The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-05

In the duty on wrapper and filler tobaccos.
1t was claimed had begotten an unfair
20 per cent. OF unstemmed tobacco imported
from Cuba had been entered under the
thirty filler duty. In
regard to imported cigars the manufacture
ers suggested that they were entitled to a
duty OF at least 50 a pound and % per cent
ad va orem. The small quantity of cigars
imported during the past fiscal year was
not 10 be taken as a standard, because
these importations had greatly increased
during the past few months and were likely
to continue to increase. This plan would
increase revenues. In conclusion the manu-
facturers stated that they would be unable
TO continue in business with a higher tarin
than the present one. and that they would
prefer TO submit to the present unsatisfae-
tory and discriminating rates rather than
face the inevitable havoc which a specific
rate exceeding SO cents a pound would ac-
Mr.. Payne endeavored to elicit an admis-
sion that the Mckinley law had not been in
fects on the business of a two-dollar-a-
pound rate. but this the President of the
manufacturers would not concede-,
Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota, asked If a
very high duty on Sumatra would not drive
the small manufacturers out OF the bust
ness; to which Mr.. krah1 answered that
Don't you think the duty on cigars under
the law of either 1880 or 1894 is pretty stiff
protection? ' asked Mr.. Payne.
Yes was the answer.
III
The manufacturers of clear Havana CT
gars were represented by E.. r. Gumby. of
Tampa. Fla. He expressed surprise at the
mad by previous speakers.
From these he said, it APP
peared that the manufacturers OF New
York and Cincinnati knew what the grow
ers of native tobacco wanted better than
did the growers themselves. From these
same statements it was to be inferred that
Havana tobacco reaped all the benefits
from the present scheme. This was far
from the truth. Describing the conditions
of the Havana tobacco business. he de-
clared that the growing and packing of it
was entirely beyond the control OF the
American buyer. Having been collector OF
the port of Tampa. Mr.. Gumby said he was
acquainted with the conditions of the inn
portations. Ii was true, he said. that only
about D per cent. of the Havana tobacco
imported into the United States and used as
wrappers paid duty as such because the
manufacturers used much tobacco CONNER
cially appraised as filler" for wrappers.
1t was impossible to tell in importing such
stock how much of it would be fit for wrap
pers. 1t might be ). 10 or Is per cent. To
tax ii as wrappers would stop its fmporta-
ton entirely and would drive the manufac-
turers of New York and Florida to Cuba.
1t was probably true that a speclhed duty
of 521s or 80 cents a pound would produce
as much revenue as the present law, but IL
was also true that Sumatra would be i'm
ported to an extent which would drive the
growers of New York and Connecticut out
of business. The tobacco schedule of the
Mckinley law had increased the business
of Florida manufacturers by decreasing
that of Havana manufacturers.
For the manufacturers using Sumatra
wrappers George j. Smith. or New York.
protested against the advantages to the
Havana tobacco users under the present
law. In answer to a question Mr.. Smith
said he did not believe any cigars were
made Of American filters and Havana
wrappers.
l.. H. Neudecker. of Baltimore. commended
that a duty of 30 cents a pound would pro-
duce more revenue than the present rates.
j. /. Ellison. of New York. editor of the
United States Tobacco Journal. stated that
the cost of producing a pound of Sumatra
tobacco was 241e cents. The stories that
coolie labor cost but Z or s cents a day In
Sumatra were erroneous.
George Nicholson. of st. Paul. who owns
tobacco lands in Connecticut, stated that
there had been no money in tobacco Tor
New England farmers since the crop of 1897.
With a fve-dollar-a-pound rate on Suma-
ira tobacco he could cultivate two hundred
acres i'm Connecticut.
Chairman Dingley said. before the COM
mittee adjourned. that tobacco, bel lux
ury. was a proper subject for reVei Win
incidental regards to the interest o nu-
facturers and growers.