The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-05-31

nnal hgureS are brought tOgeCner It is
believed that one Of the largest crops
in point of pounds produced in this state
will have heen found to have been COM
pletely absorbed. Better than half the
crop, however, has gone into the hands
of the stemmers and producers of scrap
tobacco, so that the yield of binders
must fall below the normal pack of
Wisconsin leaf. And the binder supply
outside of the large manufacturers, in
hands, the smallest since
the state became factor in tobacco
growing.
The discussion of the question of
local taxation on leaf tobacco held in
store in this state through these col
umns has begun to bear some results
that our state tax commission might
well take notice Of. The following
from late issue of the New York To-
bacco Leaf is we'll worth attention:
There was rather savage undertone
to the remarks made by the delegates
to the late convention in discussing the
taxation of tobacco. The Tobacco Leaf
published an article two or three weeks
ago relating to the increase in taxes
upon tobacco in the state of Wisconsin,
and it was letter from a packer in
that state, written to Water Street
house. that brought on the discussion.
It seems that New York firms pay
taxes in this state on all the tobacco
they own, wherever it may be situated,
and they are also compelled to pay tax
to other states in which they have to-
bacco. on such tobacco as they have
there. So long as the tobacco on stor-
age in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Penn
sylvania or Ohio was taxed at the NOM
inal assessment of five or ten dollars
case, they made no protest at the
double taxation, but when the assess
ors decided to make the/ assessment
suual to the total value of the tobacco,
they felt they were being imposedupon.
Some of the tobacco concerns OF New
York are corporations, and the value
of the tobacco they own is used as a
basis for ascertaining their corporation
tax, so that in some instances owners
of tobacco are, in effect, taxed upon 1T
three times. AS starter in the way
of getting their views before the pub
lie on this matter, the association pass
ed, not as an idle threat but in dead
earnest, the following resolutions:
Whereas, In several of the tobacco
growing states it is the custom to as
sess annually a county or town tax on
all tobacco or storage in warehouses,
and
Whereas, Large quantities of such
tobacco is owned by merchants through
out the United States who are paying
taxes at their offices, hence the above
taxation has become unjust, onerous
and duplicative, therefore be 1t
''Resolved, That the National Cigar
Leaf Tobacco Association in convention
assembled strongly protests against
such local taxation on leaf tobacco on
storage in any of the growing sections,
and further be it
''Resolved, That members OF this as
sociation withdraw all tobacco on stor-
age and cancel all leases of warehouses
wherever possible in such section or
sections where such taxes are assessed,
and further that copy of this resolu-
ton be sent to the local press through
out the tobacco growing sections and
also to the secretary of each local.
board with the request that they notify
each assessor of this action.
It is the last straw that breaks the
camel's back, and there is possibility
of taxing this commodity SO high that
there will be no tobacco left in the
state owned by foreign corporations on
which to levy taxes.
Both the cultivation and manufac-
ture of Porto Rican tobacco have i'm
proved immeasurably within the last
decade, previous to which the product
was heavy, coarse leaf, devoted
mainly to local consumption. Early
efforts to introduce the poorly made
Porto Rican cigar into the United
States encountered failure and discoQr-
agement. But, with the application
under American direction of new meth
DDS, growing wrapper leaf under cheese
cloth, proper curing and expert manu-
facture, demand was created. Now
the product of the island rivals Cuban
tobacco in flavor and appearance, and
the exports have increased from lit
tie over $500, 600 in 1901 to nearly
S6, 900, 900 in the past year.
-
The internal revenue returns for last
month, despite the talk of hard times,
show positively that the tobacco busi-
ness is much improved over a year ago.
There were AZ, 925, 40 more regular ci-
gars made in April, 1912, than in the
same month of 1911. There were $685.
809, 1872 more cigarettes manufactured
than in the same month Of the previous
year, and 83, 460 pounds more of tobac-
co and 210, 663 pounds more of snuff.
In fact, the only branch OF the indus
try which shows decrease as compar-
ed with April of last year is little ci-
gars. There is certainly nothing dis
couraging about these figures.