Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-16
WANTING HIGHER TAX
THE TOBACCO TRADE OPPOSED TO
INCREASING THE CIGARETTE RATE.
=, VIII, Make a vigorous Fight Against
This and for the Repent OF the
Free-Leaf Clause.

Tho Richmond Tobacco Trade mas
a. eoht upon the proposed changes
nv Congress OF the acknowledgements
on cigarettes. -, heating
r.hora was n largely-attended meeoi"s
=, the Exchange at noon yes'eru"''
-, ,be question was fully discusses
w. rosoIyt,ons adopted invoking tne aia
OF the Virginia senators ana MEM ,1s ATE.
congress in defeating sucn ansse'
crirninative legislation. 49,. o,,v leaf
All the tobacco firms or the 80 so',se-
and manufacturing, Joppels, "a there
80 &c. were represented anu 80
men, s,,sn soma planters In attenuance'
W. w. Interast was manifested, ana IL was
.ieIn Yhat the trade in virginia 10 pi'ee''s
pi piazza 20 any increase in the tax upon
opp rette or airy other branch OF 'ne
,,ms,ress. unless all branches are Drought
in. a,,oa 20 order by
r.tsan, w q. Miller. and Secretary -
Mel, cod was at his desk
MIR. BoYD's RESOLUTIONS.
AZ lanes n. Boyd, one Of the largest
.otacconists OF the city, was the nrst
,,erson 10 address the Chair. AFTER n rev
rIon,arl,a es 10 the injury that the pro-
nossd change would work.upon the dealer
r. ,nanufacturer the planter, and even
the consumer in North Carolina, virginia
and West Virginia, Mr.. BOYD onereu tue
following: o,,r
"Resolved. We respectfully urge our
honorable Senators and Representatives
IN use their best efforts 70 prevent any
incrsase I'm the internal-revenue tax on
ming and smoking tobacco, cheroots. cl-
ears and cigarettes. Also. TO repeal the
ciousa known as the 'free-leaf clause
in the law as It now stands, IA IL -
serious injury to farmers, merchants
manufacturers, and one Of the chief rea-
sons of the immense decrease OF about
% 00O 600 pounds In the manufacture OF
Mug alone in one year, and no percepti-
bIe increase In other branches, thereby
causing a heavy loss OF revenue to the
government. ,.,
"Bv the repeal OF this 'free-leaf clause
the revenue from manufactured tobacco
I'm all forms will be so largely Increased
as TO render any increase in the tax uh-
necessary. and will restore active compe.
titlon for the chief product OF many OF
our largest States"
HOW THE TAX HURTS.
Mr.. Boyd pointed out the unfairness TO
discriminate against the bright-tobacco
belt by increasing the cigarette-tax' ana
said that II looked as II the members or
the WAYS and Means Committee were
determined 10 do all they could TO injure
the States Of North Carolina, Virginia,
and West Virginia by Increasing this tax.
thereby hurting the tobacco trade, planter.
and all. and by reducing the tariff on
coal and iron TO such an extent that IL
would be impossible for the mines or
Virginia to compete with the world IN
this respect. He referred TO the taking
away from Richmond many years ago
10 the North and West Of It's tobacco
trade by unjust legislation. and said that
the proposed change meant simply
repetition of this.
Mr.. Boyd criticised the Democratic
members Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee for such an outrageous PROPOSE
ton, taking the ground that in so doing
they We're sailing contrary to the way
marked out by the recent Chicago plat
form.
WOULD HURT THE GROWER.
Mr.. =. II. Mayo endorsed what had been
said by Mr.. Boyd. and seconded the reso-
buttons. He thought that any legislation
affecting one Branch Of the tobacco In
terest in the State would necessarily ar
feet all branches. The proposed tax
would simply grind down the price Of
cutters, and therefore be felt as keenly
by the farmer as the manufacturer.
Major +. NJ. Boykin spoke briefly upon
the resolutions, taking the ground that 1t
was omnibus like. He was not opposed
70 Mr. Boyd's proposition, but thought
the resolutions should be acted upon
singly. He so moved, but failed to secure
a second.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
Mr.. Boyd's resolutions were then unani-
mously adopted, and on motion OF Mr.. X.
III. Boykln the Chair was directed TO ap-
point committee OF seven TO go 10
Washington at once 10 urge the aid OF the
Virginia representatives. in Congress.
The following gentlemen We're chosen
members OF that committee: Messrs. no
sbert II. Boykin. Alexander Cameron H.
H. Bosher, L. II. Mayo, John A. Hutche-
son, James y. Boyd. Il. c. Morton, and
". G.. Miller.
The secretary was directed 20 have 300
copies Of the resolutions printed and
mailed TO the heads OF the trade in the diff
ferent cities and towns In this State and
West Virginia and North Carolina for
the purpose OF having those organizations
take such steps In the matter as they
deem proper.
The Exchange then adjourned. and the
committee Just appointed held meeting
in the office OF the secretary, where ar
rangements were made for sending out
the copies OF the resolutions and invoking
the support OF the tobacco trade elsewhere
In this movement.