The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-05-30

W0aLner cOnQlClOnS the coming TWO
weeks.
-"
The twenty-first annual convention
of the National Cigar Leaf Tobacco
association, held at Lancaster on Mon
day and Tuesday, May 10 and 20, es-
tablished a new record for favorable
action on matters of vital Importance
to the leaf tobacco industry. Every
measure to which the association gave
its approval, not only has the merit of
being the product of clear thinking and
logical conclusion, but will, in the event
of adoption by Congress, prove of i'm
mense value to the trade. The election
of Mr.. Weaver Of Lancaster to the
presidency, and the designation of
Dayton, Ohio, as the convention city
for 1920, were happy selections and
auger we'll for another successful year
of association activities and for an
other successful convention.
~
While no official word has been re-
ceived from Washington, it is quite
generally understood that Wisconsin $
eastern and western internal revenue
districts will be combined. The fact
that prohibition will go into effect July
] makes it possible to contract the
forces of several departments, and it
IS expected that the change in WiScOn-
sin will be made about that time in
conjunction with similar changes in
Kentucky and other parts of the cotn
try where sales of liquor have been
particularly heavy. When the consol-
idation of the two districts is complet-
ed, there will have to be some adjust
ment on factory numbers allotted cigar
manufacturers, as at the present time
the numbers are duplicated in the first
and second districts.
***
AS the planting of the 1919 crop of
domestic leaf tobacco begins, packers
are following with considerable inter-
est the trend of activities in the coun-
try districts. For the past several
weeks reports from the various dis
tricts have persistently reiterated the
statement that considerable acreage
reduction might be expected. At this
writing the indications are that this
forecast may hold true in Pennsylvania
and to somewhat lesser degree in
Wisconsin. In Connecticut there will
be some reduction in Shadegrown acre
age, due to the high production cost,
but no material reduction in the total
tobacco area, as the primed and shade
acreage will be devoted to Broadleaf
and sungrown Havana Seed. 1t is
probable that Ohio farmers will plant
their normal acreage.
-
The address of Murry Snyder, CHIEF
OF the tobacco division of the u. S. in
ternal revenue bureau, was the most
instructive part of the program of the
convention of the National Cigar Leaf
Tobacco association at Lancaster, Pa,
last week. Many members of the trade
had felt that these laws and regula-
tlons were unduly onerOus and vexa-
tlous, and that in securing and safe
guarding the government against fraud
the internal revenue department was
sometimes disregardful of the interests
OF the industry. Furthermore, there
are great many questions upon which
the members of the trade have very
hazy ideas. The frank attitude of Mr..
Snyder went far toward straightning
out the misconception of the trade with
respect to the internal revenues atti-
tude and purpose. His address, and
his answers to quiries, were full OF
information that was of genuine value.
He told the tobacco men efforts will be
made to establish July as invoice day
in place of January 1. He said that no
provisions have been made to decide
whether the shrinkage shall be de-
Quoted yearly or monthly. The princi-
pal questions covered by Mr.. Snyder
were relative to the bonding situation
and shrinkage. s'After the new regu-
lations go into effect, he said, "a sys-
tenn will be inaugurated by means of
invoices, enabling the dealer and the
revenue department to work together
for better results. This is expected to
do away with the ruling which calls for
certificates in the places of storage.
The government is not interested In
prices, but it is interested in waste.
Concerning the subject of individuals
giving bond or surety for their COM
pany, he continued, let me say that
the government ruling does not allow a
member of firm or corporation who is
an officer of the company to go surety,
no matter what his assets are. A stock |
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