The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-13

At tho invitationo OF Garfield Assembly
X. Of l., com posed OF the cigar and sto-
gio makers Of Wheeling, joint moot.
ing OF the cigar manufacturers and their
workmCn will be held this evening in
the Beethoven hall, to take action in
reference to tho proposal by tho L. S.
senate 10 amend tho Wilson bill 80 rs to
increase tho internal revenue tax on do
mestic cigars from So to s. Il thousand.
Il will be remembered by most people
that some weeks ago 4 meeting was
held, at which committee from Gar
field assembly was present TO urge CO.
operation by the employers to protest
ugainstany increase OF the tax. The as
sembly had already taken that action,
and ono or two manufacturers had
written letters to friends in Congress in
the same line. The meeting adopted
resolutions after considerable diIcus.
slon. but its action WAS by no means
unanimous. There were manufacturers
present who said there was no reason to
fear an increase, and who objected to
sending in 4 protest in advance oil
action. 1t was prophesied by Chairman
Ebeling, Mr. Seamou and others that
the views OF Secretary Carlisle and
others, who favored an increase OF the
tax, would be carried out, and good
precedent was given for this belief.
The next day the Register printed in
terviews and an editorial ridiculing the
idea OF any increase The movement TO
file n protest WA denounced as 4 par
tisan scheme. Nobody. however. was
ever heard to say that an increase
would not be disastrous to
wHEELISG's sroGIE INDUSTRY.
Those who thought an increase OF the
tax would not be possible probably look
on the matter now in another light, but
perhaps it may prove too late for their
action 10 be effective.
Yesterday INTELLIGENCER reporters
talked to q number OF manufacturers,
nil OF whom agreed that an increase OF
tho internal revenue tax to s.
thousand would be ruinous 10 their
trade. Officials and members OF Gar
field assembly also said it would either
reduce wages or increase the price OF
their product, and in the latter case
must reduce the consumption OF the
goods, and thus Affect the amount OF
wages paid out; SO that, at any rate, the
proposed increase would be direct
and serious blow to the cigar and s.ogie
makers. The assembly invited the
manufacturers 10 meet with its mem
bers so as 10 preclude any foolish idea,
such as formerly prevailed, that there
is any attempt TO make partisan capital
out OF the matter, or TO do anything but
exert such influence "a they may to
prevent the grarest injury to one oil the
leading industries OF this community.
ii there is any partisan capital made
by the action OF Congress, they say,
that cannot certainly be laid at the
door OF those who oppose that action.
WHAT TIE INCREASE MEANS.
The present tax on cigars OF domestic
manufacture il S. thousand. The new
senate schedule makes it $5-that is, in
crease4 the cost OF putting cigars on the
market by home manufacturers 50 Il
thousand. The import duty is also re-
duced, so that the foreign-made cigar
gets Il tremendous advantage over that
OF American manufacture.
4 veteran manufacturer yesterday
told the lNTELLIGESCER that he had sold
cigars OF German manufacture at retail
in this town cheaper than he could sell
the stOgies he made himself. Lest this
may be thought an eXaggeration the
following is taken from the current
issue OF The Tobacco Leaf the organ OF
the industry in this country:
IN years gone hy. millions OF cigars made In
Europe were sold In this country at SlSO pcr
thousand for low grades. 10 S. per thousand Tor
fine goods, ami II the nj valOrcil duties prOpos.
cd by the senate committee become the law, tho
same ClnSs OF goods can be sold here for $40 10 SEQ
possibly less. for governments OF Europe IN
whose states cigar manufacturing is carried on
will, BY the remission Oi import duties on the
raw material aud similar measures, do alt they
can 10 enable their trades people TO capturo and
control the market III this country. Il the trade
here would wish to compete with these foreign.
erS. they must reduce WAGES 10 the Europran
NandpOiut-say Sgto 81 week iOr women and
S. TO 81 for men. To-day cigars can be bought
IN England made by worEnGn receiving such
wages. for two cents apiece. and these cigars
have filters OF Mexican Hnd Havana tobacco,