Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-03
THE TOBACCO LAWS.
PROPOSED REFORMS As TO CIGAR,
SNUFF, AND OTHER LABELS.
To Use Cigar Boxes Second Time-Inter'
estine Figures from the Report oil ths
Commissiouer of Internal Revenue
Uorrcspondenceor the alchmond Disuatchl

Correspondence the Richmond Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON. January 2.-The Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue has received
assurances from number of congressman
that they will interest themselves IN his
accommodation that the use OF caution
labels by manufacturers of cigars, tobacco,
and snuff be discontinued. The Commis-
sioner takes the ground that few people
read the caution labels anyway, and the
sections relating to the subjects are
wholly unnecessary, and that they require
manufacturers to incur needless expense
IN addition TO adding to the petty, penal
ties with which the system Is already over
burdened.
cIGAR-BoxEs.
There has been some agitation here OF
the question of permitting cigar boxes TO
be used more than once by manufacturers
and the chances are that change IN the
law as regards that point may be proposed
IN Congress. provided the Treasury OIL
cials are thoroughly of the opinion that
O departure can be made without
the risk of frauds. IL IS commended
by good many people that the
change could be safely made. and
penalties could be inflicted in case of vio-
iation Of the tax law that would prevent
fraud on the part of any dealers or manu-
facturers inclined to violate the statutes.
1t il argued that timber OF the varieties
used for making cigar-boxes is getting
scarce, and in q few years will be difficult
10 obtain If the system of using boxes
only once continues. The boxes as rule
are destroyed. or else are used IN houses
for various purposes, whereas bottles
and jugs III which spirits, wines, etc., are
sold can be used again, and II Is we'll
known fact that in every city dealers buy
up all the whiskey, wine, and beer bottles
after the contents have been emptied. III
Is held by many people that the treasury
Department can easily arrange 1t so that II
a manufacturer is allowed to use cigar
box the second time the Government
would devise plan for compelling the
use of the stamps III every case.
TOBACCO STATISTICS.
There were manufactured i'll the United
States during the calendar year of ls9l-
latest official figures given in his report by
the Commissioner OF lnte rnai Revenue
APPS ,52S .253 cigars, being an increase OF
All .2gS, s0J over the number man lfo "tured
during the previous year. 10 required
81. 1851 pounds of tobacco 70 make
the cigars and cigarettes turned out
in 1850. the total number OF cigar
cites manufactured during the same
wear being 2,5O5. l67 $40. an increase OF VI,
sl7 .799 over the preceding year. The
figures relating 20 cigars give an idea OF
the large number OF boxes required by the
manufacturers. Virginia Is large manu-
iacturing State for cigars as well as cigar
cites, turning out 85.370S77 cigars and 09l :
795. $50 cigarettes. The figures for North
Carollnawere; Cigars, 4,465. 763; cigarettes
$50. 73I. 900.
MISSOURI LEADS.
Missouri hes continued for several years
10 lead all the other States IN the manu-
featured tobacco list, and Virginia holds
her place as second. During the last wear,
for which figures are furnished by the Com
missioner. Missouri produced E.lO5, l5t
pounds of plug and twist tobacco. 225, 13l
pounds of fne-cut chewing, 5.OiI ,5Ss
pounds of smoking, and 4i,6SS pounds oil
snuff.
Virginia produced 94,624,5Oi pounds
of plug and twist, 72.7S3 pounds
Of fne-cut chewing, l,932.s9Q pounds OF
smoking. and 729,67S pounds of sbuif'
North Carolina produced IN the year H.
O7O, 57i pounds OF plug and twist (no re- re.
cord for fne-cut chewing, 5,O7l, us
pounds OF smoking. and 6i.jGS pounds OF
snud. New Jersey produces more Gauh
| than any State in the Union, the
| figures being 1915, 1863 pounds in ont
wear MARYLAND IS next with 2,i5I ,5ss
pounds, and Pennsylvania third with
| i.30I.3lS pounds: with total production
| of snuff in one year for the whole country
| of 9.434.746 pounds. 1t would seem thai
| the custom OF dipping and punching
| is not going out Of fashion as rapidly ~
some people imagine. though one does MOI
see these days q great number OF snuh
| boxes as compared with 10 custom tha
prevailed twenty or more years ago.
ACCOMMODATES.
The Association OF ex-Confederates o.
| the District Of Columbia held an interest
| ing meeting this week. The organization
| has nearly two hundred members. and the
meetings are generally well attended.
Members of Congress a-e beginning t.
| return 70 tho city. and when the Hous'
meets again next week one of the frs
| things done will be the introduction o
| bills. Indications are there will be per
| feet flood of lew measures.
EXPECTED on MONDAY.
Most Of the Virginia and North Carolinl
members are expected TO return on Mon
| day. Colonel O'Ferrall is the only one o
| the Virginia delegation who remained II
the city during the holidays. lie will g
| 10 Atlanta To deliver an address before the
Virginia society of that city on the ami
yersary of the birth of General Robert Z
| Lee. Probably several OF Colonel OFFER
rails friends in the city Will accompany
| him. The event promises TO be highly
interesting one at Atlanta.
Representative Buchanan, of Virginia
| is. according TO reports received from hi
| home. improving in health and expects Il