Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-05
THE TAX ON TOBACCO
PRITCHARD PROPOSES LICENSE
TAX INSTEAD or INCREASE.
REPUBLICAN SLATE UNBROKEN.
scott, of West Virginia, TO BE In
tcrnnI-Revenuc Commissioner, and
Brady the Collector al Richmond
Mystic Shriners Coming.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 4.-(Spe-
cial.)-Senator Pritchard, OF North Caro-
lima. thinks he has discovered a solution
OF the difficulty involved in the proposed
increase OF cents per pound on to-
bacco which will be satisfactory TO all
concerned. In the opinion, however, Of
others who have given the matter ma
ture consideration, Mr.. Pritchard's sub
stitute will meet with as much opposi-
tion from the retail tobacco dealers as
the cent tax does from the manufac-
turers and planters. His plan is to in
troduce an amendment TO the tariff bill
which provides for the re-cstablishment
Of the special license tax for tobacco
dealers, similar to the one in force before
the Mckinley law went into effect. He cal
culates that this will provide the same
amount of revenue as the cent tax
would. Speaking Of the matter to-day
he said:
Il have prepared the amendment, and
would have introduced it to-day but 1
had an interview with some members
Of the Finance Committee, and in de-
ference to their wishes will defer it until
a conference can be had with the full
committee on the subject l have had
some calculations made by tobacco ex-
perts, and i find that If we impose a
license tax of 81 on each retail dealer
we can obtain about 100000 Of revenue.
Such a tax would be very slight, but
it would be most equitably distributed,
and could be easily collected. III the
cent increase Of tax on tobacco were to
be enacted into law, l fear that the
manufacturers would reduce the wages
of their employees, or else reduce the
price paid for leaf, and in either case
a great hardship would follow. / be-
lieve that my plan will commend itself
10 the Finance Committee and TO the
Senate. and l shall certainly present 1t
with all the force L can command"
There is hardly "a probability that
Senator Pritchard's amendment will
meet with the approval of the Tobacco
Trade, or of the Senate Finance Com
mittee. 1T is argued that the manufac-
turers and planters are more able TO
pay the 2-cent increase than are the
retail dealers pay the license tax, which,
small as il IS. would drive many Of the
retailers out OF business.
SLATE UNBROKEN.
1 find by Investigation that the news
given OUT a week ago to the effect that
eputy-Commissioner of-Internal-Reve-
nue. Wilson would be made Commissioner
upon the resignation of Mr.. Foreman,
and that Mr. n. b. Scott, of West Nir-
ginia. who was at one time slated for
the place, would be left out in the cold,
was incorrect. This is said TO have
been the programme of a ring in the
Treasury Department. but if so, 1t will
signally fail. 1t was also said at the
time that Colonel James ID. Brady would
find great difficulty in getting his old
place of Collector al Richmond 10 sue
ceed Mr.. William Ryan. / am now as
sured. upon what l deem to be the
best authority that Deputy-Commis-
sioner Wilson, a Republican whom Mr..
Cleveland retained in Office during his
administration. may be retained in his
present position: that Napoleon Bona
parte Scott will be appointed Commits
sioner Of Internal Revenue as soon as
the resignation of Mr.. Foreman the
gold Democrat now holding the position,
is accepted, and that Colonel Brady is
certain to be appointed Collector at
Richmond when Mr. Ryan's term ex-
pires. There may be some doubt about
Deputy-Commissioner Wilson's being re-
tained in his place, as he has served two
terms already, but my authority Is al
most confident that he will fill the third
term.
SHRINERS COMING.
A delegation from Almas Temple of
Mystic Shriners. Of Washington. and an
other of Boumi Temple. Baltimore. Will
leave here tomorrow afternoon at 2:2O
o'clock. by the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way. for Richmond. There they will
make a halt TO be joined by delegation
from Acca Temple OF that city, and the
whole body will conjointly act as escort
10 Grand-Illustrious Supreme-Potentate
Dingman. of the United States. who goes
TO Detroit Mich. 10 preside over the
annual meeting Of the Supreme Council
Of the Mystic order.
The Washington Mobiles will be met in
Richmond by Mr.. Charles Loelfler of that
city. who will invite them to partake Of
refreshments during their brief stay. IL
lustrious Noble George Rae. Of Washing
ton. and his feEow-Shriners. entertained
MIR. and Mrs. Loeher. very handsomely
when the latter were here on their we'd
ding tour recently. Besides extending
the bridal couple the hospitalities OF the
city and their homes. they presented
them with handsome and costly solid
silver tea service. Illustrious-No
George Rae making the presentation
speech. The bridal couple We're quite
taken by surprise. and Mr. Loefiler has
a warm place in his heart for the Mobiles
of Almas Temple.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Miss Irene Wright of Richmond, is a
guest at the Metropolitan with some
friends.
Speaker John T. Ryan, OF the Virginia
House of Delegates. IS in the city to-day.
BENJAMIN Mines. Petersburg. Va; Mrs. |
w. II. Osburn. Greensboro, n. c.; Miss |
Alice Cozart. Winston. n. c.. and II. c. !
Farnholt. Bay Port, Va, are at the |
Mrs. John NJ. Daale and her children. OF !
Bellefonte. Pa. are in the city, stopping |
AT the Metropolitan. the guests of Man
ager William r. Teller, the father of |
Mrs. Daale.
s. y. Carey and wife. Roanoke, Va. |
and Mrs. Patterson, Of Virginia. are at
the Raleigh.
r.. b. Hewitt. Norfolk. Va; c. b. Hard |
esty. Richmond. Va.-Willard's
]. T.. Allemong Virginia; ]. f. Roller, |
Virginia.: j. Fletcher. Virginia: p II. |
Cabell. Virginia; +. c. Wood. Virginia; |
f. +. Mitchell. Virginia; G. f. Mayors, |
Virginia: II. G. Roller and wife, Virginia: |
g. Pierce and wife, Virginia-Howard |
House.
c. C. owen. Lexington, Va; c. s. |
NIescrve Raleigh, n. c.; a. Stone. Kes- |
wick, Va: n. ". Williams North Caro- |
lima: A. F. Digges. Norfolk. Va: G.. +. |
Brown. Charlotte, y. C.-5t. James.
II. C. Dockery Rockingham, n. c.; |
A. II. March. Winston, n. c.; G. f. Ma |
son. Charlotte. n. c.; c. c. Cabell and |
b. w. Cabell. Winston. n. C.-NationaL
/. r. Dortch and family. North Carolina