New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-10
"a FTER MONEY AND TOTES.'
PLAIN TALK TO THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE.
TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS PROTEST AGAINST
AZ INCREASE IN TIE TAX-IT WAS
FAMILY PARTY AND THEY FELT FREE
70 SPEAK THEIR MINDS.

Az INCREASE IN THE TAX-IT WAS
FAMILY PARTY AND THEY FELT FREE
70 SPEAK THEIR MINDS.
WASHINGTON Nov 9.-"You are after two Things
gentlemen: money and votes. This Is a family
ecair and we can talk plainly about it.
So smoke J. F. Risou. of Danville, Va. one of the
tobacco men, in his argument against an increase
OF the tax manufactured TOBACCO peiore ''e
WAYS and Means Committee this afternoon. r''e'e"
men, representing the manufacturers OF topacco'
were before the committee and argued at some
length against any increase In the tax, upon the
postion-based as they said upon newspaper
paragraphs-that such an Increase was cohte"
plated The members OF the House Com'nh''eo
present were Chairmin Wilson and Representatives
McAfillin Bynum. Montgomery, Bryan Turner
and Breckinridge, OF Arkansas. The men repre-
sentine the tobacco interests were DR.. i. Is.
Spence. chairman. Cincinnati Mr. Liggett' 81
Ious. r. c. Nall Louisville; b. j. Reynoids'
winston ~ c.; Mr.. McGinniss New-York CITY,
f. H. Miller, j. +. Rsou and j. g. Covihs'o"'
Danvle. Va; Otto f. Snyder. Chicago; Charies
Davis Covlngton. Ky; Mr.. Parlett' Ba't'"''fe'
and Theodore L. Allen, New-York
Dr. Spencer who Is large manufactures VI
tobacco was the first speaker. He made an
elaborate argument against an increase over the
present tax OF cents "A pound. He also urseu 'ie
committee to repeal the provisions or the Ia"
putting leaf tobacco the free list on the grouhh
grower or the consumer and kept the Government
ont of an annual revenue amounting to at least
81 jOOC0o An increase in the existing tax wouid'
he said compel an entirely new system OF pacn-
ages at enormous expense 10 the Hahuiac'u'-
ers, while IL the same quality OF tobacco was
retained the consumer would receive less lhis'
he said would work a hardship to the laborins
classes for they Consumed almost seVeh-eshthS Vi
the manufactured product
Theodore f.. Allen, OF New-Nork, secretary Oh
the Trademark Association Mr. McGinhiss Vi
New-York and Mr. Lisgett Of st. Louis, spoke
in Endorsement OF what Mr.. Spence had SAID, MT.
Liggett starting the discussion in new channel
with the statement that he believed the retail leaf
dealers should pay the same tax pound as Is
imposed the dealer in the manufactured prod
MIR. Miller Of Danville Va, warned the commit,
tee that the subject OF free iet oGaGc9 wss and ID
the Carolnas, as II was dong much damage 10 the
nd In Hse Sses and Inc of Se
farmer getting any benefit from 1t the advantage
Mr. Montsomery. Mr.. Miller denied that free leaf
tobacco extended the markets Of the grower and he
gnla and H the csfoinss who favored free leaf.
Then 4 was that Mr. ksou saye nttersnse tho to
question from a political standpoint. and made the
positive assertion that If the tax on manqiacnred
trous politically. The money the committee wanted
Mas Of course the e for the 70
votes. but Mr.. Risou entered into no explanation he
ora the s ba~d the that ar %" Of
would ruin them. and that If the committee decided
so to do nothing would keep the growers In the
Democratic party. -,
Mr. Bryan OF Nebraska. was anxious to know
lust how long such ruGlor had been heard put
before the speaker could reply some one said:
since the election" and Mr.. Risou's answer was
lost in a shout Of laughter.
Mr. Spence took 4 hand in the political phase OF
the discussion The policy Of the Democratic party
had always, he said, been in the direction of re-
duced taxation Even Mckinley. advocated the
abolition OF this tax. and he asked the COMMITTEES
not to 20 back on the partys record by increasing
this tax. The country would reap large revenues
from a low tobacco; IL was impossible TO
judge by other countries what the tax should be
here.
After the hearing the tobacco men proceeded in
a body 10 the Treasury Department and saw Sec
rotary Carlisle. They left the Department feeling
reasonably that their views would prevail,
and that the only notifications Of the tobacco tax
which the Treasury Department would recommend
would have relation to facilitating the sale or lear
tobacco.