Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-13
Love for FiE2ino initiates To-
bacco Representative.
OBJECTS TO TARIFF VIEWS
M. L. Floyd Tells House Committee
How Dutch Will Beat Yankee.
NEAR.PoLITICs OUT OF ORDER
Chairman Payne Rebukes Demo
cratic Colleague for Irrelevance
of Comments.

MI alt = VIEWS vi inc i'iiibf'hS $500
question were the subject of a brief dis
cussion before the ways and means COM
mittee of the House of Representatives
at the hearing the proposed revision
of the tariff this morning.
The subject furnished a lively few min
utes for the committee and the audience.
NJ l.. Floyd, chairman of the Leaf To-
bacco Board of Trade of the Connecticut
Valley, was on the stand when the storm
broke. He made it plain he didn't think
much of Mr.. Tafts ideas on this ques-
ton.
Representative Griggs of Georgia, who
was having lots of fun with the witnesses.
in the course of Mr.. Floyd's testimony
inquired of him whether he opposed free
trade with the Philippines.
II certainly do said the tobacco man,
with considerable emphasis. And l can
tell you why. too"
well, I think you had better do So
replied Mr.. Griggs. You see it is some
thing we ought to know about
How Dutch Would Win Out.
Its because Sumatra and Borneo are
so near that the Dutch syndcates can
move their entire plants right over to the
Philippines and get their tobacco into this
country free of duty. They can raise
just as good cigar wrappers in the Phil
ippines, 1 believe. as they can where
they are now.
Besides, if they wanted to, they could
bring their Sumatra and borneo TOBACCO
over to one of our islands and pack and
ship it free 1t would take more than
our entire standing army to police all
those islands and prevent such thing.
Have you mentioned this matter to
Mr.. Taft, the Presdent-elect?' querled
Mr.. Griggs, with only the Suspicion VI
twinkle in his eyes.
II haven't the pleasure of his acauain-
lance" answered Mr.. Floyd. But If l
had l would tell him what ! have told
you.
Il want to say that I was surprised when
Mr.. Taft came back from the Philippines
a few years ago full of love for those
little brown people-so full of it that he
forgot about the American people.
II agree with you on that point smiled
Mr.. Griggs. "and"-this solemnly-'l Vot-
ed for Mr.. Bryan
II didn't" said Mr.. Floyd.
Mr. Floyd started to say something
about Mr.. Bryan, but was summar1ly cut
off by Chairman Payne. who remarked
that the committee was not discussing
politics.
II wouldn't do anything to inconven-
fence the chairman" announced Mr..
Griggs, emphasizing the personal pro-
noun and grinning more expansively than
ever.
IT have a suspicion" said Mr.. Floyd.
proceeding with his argument. that
| those gentlemen who say they don't be-
lieve in a protective tariff on tobacco or
| anything else really favor it deep down
/ in their, hearts" Il
Tariff as Local Question. I
Il shall have to protest against that"
| said Mr.. Griggs. But go on. You know,
Hancock said the tariff was a local ques-
| ton. Don't you think it is, Mr.. Floyd?"
Yes, I believe so,'' was the response.
"But it seems to have hit a new local
ity," remarked Chairman Payne. turning
| toward Representatives Griggs, Under
| wood of Alabama and Pou of North Caro-
| lima, all of whom have tobacco-raising
| districts.
Look here" said Mr.. Underwood to Mr.
| Floyd, we, on this side of the commit
| tee. believe in a tariff for revenue. We
| consider alcohol and tobacco good things
| to tax for revenue. We will have experts
| to discuss that phase Of it later.
You say you want protection. But you
have not given us any facts at all about
the cost of production abroad and the
| cost of carrying foreign tobacco to this
| country.
| ''Of course. you gentlemen have a right
| to any information you want" answered
| the witness. But l don't think that is
| relevant. We are an infant industry and
| need protection
II have been here four days now put
| in Mr. Griggs. land l never saw so many
| cripples and infants in one place before.
1t affords me very great pleasure to be
| able to say to the Secretary of Agricu-
| ture yesterday" said H-r. Floyd. that l
| had picked some flowers from the little
| tobacco plant he had set out in Connecti-
cut"
You said that to him?" inquired Mr..
Gr riggs with mock seriousness.
THAT was nice" announced the repre-
sentative, approvingly.
All Want Protection.
| The entire time of the committee today
was given up to hearing the tobacco
growers and manufacturers. The grow
ers all asked that no change be made in
the tariff on tobacco. The plea from the
southern states was the same as that
from the Connecticut valley.
Among those who addressed the COM
mttee on this subject were William NJ
Cory of Quincy. Fla; Representative
Sparkman Of Florida; Thaddeus Graves
representing the New England Tobacco
Growers Association; NJ. W. Monroe of
Quincy, Fla, and Joseph G. Nicholson,
president of the Connecticut Leaf To-
bacco Board of Trade.
John W. Yerkes of Kentucky, former
commissioner of internal revenue appear
| ed in behalf of the Independent Tobacco
Manufacturers Association to ask for a
reduction Of the tariff of AZ cents pound
on the licorice paste used in making plug
and smoking tobacco. He said the men he
represented wanted a chance to buy for
| eign as we'll as domestic licorce.