The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-25
STAMPS ON The
IMPORTED CIGARS
ARE RAISING A CONNECTION.
TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS ARE
GREATLY EXERCISED.

The so-CaIIed Trust Would Like to
Have the Present Prominent
stamp Retained Independent
Manufacturers and Cigar Work
men Want No Stamp Mt All or One
Pasted Inconspicuously ON the
Bottom of the Box.
Washington. Sept. 24.-H. A. Taylor,
acting secretary of the treasury, to-
day gave a hearing to the representa-
tfves of the leading tobacco interests
on the question of the proposed
changes in the customs stamp now re-
ouired to be used on boxes of import
ed cigars. The so-called independent
tobacco interests contend for the re-
moval of the stamp altogether or the
placing OF a. smaller and less conspicu-
Gus stamp on the bottom of the box.
This position is opposed by the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company.
Morris S. Wise of New York, repre-
senting the Havana Cigar Manufacture
ers' Association of the United States,
stated in answer to Secretary Taylor's
inquiry that the so-called independent
cigar manufacturers were satisfied
with the design and general charac-
ter of the stamp proposed to be used
by Assistant Secretary Armstrong.
That is, they were to be materially
reduced in size; to be printed on blue
paper of the same tint as the internal
revenue stamp now in USE and to be
placed on the bottom of the box.
For the American Company.
Junius Parker. counsel for the
American Tobacco Company, New
York, said that in 1902 the Havana
Tobacco Company was organized and
began marketing its products in the
United States. 1t found a situation
deplorable from the standpoint of the
manufacturer, the consumer, the hon
est retail dealer and the government.
Many well-known brands were being
initiated so generally that the trade
marks had come to be almost mean
ingless and valueless. Dozens of
Pennsylvania manufacturers were put
ting out cigars bearing the same names
as those manufactured in Havana, and
the only protection the maker and
consumer had was the conspicuous
customs stamp.
But there was another trouble, and
that was the refilling of imported
boxes bearing the customs stamp with
inferior cigars. To reduce the size of
the stamp and place it on the bottom
of the box and further to print 1t on
blue paper of the same shade as the
revenue stamp would be serious
wrong to the reputable manufacturer
and dealer, the consumer and the gov
eminent. 1t also would be a clear
violation of the spirit of the law and
an actual and strong encouragement
to fraud and deception.
Armstrong Gave His Reasons.
Assistant Secretary Armstrong gave
the reasons why he had ordered the
change in the stamp. He said the
stamp in present use operated in eff
feet as a discrimination against the in
dustry in the United States.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, and
first vice president of the Cigarmakers'
International Union of America, said
that the cigarmakers of the United
States were entitled to fair and
square deal, and he did not think that
If the American workmen made as
good a cigar as could be made in HaV-
ana, which was notorious fact, they
should be Disseminated against by the
use of the present import stamp. If
Mr.. Armstrong; order is permitted to
go into effect, Mr.. Gompers said, the
imported cigar would have to stand
upon its merits as the American made
cigar was compelled to do.
Mr.. Pandas. representing the Cigar
Manufacturers Association of Tampa,
also protested against the revocation
of Assistant Secretary Armstrong;
order.
Favored the Change.
A. Biiour, president of the National
Cigar Leaf Association and National
Association of Retail Cigar Dealers,
maintained that the cigars manufac-
tured of clear Havana tobacco are in
all respects equal to the Havana-made
cigar, and that the present stamp GER
titled to a quality they frequently did
not possess.
John Lanstreet OF Richmond, presi-
dent of the Independent Manufacture
ers Association, said that the MEM
-bers of his association, without ex-
ception, were in favor of the proposed
change.
Wr Wise closed the hearing, declar-
ing that the proposed change was not.
as has been stated, in the interest of
dishonest dealers. but in the interest
of honest American manufacturers
and dealers as against a foreign prod
uct unfairly advertised by the govern
ment.
In answer to an inquiry by Mr.. Wise,
Secretary Taylor said he hoped to be
able to give his decision without much
delay.