The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-27
Proposed Increase Of Tax Draws Many
Manufacturers Together.
CONSUMERS WILL PAY THE FREIGHT
manufacturers Will 1Invo to Cut
Down the sligo Of PncIkngcs-Sn,
ah"n"fneinrers Will 7sc Seriously
Afceted-.Scnnac Committee Give.
Henring-t'anvnss OF Senators.
Washington, d. G, Nav 2O. 1S97

.
Representatives Of practically all the
tobacco manufacturers in the United
states. with the exception OF cigar man
uiacturers. met here to-day to protest
against the proposed advance OF 9 cents
a pound IN, the tax on tobncco con-
tcnplated III the Senate amendments
to the tariff bill. There were present
and represented about $50 manufactur-
ers. The total tobacco OUTPUT, exclusive
Of clgars, or the United States Is about
ao0.oO0,oOO pounds annually. and Of this
amount over 25O, 100000 pounds was rep
resented.
General e. McAlpin. OF New York, was
chairman and II. Il. Allen secretary.
RESOLUTIONS were unanimously adopt-
Ell. which briefly cite the Injury inflicted
upon the trade by the separate changes
or the tax rate and protest against the
adoption of the Senate amendment. The
meeting adjourned to present the reso-
lutlons ut the Capitol.
Mr. Allen, in speaking OF the proposed
tax Increase, said:
1t Is not the amount or the tax we
object to as the expense involved in q
change at all. An increase OF cents
pound means smaller packages. That
is the only way the manufacturers could
pay 1t, and change In the size Of pack
ages means an outlay Of Just about
Sl,0o000O In changing stamps, dies
moulds and wrappers We have had
I'LL &C tHuHScS OL lAN III the p9SL twenty
years. cents, 16 cents and cents
which 1t is now. When this change was
made in 1893 Congress was going to re-
duce 1t to 4 cents, but we told them
rather to make 1t 6 cents and then let it
alone. What we ask for is stability
The fluctuations are what ruins our
business" .. a,tf is
LtThe delegation was at the Capitol to-
day and conferred with Senators and
representatives from tobacco producing
States.
The Senate committee which has
charge Of the tariff bill gave u hearing
to q delegation OF the tobacco manufac-
turers at the Arlington tonight. The to-
bhcco men were represented by COM
mittce Of siX-Messrs. Harry Weissinger
Of Louisville. c. b. Hall of Detroit, p.
Lorrillard, Jr., of New York John
Of Richmond. and Il. A. McAlpine OF
New York, the chairman of the days
meeting
Their spokesman was Mr.. Weissinger,
who presented the case Of the tobacco
men. and at the suggestion Of the Sena-
tors. briefly. The contention was that
| an Increase of the internal revenue tax
would lessen the consumption Of manu-
featured tobacco, divcrting it to the raw
material: that the manufacturers had
adjusted their business to the six cent
tax and would be put to a heavy expense
" CilailSe Inc Sizes OIL Plugs ana DaCk-
ages, 4 change which would greatly dis
turb trade If it should be made The
only alternative beside reducing the
sizes of plugs and packages would be to
use material of an inferior quality that
they might sell the quantities Of tobac-
co al present prices.
An argument upon which stress was
laid was that the effect OF the Increased
taxes on tobacco would be to concen-
tratc the business In the hands Of a few
great firms.
While the Senators asked several
questions they gave no indication of
whether the arguments Of the tobacco
men would result in any change In the
bill. They were particularly dcsirous
10 know upon whom the burden of the
increased taxation would fall. Mr.. Weis-
singer replied that 1t would be felt first
by the manufacturers, but that in the
end it would be shifted to the growers
OF leaf tobacco
Great secrecy enshrouds the delibera-
tions of the Senate committee. Members
Of Congress from the tobacco producing
States sought admission to the confer
ence, but said that they were barred
out and felt considerably aggrieved be-
cause of their exclusion. Most Of the
tobacco men will stop IN Washington
for q time. They do not expect so
great results from their formal appear
ance before the committee as from a
personal canvass of the Senator'S and
Representatives, which they are prose
o1l 4,