The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-03
MEN O~NTHETARIFF
WILL MEET HERE NEXT TUESDAY
To G DINGLEY BILL.
lain There Is Much CrOOkedness I'm
der a Law with Separate Rates for
Filters and Wrappers.

A. Steffen, John Rauch and T. j. Ham,
ilton. a committee of cigar manufacturers
nave sent out a call for a meeting of the
manufacturers Of the State to be held in
the Commercial Cluhrooms next Tuesday
afternoon. The purpose of the meeting Is
to take action on the tariff question.
The cigar manufacturers and their en-
ployes hold that the rate in the Dingley
bill is too high or too low. according TO the
view from which it is examined. 1t is not
high enough to be prohibitory, but is just
high enough 10 compel the manufacturer
to sell his wares at the same price now
obtained and stand the loss between him
self and his employees. They hold that if
the rate were twice as high 1t would be all
right, or if it were lowered considerably,
or left at the rate now in force it would be
fair, the manufacturers and all concerned
having adjusted themselves TO the existing
rate.
The manufacturers claim that the In
crease in the rate on wrappers proposed by
the Dingley bill is just enough TO make a
difference In the cost of cigars of about Sl.5O
a thousand, which could not be charged to
the Wholesale man, but would have TO be
born by the manufactures and his en-
ployes, while it would not increase the use
OIL the nome ROOUS. lHty diSO SOY t'o
while the present rate is not satisfactory,
the business has been adjusted TO 1t and is
doing fairly well.
The following rates have been in force on
tobacco. at the times mentioned: Prior to
the Mckinley bill. 80 cents on filters and 10
cents on wrappers; Mckinley bill. 30 cents
and 81; Wilson-Gorman bill, 50 cents and
81. so. and the Dingley bill makes the rates
% cents and 81. 1t is claimed by the TOBACCO
and cigar men that all OF these rates are
faulty in that they open the way for "A
great deal of crookedness in grading to-
bacco. 1T is the quality of the leaf and It's
color that makes "A wrapper a wrapper ana
a filler growipg on the same plants. III Is
the sorting of the goods that determines
which is which. Cigar men say that much
tobacco is imported as filters which con-
tains a large per cent. of goods that Is art
erward sorted out and sold as wrappers.
This gives a large profit 10 those who can
get this tobacco and to those manufac-
turers who import their own stock. On this
account the manufacturers who do not inn
port their own stock would prefer tnat d
uniform rate be established on all cigar
tobacco, regardless Of quality. They claim
that this would give as much revenue as Is
now derived from the duties levled sepd-
rately on the two kinds, and would close
the avenue for crookedneSs. Inc old rate
on filters was s. cents, while the Dingley
bill puts il at Go cents. They think a uni
form rate of about 50 cents would bring as
much revenue as the present rate.
1t is also claimed that the high rate on
Havana wrappers does not increase the use
of domestic tobacco for the reason that the
Havana wrapper does not furnish a wrap
filler hut that with it some Havana filler
must be used. With a Sumatra wrapper IL
is different. They would favor the removal
of the tariff from the Sumatra wrapper,
except what is needed for revenue. when
the matter is viewed from a protective
point. They say that with "a Sumatra
WraDper il is not necessary To use anything
but "a domestic filler, and therefore the use
of this wrapper increases the use or do
nestle tobacco. :,
.John Tracey. of Boston. m Samuel
Gompers are now in Washington in the in
terest of the international ClSarmakerS
Union TO protest against the Dlngley Dill