The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-30
ALL SCHEMES PROHIBITED
The Tariff Law Prevents Prize
Coupons in Tobacco Packages.
NO WAY TO EyADE THE CLAUSE
Importers File a Protest Against
the Provision = Steps VIII Be
Taken to Have 1t Repealed-Not
Aimed at the Tobacconists-Qu DUAL.
ity OF Cigars Affected.

ity OF Cigars Affected.
A simple provision inserted in the tariff
bin when the conference report was agreed
upon has played havoc with the manufac-
turers OF cigarettes and smoking tobacco
10y making il unlawful for them to conduct
any sort OF gift enterprise in connection
with the goods they put upon the market.
The competition between the cigarette
trust and the manufacturers not in the
syndicate has become so strong that all
kinds OF Inducements have been held out
to the smokers of cigarettes aud smoking
tobacco TO patronize the product OF the
one concern or the other. Recently this
a promise OF goods valued at certain
| figures upon the presentation OF a specified
number of coupons Not only was it dis
organizing to the trade generally, but
dangerous encIoachment upon the anti
1 lottery laws OF the United states.
This sharp fight for trade based upon
the cup!dity OF those who desired TO get
! something for Got hing was brought to tile
attention OF the Senate ana a provision
was added to the administrative feature
! OF the hill which sets fol tn inc xactlangua &c
the fact that none OF the packages Of
I smoking tobacco, fine-cut chewing toba Geo
aud cigarettes prescribed by law shall be
permitted to have packed In, attached to,
or connected with them, any Article or
thing whatsoever ether than the manu-
facturers' wrapper and label, the stamp.
eUc-, and then to make the stipulation
the more binding il lie again provided that
there stall not be affixed to any package,
written cor stamped thereon OF their con
tents, any promise OF offer or reward, or
any order or certificate for any gift, prize,
premium. or payment.
This is the provision that viii break up
the inducement 10 buy certain brands OF
goods. and how to get around it is Ques-
iiUn about which the attorneys Of tie
tobacco people are now puzzling their
heads.
A few DAYS ago a representative OF
one OF the largest manufacturers OF smOk-
ing tobacco IN the South was in Washing
ton aud spent the whole day comforting
with tariff experts and Leading attorneys
in an endeavor TO discover some method
by witch he could circumvent the law. A
slot machine and several other devices
were suggested, but the conclusion was fl
naIy reached that the law was SO rigid
in its provisions that il would be useless
TO attempt TO defeatit.
The probability Is that the prize business,
which, is moTeor less of a humbug, any how,
viii be abandoned, aud the sale or goods
lnanufactued by the interested parties win
depend upon their actual merits and not
the ability OF the concern TO hoodwink the
public into the idea that something can
De had for nothing. The law has been
carefully considered by competent LAWYERS
and they have reached the conclusion that
there is absolutely no loophole left through
Which tie oh iect OF the law can be over
come.
IN addition to having their prize scheme
ne, aside, the tobacco men have been hard
Dix IN the Amendment to the former admin
Isl rative features OF the Mckinley law,
which provides that the payment OF du-
ties. when based upon the weight OF the
goods imported, shall be paid upon the
weight at the time OF entry. The weight
OF tobacco varies greatly between the time
OF transportation and during the bonded
period. the law permitting il TO remain in
hond for three years. The weight Is re-
duced by evaporation in the warehouses,
sIRce by reason OF long ocean voyages it
is either insufficiently cured or has alb
sorted a large amount Of moisture in
transit. This evaporation is estimated to
anTo1nt from 10 to 5 per cent Of the total
weight OF the invoice. The shrewd i'm
porter, therefore, by paying duty on dried
out tobacco, has been able to save from
S25 20 $40 a bale ON sumatra leaf, and
as much as $40 bale on Havana GOODS
Under the new law there will be nothing
gained by delay, for the tobacco win be
compelled to pay the 81 pound on the
weight when it is entered at the custom
house.
The importers OF tobacco have filed a
protest OH this matter, and have begun the
initial steps that win look to a repeal OF
the obnoxious clause in the law at the next
session. The real object OF the Senate as
20 get at the sugar trust. and when the
clause was inserted it was not remembered
that the provision would apply equally to
importers OF tobacco. The importers say
ti'dh bg liiis process the Government Is
collecting tax upon salt water, for the
absorption of that alone is what causes
the increase in the weight of the tobacco
when ii arrives
Importers have brought thequestion home
TO dealers and manufacturers, and they
have already added their voice to the
protests that have been heard from. They
say that tn eincreased duty will be ctalecte
by theirnporters from them, and tn at event
ually the cost will come from the consumers
OF tobacco and cigars. While there are
sufficient goods out of bond now to meet
the ordinary market demand, the dealer
VIII not be slow to take advantage of the
increase which the new law will justify.
Dealers say the change from the OLD
order OF things viii probably affect the
quality of the Scent cigar, which is
usually. sumatra wrapper and Havana
filler. Instead Of increasing the price 25
per cent, however, it is probable that most
OF the dealers will cut down the quality
to maintain the present standard of
prices.