Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-15
Interesting Letter on the Tobacco Tax

The following note from dealer In
tobacco IL worthy OK perusaL
So far ar We are concerned, we have
favored the continuance Of the tariff tax
on tobacco a. means of protecting
our home tobacco manufacturers from the
fersign competition which would at once
spring ND II tho tariff was removed and
the internal tax continued. If Virginia
tobacco we're taxed six cents per pound,
and foreign tobacco admitted free OF
duty. the foreign costing six cents per
pound less than The domestic product,
would soon destroy the latter. We re-
peat We know that our manufaeturers
are well protected, and Nc desire TO
continue that protection:
RICHMOND. VA. october :, l595.
To the Editor OF tho Dispatch:
Your recent articles relative 10 the pro-
posed increase OF the Internal revenue
tax on manufactured tobacco lead me u
present view OF the subject you seem
- overlook.
No class OF manufacturers in this coun-
try has been so wei protected as the to-
bacco manufacturers have been BY tn
internal revenue tax. The required pay
ment OF thus heavy tax, first Imposed at
20 cents per pound. has acted IN effect a.
a prohib,tive law 10 all but those Ia com
mani of large resources. and the UNIFIED
interests Of trusts, and was for many
years absolutely proscriptive TO an ex-
tended held OF cOmpetltivu trade.
The existing prosperous establishments
having 0ntrenched themselves and cs-
tablished a demand for their goods IN
every popuIous and paying sec Ion, desire
10 have the tax increased to hgare sum
cient 60 deter the entry OF new-ccrners in
10 the business. The demands for reduction
and abolition of the tax on The part of
manufacturers has been deceptive and In
sincere since its curta,imsnt 70 point
that threatened 20 admit the small-fry
and 70 enlarge competition. II IS S1n-
orally cont0nded that this tax is imposed
upon a southern industry, when the facts
are we grow, manufacture. ana consume
the minor part. The st. Louis District
COMPRISING the city and surrounding ter
ritory, turns out over 59.09.ON pound,
yearly. about one-dfth IL tho worlds out
| put one factory I'm ST. Louis the Lig
| rett & Myers Tobacco Company. shows
! sales agpregating 3O.0OO.OJO pounds yearly
| confirmed 10y the internal revenue reports
| Two factories in the town Of MiddletOWn
! Ohio. show "A yearly output OF more thar
! 20 90 90 pounds OF plug tobacco-InOrf
| than the combined product of the city oil
| Richmond, which Is about equall6d by th'
| nrm Of +. Lorillard IL Co. Of Jersey city
! There are many other immense establish
ments North and West which omit
! This tobacco IS consumed almost entirely
in the North and West II is rarely q
be found anywhere in the South. Tit
tax. OF course. IS paid by the consumer
being added to the cost Of production. The
! great bulk OF leaf tobacco now used II
| the manufacture Of plug tobacco Is grown
in the hurley district. a comparatively
IirnNed territory OF the Western States
II Is not we'll to hide tAs truth. tina
things haye changed, and az for protoc
ton. it seems that every one thinks that
like charity, II should begin at homo
and some 90 so far as to think II shouk
stav at home ID. J. Il.