The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-05-20
SENATOR BEvERIDGE SCORES
THE TOBACCO TRUST.

The Manufacturer stia Collects the
Wartime Tax From the People
The Inner Workings of This Gigan-
tic Trust
Washington, ID. c., May 1.-THE
Senate met at II O'Clock to-day. SEN
ator Hughes presented a series OF
memorials from the Colorado Legis-
lature complaining Of the operation
of forest reserve law, and particular
ly Of Secretary Of Agriculture VIII
son for his alleged assumption OF au-
thority in making forest reserve reg
ulations, and the collection OF fees.
The Legislature asked that all land
not forest be turned back to the State.
Another memorial from the Colora-
do Legislature asked that the right
to levy inheritance taxes be left to
the State.
Senator Beveridge spoke against
the Tobacco Trust. His speech was a
sensational one in that 1t exposed the
inner workings OF the trust and the
identity of the men who comprise one
OF the most gigantic trusts in the
world. Senator Beveridge spoke. In
part. as follows:
"In 1898 the tax on all forms of
tobacco was raised in order to supply
the Government with a needed In
crease In revenue. But at the time
Congress put this Increased tax on
tobacco manufacturers were allowed
to reduce the size Of the packages In
which the tobacco was sold to the
people.
''In .1901-1902 this increased to-
bacco tax was removed but the short
weight packages of tobacco were con-
tinued by the very law that removed
the tax.
''The manufacturer still collects
the wartime tax from the people,
but instead Of paying it to the Gov
ernment, he keeps it for himself.
"In this way the Government has
handed over to the tobacco manufac-
turers and lost to itself $12,S97,993.-
67 in 1902; s25,6s1,607.21 in 1903;
$26, 5,270.S8 in 1904; $27,524,-
955.49 in 1905; $29.326,0os.97 in
1906; $31,198,451.32 in 1907, and
$3O,546,26S.S9 in 1908. All-told,
the Government has lost $1S4,09O,-
557.43 in the last eight years.
Within five hours from the time
this amendment is printed in the
newspaper the ablest men employed
by the Tobacco Trust TO watch legis-
lation effecting it, will be in Wash
ington and remain here until this
amendment is voted upon I am not
sure that they are not here now. And
within twenty-four hours from the
time this amendment is published in
the newspapers agents ~ the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company will be at
work among the cigar-makers all
over the country, trying to persuade
them that this amendment will bear
heavily upon them and attempting to
frighten them into besieging Congress
with petitions and resolutions against
it. Therefore. I want now, in the
most emphatic way, to reassure the
cigar-makers of the country.
"By cutting prices so as to compel
competitors to sell to it or enter the
new combinations which it from
time to time organized, the American
Tobacco Company has at the present
time secured control of more than
80 per cent of the entire output of
chewing tobacco of the country, more
than II per cent of the smoking to-
bacco output of the country, more
than 80 per cent of the cigarette
output of the country, and more than
Sc per cent of the snuff output of
the country.
''The Tobacco Trust has passed
through many forms of corporate
duplication and combination. These
reached their consummation at the
time when the war tax was removed
and the war time package was spe-
cffically continued by express words
Of the law. It is worthy of note that
when the war was drawing to It's
close and far-seeing men knew that
the war tax would be removed. such
men as Ryan, Dolan, Whitney, Brady
Widsner, Elkins and others we'll
known to the world of finance forced
their way into the inner councils Of
the Tobacco Trust. 1t is still more
| worthy of note that when, according
to the newspapers. Mr.. Thomas F
Ryan last year determined to retire
from most of his financial enterprises
he retained as his one favorite enter
prise his holdings and active partici
patton in the American Tobacco Com
pany, which is the Tobacco Trust
The principal men now in control o
the Tobacco Trust are James 3
Duke, Thomas F. Ryan, Oliver II
Payne (of Standard Oil fame), An
thony NJ. Brady and the banking an,
brokerage firm of Moore & Schley-
Elkins, Whitney and Widener havin
died.
cat a convenient time In the fu
ture shall, If 1t becomes necessary
present to the Senate the detaiIe
transactions of this mighty organiza
ton controlled by these well know
men,
Two Friends Kill Each Other.
u Roanoke, Va, May 14.-WilliaI
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