The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-07

said the growers duty would not give
protection, as the high rate would shut
out foreign tobacco Their proposed duty
would give complete protection to dOmcs-
tic filters. which constitute about 50 per
cent Of the domestic product.
The manufacturers asked n uniform
duty OF 30 cents per pound on all I'M
stemmed tobacco, claiming that this
would be a protection Of 100 per cent
and would increase the revenue about
the average Of the past ten years.
Ihey urged that they should not be sac
rificcd in carrying the scheme Of protcc-
ton too far, and that they could not con
tinue business under higher rates than
those they suggested. These duties
would be satisfactory 10 all manufac-
turcrs, importers Of and dealers in leaf
tobacco.
The output Of cigars in the United
States during the past fiscal year was
o93,SlS,SJJ pounds, which was a de-
crease Of Gf,50O,O00 pounds from the pre-
ccding year The output Of cigarettes
had increased by SS1 .99S, 80 pounds. The
difference In the duty on wrapper and
lillcr tobacco, II was claimed, had begOt-
ten an unfair competition. because at
many ports Of entry % per cent Of un-
stemmed tobacco imported from Cuba
had been entered under the ~ cents per
pound filler duty. In regard to imported
cigars, the manufacturers suggested that
they were entitled to duty Of at least
50 pound. and nt least - per cent ad
valOrem. The small quantity Of cigars
imported during the past fiscal year was
not to be taken ms II standard, because
these impOrtations had greatly increased
during the past few months and was liG
bic to increase. This plan would in.
crease the revenue.
N hn Gn ai OF "a A.
they would be- unable to continue in bust
ness with n higher thrift than the present
one, and they would be willing to sub
nit to the present unfair and discrimina-
ing duties rather than to submit TO n
specific rate of over - cents per pound.
Mr.. Payne endcayorcd to elicit m ad-
mission that the Mckinley law had not
been in force long enough TO demon
stratc the effect on the business of So
pound rate. but this the mhnufactur, rs
would not cOnccdc.
Don't you think the duty ON cigars
under the law of 1890 or 1891 is pretty
stiff protcctionr' asked Mr.. Payne.
Yes" was the answer.
The manufacturers of clear Havana
cignra was represented by II. T.. CRANKY
of Tampa. Fla, He expressed surprise ut
the statements made by the previous
speakers. From these statements he said
the manufacturers Of tobacco wanted
much utter protection than did the grow
crsi THEMSELVES. From these statements il
was to " supposed that Havana tobacco
rcaped AZ the benefit from the present.
tariff. Y
He dcclApd that the growing and pack
ing of llnNnn was entirely beyond the
control OF tN American buyers. Having
been collects Of the port of '...tmpn, Nh"
CRANKY said ac was acfodintCd with tn,
nature of llns.hn Imports. He said that
only 40 ~ cent of the Havana tobacco
impose, Vas used as wrappers. 1t was
ipP9SslpIlto tell by the imports how
f.Auch OF iMOuld he fit for wrappers. To
lhN IL hcaSc would bc TO stop its inn
portatlon alogether and send the manu-
Iacturcrs 0N New York and Florida TO
.ro'rhlc tho' duty of
~ IL or 6olccnts per pound would pro-
ance as mncl revenue as at present, but
Sulnatra wcLld he imported 10 such m
e,Nl"ht as td drive the farmers of New
nork nhu CoAnccicut out of the business.
ne MchlnlcA Vhcdulc had increased the
business OF II MIA manufacturers by de-
cr9aslhg those @ Havana.
IN behalf ot \ manufacturers of Su-
matra tobacco, Norge H. Smith of New
iork protested against the advantage tO
lne havana tobacco users under the
present law. In answer to n question,
MT Snllth said that he did not believe
any cigars wetc made Of American filters
and Havana Wrappers.
Mr.. Lcudheckcr of Baltimore contend
cd that n duty Of 80 cents per pound
would make more revenue than the pres
cnt rate.
H. Is; iillS editor Of the American To-
bacco Manufactures, said that the proper
duty Tor Sumatrn wrapper was II -
cents.
Chairman Dngley said that tobacco.
being luxury, was a proper subject for
revenue with lncidcn consideration OF
growers and users,