The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-14
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believe 1t is the result of the scheming of
the great manufacturers of the East, who
desife to wipe out all competition, par
ticularly on this coast, where there are
so many little shops that in the aggre-
gate turn out an immense number of
cigars in q year"
afternoon to consider their difficulties and
employed R. H. Jones to formulate and
forward their statement and protest to
Commissioner Wilson. Mr.. Jones, in
speaking of the result of the ruling to the
manufacturers on this coast, without ref
erence to the East, said that the cigar
makers of the Pacific Coast produced &c.
100000 cigars last year, and that they
We're almost wholly for home consump-
ton. AS to the reason for the new die
tum, he said that it was due either to a
determination Of the Government to run
the small manufacturers out of business
entirely or TO the influence of the great
eastern houses, who want the market to
themselves. If the former surmiSe is cor
rect there is no hope for the unfortunate
small fry AT the present time there are
10Y cigar manufacturers on this coast, and
OF this number 800 are in this district
There are quite number of wholesalers
IN this city who have an extensive trade
with the small factories, who can afford
to buy their leaf tobacco only in lots of
q Few pounds. These dealers met yester-
DAY afternoon and formulated a state
ment OF grievance to be filed with Collec-
tor Lynch to-day. At the same time they
think they have found an old section Of
the Revised Statutes that may conflict
with the ruling and save them from its
consequences.
under the ruling three-quarters of the
smaller factories would have to stop work
the merchants say that there is not 5
per cent OF this class that could buy two
bales of Sumatra in order to get two col
ors Tor their cigars, at an outlay of $11OO,
besides the cost of Havana and
domestic leaf in original cases or
expenditure Of perhaps $500 be-
fore a start could be made This is
the effect. for even if you rule certain
or destroy bales and cases of tobacco for
such purpose. The mere act of so doing
would disturb and check the natural
sweat of the tobacco, would cause an ex-
ira drying out and consequent loss in
weight and breakage of the stodk, espe-
cially so with Sumatra wrappers, and in
rather than of any advantage to the Rev
eune Department in keeping track Of the
stock.
There being no advantage to the peo-
pie and no assistance to the revenue in
the collection of tax, 1t certainly shows
that it was not the intent of the law and
for this reason, believing we are not I'M
der Russian rule but among American
fair-minded people, we call on you as
our representative to place this matter
before the authorities at Washington
with the request that in the best interest
of all parties concerned we be allowed to
transact our business as heretofore, with
out further hindrance as being the most
practical: just and fair proposition and
devoid of any unnecessary red tape
The tobacco merchants of San Fran
cisco hurried to the Internal Revenue Of
flee yesterday to consult with the Collec-
tor and obtain advice as to how to con-
duct their business under the new rule.
Much to their chagrin they found that
Collector Lynch was 'out of town and
would be back In a day or two They
were not informed. however, that Mr..
Lynch was in Sacramento making Dan
Burns Senatorial fight instead of attend
ing to the business of his office in this
city.