Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-09
FOREIGN WRAPPERS
AGAIN DISCUSSED BY AMERICAN TO-
BACCO-DsALERS.
The Wine and Spirit Interest. Rice, and
the farming Industry Generally
Gone Over.
rpy telegraph to the pi.p.;cn.l

WAsHIyoToS, January s.--The Ways and
Means Committee to-day continued hear
ing the tobacco-meD. A New York tobacco
packer protested against the advantages
which the existing law and Treasury
rulings gives 20 the manufacturer OF
foreign tobacco. For this he said, there
were two remedies: First, to regulate the
tax that the manufacturer Of foreign to-
bacco shall have no Advantage from the cost
foreign tobacco. Second. 20 RAISE the tax
ON al tobacco that comes into competition
with domestic tobacco.
1lr. Flower: And that is what you arc
here for?
witness: Yes sir.
The witness thought tho imported wrap
per,tobacoo ought to pay duty of from
three to FIVE dollars a pound. The duty on
filters, he thought, should remain as at
present, IS cents per pound.
Sir. $. Y. Hubbard, president of the
New ENGLAND TobaccO-GrOwers' Associa-
ton, was next heard. He claimed that
there was no adequate protection at pres
ent for the tohaccO-Crower. His assOcia-
iiOn had for several years pettloned to
have the internal-revenue tay on tobacco
repealed.
Mr. Jonathan Wychog. representing the
New York State Tobacco-Growers AssOcia-
non. also AFl ffDlftLlti iJi N44t iffAAfN.A
lie did not see why the cigar-maker should
Doc protected three times as much rs the
producer Of tobacco. his year he mad
sold his crop OF last year at "a cents
pound. Sumatra tobacco had displaced u
in a large measure. He also advocated an
increase Of the duty on Suuatra tobacco.
At the afternoon session arguments were
heard from The wlne and spirit interests.
Mr.. GeOrge,I. Stegg. of Kentucky, read
I'll r ga
hibiting the importance Of the distilleTy
interests. He 7aid that the distillers 90
not ask for a repeal Of the acknowledgements
laws. as il would. while increasing business
temporarily, result IN over production and
consequent depression. They would ike
10 have the tax reduced from 50 10 % cents
a gallon, but did not care 10 have II en-
tirclv wiped out, as they recognized tho
fact that whshey Is used As "a beverage,
and should bear its share of taXat0n.
There were other matters IN which distil-
lers sought relief, and they were connected
with the administration of the law.
Colonel John Scriyen. OF Savannah Gn..
appeared in behalf of the rice Industry.
The rice-grower5 had been alarmed by the
statements repeatedly made that the duty
on rice was excessive. He purpOsed to
show that TINS Is not so, and that IN all
fairness the duty should be raised. He
cause he did not presume that a higher
duty could be secured. lie desired TO con-
tradict the statements which had been
made IN the House of Representatives, 10
tho effect that twice as much rice
was produced ~ this country as be-
fore the war. The reverse of tins was
tho truth. Before tho war, with slave
labor, twice a. much rice was produced m
this country IA at present. We imported
Ia so tod
quantities. With slave labor rlce-growers
were IN position 10 defy the world. They
had the most effective labor, and 10 was IN
icTior IN che8pnes5 only 20 that oi Asa.
80 protection was needed, and the duty
laid then benefited neither the Govern
ment nor the producer. Since tho war
the situation had entirely changed ard
protection was now necessary. The war
placed the industry IN its infancy again,
dlaorganizing labor, running plants, and
the excellent plantailon-wOrks Labor
was nov far higher and also less effective.
The changed commercial conditions were
also 10 the disadvantage of the American
producer. and he now found Asiatic nee
meeting MIN ID competition almost ia hls
own fields. The Treasury reports showed
that the bulk Of rice sent here from emma
was brought III at less than two cents per
u0uud. while the cost 60 the American pro-
fttt. ~ wac 'Rt'.'t'tNl 't"'At -.'.t'f '''-''
cents. reduction OF duty. he as cr'cd,
would result in destroying the American
rice-fields and give . monopoly % the for
eign producer which would be followed by
greatly enhanced prices, as was shown
during the war when the value a rec was
higher than ever known before.
Mr.. +. G.. Ernst. Of New Orleans, repre-
fcnting the ricc-millcrs asked that I'M the
now tariff bill the definitions OF the va
nous kinds OF rice be made more exact
Large quantities OfPatua. orreai cleaned
rice. was beng imported as "unclcancd
rice at o rate OF duty of three quarters OF q
cent per pound below the proper rate.
The rice-men could not stand any further
cut in the duty on rice: in fact those
having old lands could not afford to do
business at the present prices.
MIR. Emile Dupre. of New Orleans, said
tho lands capable Of decentralization could
be greatly increased.
Mr.. J. 3. Bissell, OF Charleston, said there
were considerable quantities of abandoned
land in South Carolina which might be
aealn reclaimed bnt for the constant fear
that the duty would be taken on. lie him
self would 90 out of business ii the duties
were lowered.
Several farmers and scedsmen from Penn
svlvauia, New jersey, aud New York had
something 10 say in advocacy of protect
ing the crops of the general farmers Of
fb,ca States