Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-06
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OPINIONS OF OUR MERCHANTS A.
TO THE AMENDMENTS.
THEIR INFLUENCE ALREADY RBLf.
frices OF sugar, Tea, and Driso
Fruits Advanced Ycsterdsy-o1ns
ana Spices RevoIutIonised-rss
h"cco-Men Want Heavier rsx.

h,,, amendments 10 the Dinglcy tariR
"''' reported by the Senate comm,ttee
oh FINANCE, have already afYect.d sh>
~ on articles proposed to be taxed.
S'e '"c TACT that the bill cannot pos.
''Ds oe MADE operative before July
,s"'nohd wholesale grocers have bseu
hotihed that the price Of suyars 80
''as mas peen advanced, as also have
inc prices on dried fruits. currapss-
ia'sihs' lemons, and other goods NJ tht.
class. The opinions as to the ereo, -
'"e amendments, as far as they could
oe gathered from the merchants yes,er.
uay' are by no means unanimous. Mr.
Charies r. Taylor, of c. f.. TAYLOR =
Co.. said: The Senate's amendments 70 N.
Dill are decidedly beneficial Nv owm
impression is. however that n win ro,
pass with such difference OF onin,on a.
evidently exists between the two hroroho.
Ui congress. l think it Will be resolved
'." compromise measure. the terms
~ a. "nlcn are py no means certain At
this time. -
WILL DEMORALIzE AND UNSETTf!ro
MT j. >. Moore, of j. s. Moore A.
SUNS said: 1 have already received ad-
wees tnat sugar has advanced half a
o.. sI.' anu tea cents pound. Tho
amendments will demoralize our busi-
ness and unsettle values. We want
something permanent without this con-
'ihuous agitation l believe that this
particular phase of the bill has beer,
manipulated by the sugar refiners for
purposes OF speculation. I think the
american people present very curious
anomaly. Our forefathers fought against
'aAcs imposed by England, and
,s now we are subjected to all sorts OF
nauohal, state. and city taxes We ara
taxed TO death. Protection Is the great
have. p''''''Sl
Mr. ). ID. Christian, OF ]. ID. & r. 8.
Christian. said: The bill win not AFFECT ia
materially for the next six weeks. Raw
sugars are higher already, and IL the
amendments become operative. II will
tea. ~
Mr.. w. Il. West, of w b. West G. "a
said: The bill won't affect prices 10 anv
great extent, 1t is the supply and demand
that makes the prices in the erocerv
business. IL people can't pay present
prices. j do not see how higher prices
WIN make good times. / have been no.
tlned to-day that In view OF the bill the
prices OF dried fruits, currants. raisins.
prunes, nuts, and lemons have been adj
vanced.
Mr. Junius A. Morris. of Dayenport a.
Morris, said he had not read the amend-
ments with care sufficient to war.
rant an opinion.
SPICES AND OILS MOST AFFECTED.
Mr.. John b. Je1fress, Of Jeffress AZ Shell
ton, said spices and essential oils will
be most affected: there Is no material adj
vance In other directions to AFFECT prices
| to the public.
Mr.. l.. c. Younger said that while the
staples would be all more or less affected.
people buy these goods from hand to
! mouth. and will not feel the slight adj
| vances.
Mr.. E. A. Saunders approved ths
amendments. We want to get the wheels
started, he said. The circulating medium
for money is labor. The grocery husi-
ness In Richmond has not been affected
by the prevailing depression as other
branches OF trade, chiefly from the fact
that the cotton and light tobacco growing
districts. which are supplied from this
market, have been In n more sourishinx
condition than ever. The bill he thought.
would be very beneficial. and. I'm support
Of his belief he said he could now buv
matches In Europe and have them de-
livered at his establishment here for less
money than 1t costs to manufacture them
In this country.
TOBACCO-MEN WANT HIGHER TAX.
The proposed increase OF cents q
pound on tobacco duty has come In the
nature Of a surprise to tobacco men here.
An increase of cents a pound which
would have just doubled the per cent.
tax, would have been far more accepta-
Bile. The cents increase would neces-
state change in the manufacturers'
machinery. In order to make the
packages conform in size to the present
retail prices. This. experienced men say,
would be very expensive.
The large manufacturers would not OBJ
| ject to an increase in the tax. as IL would
better enable them TO compete with
smaller dealers.