The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-25
American Tobacco Company OPP
poses Contention Of 1nde-
pendent Dealers.
GoMPERs AND OTHERS SPEAK
Acting Sec. Taylor Takes Matter
Under Consideration and Will
Render Early Decision.
CIV Associated Press.)

w. RSASotilNIl oANt IoSpt.8 6f.AA. Z a. 10y
6lor, acting Secretary OF tho Treasury, to-
day gave hearing to the representatives
Of the leading tobacco interests on the
question OF the proposed changes In the
customs stamp now required to be used
on boxes of imported cigars.
The Arguments.
Tho so-called Independent tobacco In
terests contended for the removal Of the
stamp altogether or the placing OF
smaller and less conspicuous stamp on
the bottom OF the box. This position 10
opposed by the American Tobacco Com
pnny. Morris S. Wise, Of New York,
representing the Havana Cigar Manu-
facturers' Association OF the United
States, stated. in answer to Secretary
Tavlor's Inquiry, that the so-called inde- 4
pendent cigar manufacturers were, salts.
Z fled with the design and general charac-
ter Of the stamp proposed to be used by
Assistant Secretary Armstrong.
That lis, they were to be materially re-
{ duced in size, to be printed on blue pa
per Of the same tint as the internal reve-
nue. stamp now in use. and to place the
stamp on the bottom OF the box. Junius
Parker, counsel for the American To-
bacco Company, New York, said that III
1902 the Havana Tobacco Company was
organized and began marketing Its pro-
0uCIS IN etQe aNOulteQ oLdleS. IL tSuHo =
situation deplorable from the standpoint
of the manufacturer, the consumer, the
honest retail dealer, and the government.
Many we'll known brands were being iml-
8tated so generally that the trade marks
had come to be almost meaningless and
valueless. Dozens Of Pennsylvania
manufacturers were putting out cigars
bearing the same 1ames as those manu-
factured in Havana, and the only pro-
lection the maker and consumer had was
the cons picuous "A customs stamp. But
there was another trouble, and that was
the reflling 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 It on blue paper Of the
same shade as the revenue stamp would
be a serious wrong to the reputable manu-
sfacturer and dealer. the consumer, and
the government. It also would be a
clear violation Of the spirit OF the law
land an actual and strong encouragement
to fraud and deception.
Gornpers and Others Speak. j
Assistant Secretary Armstrong gave
the reasons why he had ordered the
change in the stamp. He said the stamp
in present use operated in effect as a
discrimination against the industry in
the United States.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, and first vice
president of the Cigarmake nterna-s
!Stional Union Of America, said that the
cigarnakers of the United States were
entitled to fair and square deal, and
he did not think that IL the American
workman made as good a cigar as could
be made in Havana which was a noto-
rious fact, they should be Disseminated
against by the use of the present import
stamp. # Mr.. Arnlst rong's 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, >repre senting the Cigar
Manufacturers Association of Tampa,
also protested against the revocation OF
Assistant Secretary Armstrong; order. y
"a. Bijir, president Of the National fJigar
Leaf Association and National Associa-s
ton Of Retail Cigar Dealers. maintained
that the cigars manufactured of clear,
Havana tobacco are in all respects equal
to the Havana made cigar, and that the
present stamp certified to a quality they
frequently did not possess.
John Lanstreet. of Richmond, president
Of the Independent Manufacturers As
ISOLATION, said that the members Of his
association without exception We're IN
favor Of the proposed change.
Mr.. Wise closed the hearing, declaring
that the proposed change was not, as had
been stated, In the interest of dishonest
dealers, but in the interest of honest.
American manufacturers and dealers, as
against foreign product unfairly adver-
.tised by the government. In answer to an
inuu Try by Mr.. Wise, Secretary Taylor
said he hoped to be able to give his deci-
sion without delay. n