The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-06-02
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

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The demand for the low grades of Wis
consin leaf has been the strongest feat
ure OF the market for many months and
still continues even after the stock has
been pretty thoroughly cleaned of all
saleable stock. Between the revival of
an export demand, the needs of the sto-
gle manufacturers, the trusts effort to
control the filler product and the activ-
aity of the strippers to secure stocks, all
has contributed to unusual trading in
these goods. Up to the beginning of
this movement the cheaper grades had
and warehouses were pretty we'll loaded
with filters and fag ends OF two or three
crops, so that when the tide turned there
was material in sight for extensive trad
ing in which nearly every dealer has par
ticipated. Many people, generally we'll
posted in market conditions, are some
what at loss to account for this unusual
activity in low grade tobaccos, except
that with an impending shortage of leaf
everything will be made available that
can possibly be turned into use of the
manufacturers. 1t is destined to be
good thing for the state at large to have
thorough housecleaning once in awhile.
The packer is delighted to clear cut the
tag ends and accumulations of the ware
houses, while the grower can see that it
is an advantage to the growing crop to
have The old, cheap tobaccos out of the
way, where they cannot be used as a
menace to the price of the new leaf. It
is good riddance all around.
*x*
Commenting upon what was said in
this column two weeks ago upon the
efforts of the Vernon county legislators
to secure law relating especi ally to the
taxation of leaf tobacco, The Viroqua
Republican has this to say: The above
is hardly fair statement of this matter.
The bill in question is intended for
nothing but the equalization of tobacco
over the state. That is excuse enough
for the existence of any law. It is fact
THAI officials in some communities have
dis9beyed the law and assessed tobacco
at rhuch below it's actual value. Vernon
county has been blessed with officials
who have tried to carry out the equal
taSation idea on tobacco as we'll as other
property. This has operated to the det-
riment of Vernon county and Senator
Munson introduced the bill in question
with the full approval of his constitu-
ents. The bill is right in principle and
should pass. If Wisconsin is going to
encourage the holding of tobacco in the
state by exempting it from taxation, then
let the state have law that will help
Vernon as we'll as other counties. We
dc not understand it to be the policy of
the state to have law of that kind
That being true, let 30l S become law,
and if tobacco is assessed $25 case in
Viroqua let Edgerton and other points
assess it the same.
This statement outlines the position of
the Vernon county members and their
constituents upon the proposition. 1t is
doubtless true that the policy of the
state of late years has been to try
and secure greater taxes out of all
property. Taxation reform" so far has
resulted in squeezing more taxes for the
the purpose of feeding larger army of
tax eaters. But our Vernon county
friends overlook the fact that tobacco is
personal property, easy of transit and
elusive of taxation in measure. The
great bulk of money invested in this
property is nonresident and the larger
portion of any crop can be bought, pack
ed and shipped out of the state any year
without being subject to a dollar of
taxes, if the foreign owners so desire.
Excessive taxation will surely accom-
plish this end and the revenue from sew
eral million dollars of property, which is
now moderately taxed, will be lost to
the state entirely. It is no secret that
this is what is the matter with Viroqua
and Soldiers Grove-in their attempt to
list tobacco too high they find they have
none to tax. Now they want law that
will drive the storage and taxation out
of other packing points. 1t seems clear
enough where the injury will come in.
The revenue which the packing points
have derived from tobacco taxation will
in large measure be lost. And who
will be the gamer? Vernon county may
be able to secure cherished revenge
but no increased revenue from the to-
bacco business, while the other packing
points will alike be the sufferers. We
rest our argument upon the matter OF
expediency, and we submit to anyone
| familiar with the tobacco business if it
! is not good.
***
1t seems probable now that the appro-
| priation asked for to continue the tobac-
| co experiments at the state experimental
station will be denied by the legislature.
There are so many demands and the
state needs the money for other pur-
/ noses. say the committee who have the