Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-12

3oooo0oo Great Brittain's "a. 600 600 and
Asia's 95Oo00o0 Cubas tobacco crop eN-
ceeds that OF the Philippines by many mil
lion pounds. IL produces twice as much
tobacco annually the export OF the
Philippine leaf. but it's exports OF cigars are
about the same, each closely approximating
2D0.OOO.o0O per year.
Our own tobacco crop is the biggest OF all
the world. II amounts to more than 400
100000 pounds. or about four-fifths as
much as the tobacco crop OF all Europe.
Our tobacco is very cheap. and is desirable
for mixing with and terrifying the Eu-
ropean leaf. 1t may be that a combina-
ton of 1t with the Philippine leaf will pro-
duce excellent results.
The Philippine leaf Is darker than our
American tobacco. This is especially so
with the cigarettes which are as black as
burnt coffee.
The people OF the far east like the Manila
cigars, They are the favorite smoke Of the
swells OF China. Japan and India not only
on account OF their quality, but also of their
cheapness.
Spain's Tobacco Monopoly.
The Philippine Islands have not been de-
veloped along the lines Of tobacco culture
largely because Of the government rnonop-
oily, which prevailed here until about twenty
years ago. For one hundred years prior to
that time tobacco planting and tobacco SELL
ing were entirely in the hands OF the Span
ish government. The people OF the Rio
bacco on penalty Of losing their lands
Every unmarried man had TO set out 1000
plants every year, and he who had a wife
was expected to raise at least 5000 plants
The government practically owned the
lands, and any land that was not in tobacco
for three years in succession was liable TO
pass out Of the hands OF the man who lived
upon II.
The government regulated just how the
tobacco should be raised and cured. Ii pro-
hibited the planters from selling to any ono
but the government officials. and Il fixed its
own prices which were 90 per cent less than
those paid in 1888, when the monopoly was
abolished. The planter could not even
smoke his own tobacco except in certain
places and at certain times His house
was subject to search for concealed leaves,
and the officials sometimes even searched
the persons of his family, including his wife
and daughters on the pretense OF prevent
ing smuggling. Insults committed on this
pretext frequently caused the death Of the
officials.
The laws provided Just where the tobacco
should be raised and how Il should be ham
died at Manila. The government had FIVE
large factories in which 20,0OO men and
women were employed. IL required 400
officials to manage the tobacco bureau
and the income from the monopoly was
about S5O0O,O00 year. At the last the
government began to pay the planters in
treasury notes instead Of cash. These sold
for only 80 cents on the dollar They
caused great misery and finally brought
about such opposition that the monopoly
was abolished. This was on the 3lst OF
December. 1882. Since then the business has
been in the hands of private parties but il
has always been more less hampered
with tariff and other restrictions and has
not had the opportunity for development
which 1t should have under our governments
FRANK G. CARPENTER.