The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-27
TOBACCO MEN PROTEST.
Manufacturers Protest Against an In
crease in Revenue Tax.

crease in Revenue Tax.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-Representatives
of practically all the tobacco manufacturers
in the United States with the exception Of
the cigar manufacturers met here to-day to
protest against the proposed advance of z
cents a pound in the tax on tobacco con-
templated in the Senate amendments to the
tariff bill. There were present and rep
resented about $50 manufacturers. The to-
tai tobacco output, exclusive of cigars, OF
the United States is about 800, 900 900 pounds
annually. and of this amount over 250OOO,OOO
pounds was represented. General E. Nc
Alpin of New York, was chairman and L.
f. Allen secretary. Among those present
were representatives of every important to-
bacco producing or manufacturing point in
the country. Resolutions We're unanimous
~ adopted which briefly cite the injury IN
ficted upon the trade by the frequent
changes OF the tax rate and protest against
the adoption of the Senate amendment The
meeting adjourned to present the reSolu-
items at the Capitol.
Mr.. Allen, in speaking of the proposed tax
increase said: 1T is not the amount Of the
tax we object to. as the expense involved
in a change at all. An increase of cents
a pound means smaller packages That is
the only way the manufacturer could pay
st, and a change in the size of packages
means an outlay OF just ABOUT ABOUT sLIVo,uUU III
pers We have had three changes Of tax
in the past twenty yearS-eight cents, SIX
teen cents and six cents, which 1t Is now.
When this change was made, in 1893, Con-
gresS was going to reduce it to cents, but
we told them rather to make it cents and
then let ii alone What we ask IS stability.
The fluctuations are what ruins our bust
ness"
The tobacco interests conferred at the
Capitol with senator's and representatives
from tobacco-producing States and ar
ranged to have a hearing before the Repub-
1iean members of the finance committee this
evening. The Republican senator's and rep
resentatives from the States most interest
ed will accompany them and urge the COM
mittee to reduce the tobacco rates.
The Senate committee which has charge
of the tariff bill gave a hearing to a dele
cation of the tobacco manufacturers at the
Arlington tonight. The tobacco men were
represented by a committee of six-Messrs.
Harry Weissinger of Louisville; G.. B. Hail.
Detroit; p. Lorillard, jr, New York; John
Haines Winston, n. c.; r. l.. Booker
Richmond, and e. A. McAlpin, New York,
the chairman of the days meeting. Their
spokesman was Mr. WeisSinger, who pre-
scented the case of the tobacco men, but, at
the suggestion of the senators, briefly.
Great secrecy enshrouds the deliberat tons
of the Senate committee. Members of Con-
gress from the tobaccO-producing States
said they were barred out, and felt con-
siderably aggrieved because of their eXclu-
sion. Most of the tobacco men will stop in
Washington for a time They do not ex-
pect so great results from their formal APP
pearance before the committee tonight as
from the personal canvass of senators and
representatives which they are prosecuting.