The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-21

ton, which was unanimously passed:- Resolved, That the New England To- bacco Growers Association tenders it's thanks to Representatives Henry, Hig- gins, Lilley and sperry and Senators Bulkeley and Brandegee for the able and efficient manner in which, in main- taining the just right of their constitu- ents, they labored to prevent the enact ment of the so-called Philippine tariff bill.
 George Bancroft of Hillstown, East Hartford a grower of broadleaf, who sorts and packs his crop, addressed the meeting, pointing out that the men in his locality did not feel the pressure of close buying because they had back bone enough to pack and hold their crops for their full value, Growers of the Havana seed section do not have nerve enough to handle the situation he said. His remarks were endorsed by liberal applause which became tumul-
 tuous when he cleverly turned the re-
 marks of w. E, Burbank of suffield, who told the farmers to take what they
 could get from the buyers, by pointing
 out that Mir. Burbank was closely con
 nected with the buyers and spoke from that standpoint.
 Edward Eggert of Hartford, a tobac- co dealer was the next speaker and his talk was from the standpoint of, large
 dealer in the cured leaf. He said that
 manufacturers require good tobacco of good color and burn. The large fac tories use little or no New England to- bacco The United Cigar Manufac- turers, although producing 400 million cigars last year, used but five cases of New England tobacco. The variations In crops is a serious trouble with New England tobaceo-it lacks a uniform burn and texture from year to year. Tobacco giving a white ash, of free
 burn and pleasant taste is required Almost all of the Connecticut tobacco is
 used in small local factories which eater to the local tastes. Mir Eggert explained the way in which the Pen
 sylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin growers sort their tobacco by sizes, by which
 they can be sold to advantage The additional labor is inconsiderable when
 the increase of selling price is con
 sidered. Connecticut tobacco is now
 put up in an obsolete way, he said
 Buyers can look closer into the pur-
 chase If the leaves are sized and the element of risk in purchase can partly be avoided, In Pennsylvania the sizing Is done when the tobacco is stripped. It | could be done in Connecticut after it has been stripped, while waiting for another damp This sorting eliminates
 rubbish and trash which may in turn
 be sorted and sold more advantageous ly. Mir Eggert pointed out that there is no standard. of value in tobacco. Each crop must be considered by itself.
 When buyers offer to buy on grades, the speaker acknowledged that they re- served the right to grade it themselves
 and thus hold themselves safe by arbl- trary sorting.
 MT Eggert was bombarded with uues- tions and was forced to admit that the practice of dealers in testing the burn of a leaf by sparkling the tip and hold ing the leaf open until it was all
 burned up was unfair. Tobacco is never burned in the use in this way When forced to d statement as to his valuation of the present crop, he said that it was worth 20 per cent, more than last years Colonel Phelps cornered MT. Eggert in an argument as to the cause of good or poor burn. MT Eggert maintained that 1t was a ques- ton of fertilizers while the colonel, who said he was experienced in tobacco from the seed bed to the cigar ashes, insisted that 1t was absolutely depend eilt upon climatic conditions. From the actions of the members, the colonel S ideas were their own
 Colonel Phelps interested the meeting with the statemnt that MT. Isarl repre- isenting the American Tobacco Con- pany has endeavored to get independent buyers to hold off in purchasing this year so that his company could have clear sailing In forcing low prices. The American Tobacco Company, he said, will in turn supply those who hold off at the same price the trust has to pay. Several members said later that they knew of the scheme and are wondering how to defeat 1t. Mr. Bggert assured the members that the large independent buyers in the field would not be party to the scheme.
 After MT. Eggert finished his discuss sion vote of thanks was rendered him on motion of 0. E. Case and the meet ing adioyrued ciua dia a Q,A5 r ma