Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-31
Poor, Suffering SIN okers.

lIc lllltN ilIIl IL Al ilhlb bipN w
that littlc-considcrcd class of American
citizens, the men with fixed incomes.
The unfortunate man OF salary will
not only have to spend a great deal
more for hispwn and his wile'S clothes,
but will find his smoking bill run up
to a figure that will force him to give
up his cigars.
"Oh, Il little raise in the cigar duty
will not bother me-" remarked Il
young man to an agent OF an import
ing cigar house in the hearing of a
reporter.
"You must be millionaire then"
said the cigar man.
"Why, no; l don't suppose I make,
one thing with another, more than
$4,000 year."
"SmOke much?"
"Ah, yes; Il goodish lot"
"Would it surprise you to know that
you pay the government 10 per cent.
Of your whole income, or $500, Tor the
privilege of smoking?"
wndecd, it would"
"Well, you do"
"You must be crazy"
"Think so? There. Take that card
and figure"
The young man took a card and
figured and so did the reporter and he,
too, got surprise.
DUTY SIX TINES THE VALUE.
"a good poor mans cigar is the
Manila, which we have been selling
at 10c or three tor quarter" said the
cigar man. snow lock at the situa-
ton. Put this down:
Manila cigars cost per 1000 Manila or
Duty Mt 81 so per ID. on IA lbs. to 1000
cigars ...-...--.. .........-.-.. Us w
'valorem, IS per cent. on sl2 25o.......... y
Now, what do you think OF that?
A cigar that on costs $3.50 a thousand
has to pay duty of $69.l2 per
thousand. A rich man wants better
cigar than that. Do you think that
the government gives you n square
shake when it makes you pay S69.l2
duty on $3.50 article or resort to
smoke Chinese stinkers?"
"But you do not smoke Manila, eh?
Well, what do you smoke"
"Pattis."
"And you smoke say eight day.
Then you will pay the government
more than I said under the Mckinley
BILL"
a,rl,;ol, ,oou
eyes, know it. Take your card and
figure.
THE DUTY ON BIT CIGAR.
1000 PATHS cost i'll Havana .............. $40 90
II pounds wehht at duty of 81 50. ........ "a 20
| p per cent ad vaOrem ................... 10 w
Stamps. .-.........-....-- .....-.- W
Total ............... .slO7 90
"There YOU are," said the cigar man
trinmphantly. "Your cigar costs 4
cents to make and the government
charges you 6 ITO cents duty. Now,
suppose you smoke eight per day, you
pay the government the enormous
sum of $195.93 per year for the privi-
lege of smoking $116.SO worth of CT
gars. 1t does not matter whether you
buy them one at time or by the box,
that $195.93 has to be paid or you
don't smoke, and you'd not get any
thanks for it and no one speaks of you
as prominent taxpayer as they would
if you paid that much in taxes on a
piece of land.
"Now look at the better grades OF
cigars and see what you have to pay"
continued the cigar man. Take the
kind that sell at three for half.
The average cost in Havana is $40,
the weight per 1000 is 149 pounds.
The tariff and revenue charges were
formerly, on 1000 cigars, $56.S5. The
Mckinley bill increases the govern
ment charges $29, the consumer hav-
ing to pay $S5.65 in taxes for smoking
$40 worth of cigars.
"Suppose smoker uses 81 worth o.
three for half' cigars per day, he will
in year pay a tariff and revenue OF
$18S.Ol for smoking $l53.30 worth of
cigars, a tax of 122 3-5 per cent.
"If he uses 'two-bit cigars, say ~
worth daily, the showing is still more
startling. Such cigars cost in Havana
an average of 1925, the average weight
of 1000 being fifteen and one-half
pounds.
"The tariff heretofore has been upon
1000 such cigars 1880. The Mckin-
lev bill makes them $104.3O and the
actual cost of the cigar which has been
sold for 25 cents will be % 93-1OO cents,
a margin which is prohibitory to the
dealer.
"The user of 50 worth of cigars
daily will pay the government $3O4.9o
to puff away 1865 worth OF tobacco.
1.-THE smoker pays more taxes than
the owner of many brick blocks, and
much more than substantial landown-
ers in the country"
"What will be the effect on the cigar
trader" was asked. He replied: 81
think the Mckinley bill raised the
tariff on cigars with view to pro-
tecting Connecticut, Wisconsin and
Michigan growers, together with those
of the south, from what is known os
Sumatran tobacco, grown i'll Sumatra,
which is owned by Holland. The leaf
is yerv common in quality, but is OF
good texture anu IS ecoIo'"iI"i
use as wrappers. 1t is only used in ..
cent cigars. 1t may be that the bill
will do little for local growers, but
it's ultimate effects upon average cigar
smokers will certainly be damaging,
and must cause its revision. Under
its provisions legitimate dealers will
be compelled either to reduce the size
and weight of their cigars or charge
more money for them, if maintaining
their excellence. The bill will effect
the lower grades Of cigars much more,
in proportion, than those of high cost.
The II average consumer Of scent goods
will certainly protest when he has to
pay 7 or 8 cents for the same cigar
and it is not improbable that Congress
will find such host Of smokers OF b
centers' as will compel a change in the
dnty."