The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-13
A VIGOROUS PROTEST.

The Spanish. a IN erican Reciprocity Treaty
Denounced.
Tho cigar manufacturers Of the Coast are much
agitated over the Introduction of the Spanish
American Reciprocity Treaty now before Congress,
and claim that ite passage would be ruinous to
their business and detrimental to the best inter-
ests of the country. Their grievances and argu-
ments are set forth in the following memorial,
adopted at recent meeting of the large mann
facturers, and which will be transmitted to Wash
ing tomorrow.
The undersigned cigar manufacturers of the city
business. invited thereto by the existing revenue
laws and feeling certain that any material modin-
on foreign cigars, would be- seriously injurious 20
interests do most respectfully and solenly pro-
American Reciprocity Treaty by the terms OF which
the duty on Cuban tobacco, raw or manufactured IL
yet in its infancy and has built up to Its pres
ent proportions only with great eEergT and enter
returns to which We feel that We are entitled bat
which hope realize in due time under the exist
reduction Of the duty on Cuban cigars, as therein
proposed would create competition OF foreign labor
unable to contest. It would ruin our calling, close
our manufactures, throw seven thousand laborers
lars We have Invested in the business.
We, therefore, respectfully pray that the treaty
may be rejected, modified as to avert this
manifest injury from Aside from these personal
considerations patriotic citizens OF the United
because its operation would deprive the Treasury Of
annually received in duties on Cuban cigars
and tobacco, without providing any corresponding
benefit to the people of the United States their
commerce.
linsky & Co., Sideman, Lschman Co., @ Cohn &
| Co., Esberg, Bschman & Co., Kaufman, Baer 4 Co.,
! Joseph Bremen Co.. 81. Armer & Co., A. SkRife &
Co., II. Plagemann Co.. L. Wertheimer, San
derson Horn. Curtis, Dixon & Co, J. NJ Pike +
Son, Mayrisch Bros. & Co., Hahn Levy Co., a. ].
Brandsnstein Co, Gabriel Cohn & Co., P. Kohl
berg Co., b. Wertheimer 4 Co, Jonas shoenfeld,
4 rio1u nrdp II H K
enstein & Co., Rinaldo Bros. Lowenberg, Charles
Pope, Jose Garcia, H. MeyeTfeld Co; VIM LEWIS h
z. Eisenberg Bros, Leibes Bros l. Co., Koenigs-
berger, Falk Meyer Engeibreeht, Fox & Co.
| A VIGOROUS PROTEST.
! The following letter written to Senator Miller
! by John w. Shaeffer, President of the Cigar Man.
| ufacturers Association OF the Pacific COast, is 9
vigorous and logical protest against the proposed
treaty, and was drawn up by direction of the AssO-
| citation:
SAN Francisco, CAL, December %, 1884,
| Hon. J. F. Miller, United States SenGfOr-DEA1
sIR By direction OF the Cigar MsnufaciureFs Asso,
transmit to the enclosed protest of that Associa
ton against the ratification OF the Spanish American
commercial treaty, and to request that you viii lay
The Ciear Manufacturers, Association of the Pa
cic Coast as you ere doubtless aware, embraces all
the responsible firms engaged in the manufacture OF
cigars in California. 1t represents combined cap
constant employment to nearly seven thou
sand operatives Formerly because ~. OF c,1 1ns
manufacturers compelled to employ Chinese IN
but sn entity R RoUb s0d Sd sI m
this branch of industry and are now making an
! earnest effort TO SUBSTITUTE Snl!s t taO0r Ill ~
attended with much expense. and now entails a
trade really justices But this present loss they had
| hoped 10 make good in time, when their new opera
! lives should become skilled workmen, though any
material modification of the tariff laws regarding
bsccO and cigars, such as is contemplated In the
treaty pending before the Senate will assuredy
/ asst
ance of our business exceedingly questionable.
am directed by the Association TO invite your at
teution to what we consider an unjust imposition
upon our business, even under the existing laws
You are aware that many of our cigars, especially
the finer brands, are made from tobacco imported
from Cuba, which has paid the present hgh rates OF
duty. These cigars, willing to submit to
the Judgment Of experts are really better than
% the manufactured cigars imported from CUBA
Our cigars thus made from imported Cuban tobacce
are packed in boxes and Stamped with the Internal
Revenue stamp only, and are thus marked az DO
mestio cigars, while the imported manufactured
goods are marked with Custom House, vel
as Internal Revenue stamps and are thus advertised
as Imported cigars need not remind you that as
in the case Of and other goods, uneducatet
popular prejudice gives preference 70 the imported
| article Thus the goods manufacture. made from
aelected Cuban leaf, really command but about hal
the price in the retail market which inferior trn
We are placod Mt great Disadvantage even under thu
existing laws but shouId the tariff manufactured
under consideration, we shall be wholly unable t
compete with the foreign manufacturers and will b'
no longer enabled to continue the manufacture O
J choice goods from imported material. You are I'm
doubtedIy aware that the cigar manufactures o.
CUBA principally employ African slaves and ChinesS
Itr1Iies In the fsbricatonof their goods Any modi
, hcation therefore OF the tariff for the benefit q
| these manufacturers IS merely a bonus paid
| to those classes of laborers over the FREE
lapor of this country. The cigar manufacturer
Of this coast, you we'll aware. are all Amert
can citizens, large taxpayers and properly entitled
to the consideration of the Government and any ia
vors it may have extend. At ali events, submit
that they should not be Disseminated against IN tn
interests of those of foreign country. whose i'm
ports from the United States aggregate less than on
fifth Of our purchase from them.
| Trusting that you will find it wholly consisten
with your well-known ideas of duty and patriotism
10 defend our cause in the Senate, have the homo
| to remain, on behalf of the Cigar Manufacturer
Association of the Pacific Coast, most Respectfully
! | your humble servant J. W. SHAEFFER, KreslaeAt'