Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-10
A FAMILY A F F AIR.
TobaCco-hen Argue Before the Ways and
Means Committee.
MONEY AND VOTES.
How Not TO Get Fither-The Danger that
Turks I'm the Proposed Tax
Increase.
(By telegraph to the Dispa,ch.)

WASHINGTON. November 9.--"YOu are
after two things. gentlemen-money and
votes. This is a family affair aud We can
talk plainly about It," 50 spoke Mr.. }.
+. Rison. Of Danyille. Va. one OF the to-
bacco men. in his argument against an
increase of the tax on manufactured to-
bacco before the Ways and Means Com
mittec this afternoon.
Eleven gentlemen. representing the man.
ufacturers OF tobacco. were before the
committee and argued at some length
against any increase IN the tax. upon the
suppOsition. based. as they said. upon
new wspaper paragraphs. that such increase
WIS contemplated.
The members Of the House committee
present We're Chairman Wilson. AMI Re-
preseutatives McMilln. Bynum, Montgom-
cry Bryan. Turner. and Breckenridge 0f
Arkansas. Tho gentlemen representing
the tobacco interests were Or T. B.
Spence ,chalrman Cincinnati: Mr.. Lig-
get. St Louis: H. c. Nall. Louisville: y.
j. Reynolds Winston y. c: Mr.. McGin-
mis-. New York city: f. VI. Miller, j. L.
Rison. and J. 9. Covington. Danvlle. Va;
otto T.. Snyder. Chicago; Charles Davis,
Coyington. Ky; MIR. Partlett. Baltimore,
and Theodore +. Allen. New York.
SPENCE'S ARGUMENT
Or. Spence. Of Cincinnati, who is large
manufacturer OF tobacco. was the first
speaker. He made an elaborate argument
against an increase over the present Tux
Of six cents per pound He also urged the
committee 10 repeal the provision of the
Law putting leaf tobacco on IN" free list.
on the ground that FREQ lelf tobacco did
noe benefit either the grower or the con-
,,,I no nt ~
an annual revenue amounting q at least
million and half dollars.
An Increase I'm tho existing tax would
h. said. compel an entirely new system OF
packages. at an enormous oNpcnS" 10 tho
manufacturers while II tho Same quality
Of tobacco were retained the consumer
would receive less. This be said would
work hardship 10 the lahorug classes.
for they consumed almost sevcu-cishths Of
the manufactured product.
Theodore L. Allen. of New York. Sec
rotary Of the Trade-Mark '.---'otion. Mr..
McGnnis. Of New York, ana Mr. Liggett
Of ST Louis. spoke I'm endorsement Of
what Mr.. Spence had said the latter gem
tleman starting the discussion i'm a new
channel with the statement that he be-
liavcd the retail lo1f-dtalcr should pay
tha same tax per pound imposed upon the
dealer in tn" manufactured product.
MILLER. of DANVILLE
Mr. Miller. Of Danville. Va. warned tho
committe, that the subject of free leaf
tobacco was Of vital Importance to the
people Of the Virginias and the Caroinas.
as It was doing much damage To the to-
bacco industry I'm those States The free
leaf law had, he thought, miscarried, and
instead of the farmer getting any benefit
from 1t. the advantage went 10 the dealer.
I'm response To a question from Mr..
Montgomery, Mr. Miller denied that free
leaf .-roo-o extended the market Of the
grower. and h. did not know of a single
farmer in tho States Of Virginia and the
Carolinas who favored free leaf.
Then it was that Mr.. kison gave ut
tcrance 90 the sentiment expressed above.
lie discussed the question from polit-
cal standpoint. and made the positive
assertion that if the tax on manufac-
tured tobacco were increased. the re-
suit would be- disastrous politically. The
money TO which he referred was. OF
course. the revenue for the government.
The votes were presumed 10 refer Ga
Democratic votes but Mr. Rison entered
into no explanation. He did say. though,
that the farmers In his section of the
country believed an increase OF the tax
would .uin them, and If the committee
decided upon an increase. HolilUS 'puil
keep the growers in the Democratic
party.
BRYAN, or NEBRASKA.
Mr. Bryan, Of Nebraska. was anxious
10 know just how long such a rumor
had been heard. but before the Speaker
could reply. some one said. Since the
election" and Mr.. Rison's answer was
lost in a shout OF laughter.
Mr. Spence took a hand In the poliu-
cal phase of the discussion. The policy
Of the Democratic party had always.
he said, been in the direction Of reduced
taxation. Even Mckinley advocated the
abolition Of this tax. and he asked the
committee not 10 go back on the party 8
record by increasing this tax. The
country would reap large revenues from
"A low tax on tobacco. II was impossible
To judge 5y other countries what the tax
should be- here.
CALL OK CARLISLE.
After ;he hearing Ihe tobacco men
proceeded in body 10 the Treasury
and SAW Secretary Carlisle. They left
feeling reasonably convinced that their
view would prevail. and that the only
modification )f the tobacco tax would
be that the Treasury Department would
make with respect 10 the sale of leaf
tobacco
,..r-r.