Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-27
THE TOBACCO TAX.
IN wAsHINGT0N
TO PROTEST AGAINST ADVANCE.
The INJURY DONE BY CHANGES
What the Trade Desires IL Sta~ .
biIity-The Fluctuations Are What
Ruin Observation-Disclosures Win
Congrcssmcn.
Congrcssncn.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 2s.-Kcpre.
sentatlves OF practically all the tobacco
manufacturers in the United States. VIE
the exception Of the cigar manufacturers.
met here to-day, to protest against the
proposed advance OF cents a pound in
the tax on tobacco contemplated In the
Senate amendments TO the tariff bill.
There were present and represented about
80 manufacturers. Tie total tobacco
output, exclusive OF cigars OF the United
States, is about SOOOOo.ooO pounds annual-
ly, and OF this amount over 2J00a0O
pounds were represented. General 10.
McAlpin, OF New York, was chairman,
and T. f. Allen secretary.
Resolutions were unanimously adopted
which briefly cite the injury inflicted upon
the trade by the frequent changes OF the
tax rate, and protest against the adop-
tion of the Senate amendment. Tho
meeting adjourned to present the resolu.
ton at the Capitol
Mr.. Allen, in speaking OF the proposed
tax increase, said ut is not the amount
of the tax we object TO as the expense
involved in any change at all. An in-
crease of cents a pound means smaller
packages. That is the only way the
manufactures could pay II. and change
in the size OF packages means an outlay
OF Just about Sl,oOo,000 In changing stamps.
dies mOulds. and wrappers. We have
had three changes Of tax I'm the past
twenty years. cents, rs cents, and
cents-which it IS now. When this change
was made in 1893. Congress was going to
reduce it 10 cents. but we told them
rather 70 make it cents and then let II
alone. What we ask Is stability. The
fluctuations are what ruin our business"
The delegation was at the Capitol to-
day and conferred with Senators and Re-
presentatives from tobacco-producing
States.
COMMITTEE HEARING.
The Senate Committee. which has
charge Of the tariff BILL gave hearing
TO "A delegation Of the tobacco manufac-
turers at the Arlington to-right. The to-
bacco-men were represented by q COM
mittee Of six-Messrs. Harry Welssinger.
OF Louisville: c. y. Hall Detroit; Il.
Lorillard. Jr.. New York; John Haines.
Winston. y. c.; R. l.. Booker. Richmond.
and f.. A. McAlpin, New York. chairman
of the days meeting. Their spokesman
was Mr.. Weissinger. who presented the
ton of the senators.
The contention was that an increase
Of the internal revenue tax would lessen
the consumption of manufactured to-
acco diVerting il to the raw materEl:
that the manufacturers had adjusted
their business TO the 6.cent tax. and
would be put to a heavy expense TO
change the sizes of plugs and packages;
a change which would greatly disturb
trade If It should be made. The only
! alternative besides reducing the sizes OF
] plugs and packages would be TO use ma
terals OF an inferior quality, that they
might sell the same quantities OF to-
bacco at present prices.
| An argument upon which stress was
| laid was that the effect Of increased taxes
on tobacco would be 10 concentrate tho
business In the hands Of a few great
| firms.
! WHERE WILL THE BURDEN FALL?
While the senator's asked several
| questions, they gave no Indication
whether the arguments Of the tobacco
| men would result in any change in the
| bill. They were particularly desirous TO
! know upon whom the burden OF the in
creased taxation would fall. Mr.. Wessln.
ger replied that il would be felt first ~
! the manufacturers but that IN the end It
! would be shifted to the growers OF Leaf
| tobacco.
| Great secrecy enshrouded the delibera-
| tlons Of the Senate committee. Members
| of Congress from the tobacco-producing
! States sought admission 10 the conference.
but said that they were barred out, and
! felt considerably aggrieyed because %
! their exclusion.
Most of the tobaccO-men VIII stop In
| Washington for time. They do not ex-
! pect so great results from their formal
! appearance before the committee tonight
/ as from the personal canvass among Sena-
| tors and Representatives, which they ara
/ prOcQcuffug