The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-05
OFF WITH THE TAX
is GAINES S DEMAND
Tennessee Congressman Says Bill
for Relief of Tobacco-Raisers
Must Pass.
WHY 1T FAILED IN SENATE
The Trusts Are Opposed to 1t,
Aldrich Is With the
Trusts.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. May 4.-Hon.
John Wesley Gaines. member OF Con-
gress from Tennessee. who Is tho au-
thor and powerful advocate OF the
bill repeating the tax of six cents
pound on the sale of leaf tobacco, II
sold by other than the grower. con.
tlnues to hammer away In behalf OF
this reform The bill has passed the
House at two sessions of Congress. put
the Senate Committee on Finance mas
always held 1t up. Senator Aldricll,
chairman of the Senate Finance Com.
mittee, to which the bill goes when
passes the House, is bitterly opposed
to the proposed law. which Is fought
by the tobacco trust.
Mr.. Gaines, in the course of re-
cent letter to Il. 7. Bondurant. ESQ.,,
at Rice. Va. the vice-president of the
Dark Tobacco Growers Protective AS
ISOLATION. discusses in very illuminat-
Ing manner the conditions which make
the passage of the proposed law de-
sirable, imperative. II there is to be
Improvement In the prices received
for dark leaf. incidentally, II may be
mentioned that the Dark Tobacco AS
ISOLATION. which is much more power
full in Kentucky and Tennessee than
in Virginia, has succeeded In increas-
ing the price OF tobacco from fifty &c
| seventy five per cent. over last year.
In opening his letter to Mr.. Bon
durant. Mr.. Gaines mentiF1s the fact
that the bin has twice passed the
House OF Representatives. but that
Senator Aldrich. welded to the Stand
ard OIL and Tobacco Trust system,
twice smothered it to death in tho
committee Of which he Is chairman"
The Proposition.
Mr. Gaines continues as follows:
9This bill propoes to repeal the law
which requires that all persons who
sell to consumers leaf tobacco, not OF
their own growth and raising. to quail
lily as manufacturers and pay six cents
tax per pound on leaf thus sold. In
other words bought leaf cannot be
sold untaxed to consumers. and the
purchaser so selling 1t must qualify
as manufacturer. Hence, non-pro
ducers must thus qualify and pay this
tax on tho leaf they buy and thus
sell.
But tho producer. the farmer and
grower, can sell his leaf by retail or
| wholesale. free of tax and withou
! qualifying as a manufacturer. All
| other persons who sell leaf to con.
sumers must become manufacturers
| and pay this tax under heavy penal
| ties.
This tax has destroyed tho re-
| tail leaf business. Merchants and
| storekeepers no longer retail leaf
Not only this. but the retailer and his
business are unknown to the statute
and the tobacco market. The amount
| of leaf tobacco the grower sells by
| retail is mere drop in tho bucket.
"The rules OF the department so hob
| bio the farmer as to practically de-
stroy his privilege or right to sell
| his own growth free of tax, one rea-
L ca hay h, In nv Ff n va Hoc 1nn,
| practically denied tho grower.
For example: The grower can ped
I die his own growth OF leaf, but he
must do so in person. (Sen. Doc Supra,
| up. 10 and 167. Int. Rev. Dec. Nov. 10
1919 His son or employe cannot pod
die for him.
''The grower cannot employ an
from consumers.
"The grower can employ q salarieG
agent to solicit, but the grower must
I'm person both sell and deliver the leaf
to the consumer. (Sen. Dec. p. 1877
Int. Rev. Dec. Jan. 3, 1899 Thi.
agent cannot thus sell or deliver
(Same Doc)
| "The grower cannot employ n deale,
to sell his leaf to consumers, unless
the dealer pays six cents tax on eacl
pound thus sold. Hence the dealer
docs not for himself. or as agent. sci
leaf to consumers.
THE grower cannot leave his farm
and family to sell or deliver his lea
to consumers. The farmers employ.
everybody. Why deny him this grea
right and convenience as to his lea
tobacco?
'rf this bill is made law these anti
agency rules will fall into dlsuse ant
the grower become again freeman a.