Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-05

! -
Them Were Able to Agree Upon
What was Needed by the Tobacco
and Cigar Industry - Wrapper
Leaf Growers are the Only Ones
Who Want High Duty Cigar
interests Demand a Uniform
Specific Duty on all Grades.
! Washington, d. c., January 4.-The
tobacco schedule of the tariff was
threshed over by the representatives
of various tobacco interests to-day be-
fore the Ways and Means Committee
with great minuteness. Several
branches of the business were repre-
sented, the native growers, importers,
manufacturers using native goods,
using Havana and those handling the
Sumatra product. Among these classes
there was much discord, no two or
them being agreed on any schedule or
rates and contradicting one another on
questions relating TO the effects OF the
! present law to rates of labor and cost
| of production and manufacture.
The National Association of Tobacco
| Manufacturers was represented by a
large delegation with it, president,
Moses Krahn. of Cincinnati. for spokes-
man. The association asked for duties
of 551s cents a pound on all imported
leaf tobacco, or not more than 90 cents
on all unstemmed tobacco, and five dol
lars a pound with % per cent ad va
loren on imported cigars.
Under any higher rates they declar-
ed their business would be ruined
The principal representatives Of the
growers were Michael Tobin, of Bald
winsville, N. Y. and J. P. Van Duser.
Of Horsehead, n. Y. They asserted
that the native growers had made no
money under the Wilson bill and asked
for rates higher than those Of the Nc
| Kinley act.
George J. Smith. of Kingston, n. Y,
spoke for the users of Sumatra to-
bacco and Z. p Gumby. formerly col
lector of the port of Tampa, for the
| Florida manufacturers Of the Cuban
products. 1t was represented that only
per cent of the Havana tosecco used
as wrappers had paid duty as such un
der the Wilson law.
| Others who spoke were: EX-Mayor
| Frederick Schroeder. Of Brooklyn: II.
s. Frye. Windsor, Conn; L. II. Neu
decker Baltimore; ]. l. Ellison, New
York. and George Nicholson. st. Paul.
Michael Tobin, Of Baldwinsville, n.
Y. representing the New York State
Tobacco Growers Association, said
the tobacco growers were badly in need
| Of relief. They had expended vast
/ in, r~op Qt
| importation of Sumatra began had
been fairly prosperous. Tobacco
! farms were then worth $125 an acre.
Such farms were now generally mort
gagged and would not to-day liquidate
| their membranes. He did not think
it fair that the Holland syndicate.
which employed coolie labor at y
cents a day. should he allowed to an
initiate the great leaf tobacco industry
! in this country He denied that Amer
( lean leaf was not suitable for wrappers.
! Sumatra. he said had no merit, except
| its appearance. He complained OF the
elastic language in the act of 1894, and
said the schedule in the act Of 1891
would be satisfactory. The consumer.
/ he said. would not be injured by an
ADEQUATE duty, but would get his cigars
at the same price at retail
He said the quality of the American
wrapper leaf had not improved OF re-
cent years because there had been no
inducements to growers to care for
their leaves. Cuban tobacco ranked
first in quality and Sumatra was decid-
edlv the worst. He had no doubt, he
said. that any importers Of Sumatra
would rather have Sumatra excluded
than smoke cigar made wholly of
Sumatra.
why he was asked.
Because if he smoked it, he would
lose his breakfast.
He said the growers cared nothing
about filters They were interested
primarily in wrappers.
Chairman Dingley called attention
10 the fact that under the reduction Of
so cents per pound on wrappers in the
act of 1894. the increase of imports of
| Sumatra had been over 40 per cent.
Moreover. said Mr. Dingley. it was a
remarkable fact that the price of Su-
matra tobacco increased fifty cents a
pound as soon as the duty was reduced
fiftv cents. Mr.. Tobin confirmed this
but had no explanation to offer.
J. 6. Van Duzer. of Horsehead, n. Y,
representing the growers of the Che
mung Valley. also asked for protection
for wrapper tobacco. He admitted
that 50 seemed an adequate rate, but
said il was not a question of rates. but
of protecting our citizens from ruinous-
" cheap labor abroad and saving n
great industry from extinction. He
said 2O.G00000 pounds Of foreign to-
bacco was imported annually, of which
4 COO. coo pounds were wrappers.
'How do YOU account for the fact?"
asked Mr. McMillin, that Sumatra to-
bacco which costs from 81 cents to
S1.21 at the port Of export displaces
American tobacco, which costs Il cents
"it is due" replied Mr. Van Duzer,
"to the foolish idea of the American
people that anything foreign is better
than anything domestic.
'Is that all?'
at is: it is the fad.
Mr. Van Duzer created much amuse-
ment when he replied in answer to
ouestion as to what duty he wanted.
that he wanted so much duty he was
afraid to suggest it. He would like to
see a prohibitory duty.
! Frederick Schroeder. ex-Mayor OF
Brooklyn. a large dealer in domestic
and imported tobacco, opposed high
or duty on tobacco He asked for a
new classification of the tobacco sched-
ule so as 10 do away with the specific
duty of $3.50 on wrappers and 30 cents
on filters. and substitute therefore an
ad valorem rate on unstemmed with
1 N y