in
tsfest.
The people have submitted to this to
oaceo tax 50 long that they have ceased Il
look at II as the great wrong that 1t Is
The tax even now Is equal at least 70 tn
average selling price Of leaf tobacco--tba
Is 10 say, II rs tax Of at least one hundred
per cent. Now, let the western farmer b
taxed q dollar bushel for wheaton,,
hundred per cent.~-and then he will b,
able to understand why tobacco planter
complain OF this enormous tax upon {
product OF their lands. Let the saddlel
pay twenty-five dollars tax upon every
twenty-five dollar saddle lie sells, and h'
win soon learn that although the man BIZ
sells the saddle TO lthe consumer
50 to speak pays the tax in The
end. yet be Win not sell half as many sad.
dies In d year. Let the shoe manufacturer
pay q tex Of lIyc dollars upon every pair Of
shoes he sells. aud be TOO win soon learn
NV u y tbsl q tax Of 100 per cent. upon