The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1921-03-30
THE MANNING TIMES, Manning. s. G,

and then only on more moderate
scale than the maximum prices here
in quoted, with the multiplied cost of
leaf tobacco, as shown in the fore
going, coupled with the increased cost
of all other material required in the
finished product ,as well as the high
cost of labor to realize that at no
time, during or since the War, have
the price advances for tobacco pro-
ducts to the consumers been nearly
sufficient to cover the increased cost
Of production.
1t is one thing for chocolate candies
to come down after having been in
creased, from 80 cents to 81 pound,
or for mems suits to come down after
having been increased from $25 to
$15, or for shoes to come OWN after
having been increased firm Sd to SIS
and $20--advances ranging from 200
to 300 per cent, and all starting at
the first jump of the upward trend.
But it is quite another thing to re-
ducc prices on commodities such as
tobacco products when the increase
at the utmost was only about 81 per
cent, and in some classes as low as
13 per cent, which increases did not
even start until about three years af-
ter the general upward price move
mcnt began, and when the high prices
of raw material and the increased
cost Of production are yet unchanged
and, under the immutable law of sup
ply and demand seem likely to con
tlnuc unchanged for some time to
come.
In conclusion let us say that the
foregoing is not intended to be argu-
mentative or evangelical. 1t is a
Slmnlp nrC cpnf f.>ti inn of f,,ic ,,,I ,~,,+
tcrs of record, available to all, but
evidently not with the knowledge of
the public. Summarized, these facts
are:
/. lhat no increases in the retail
prices of any tobacco products were
made until three years after prices
began advancing on other commodi-
ties.
z. That prices of tobacco products
have not increased over 81 per cent,
maximum and on some types of to-
bacco products not over l3 per cent,
as compared with an average of 300
per cent, on nearly al lother commo-
dities or with increases rs high as
5SS per cent, on leaf tobacco; and
that IN no case were these advances
ON tobacco products sufficient to cover
the Increases in producing costs.
8. That prices on cigars, cigarettes
and tobacco do not decline along with
most other products for the same
basic reason that they did not in
creases along with most other pro-
ducts, namely, because the raw ma
tcrial leaf tobacco-is never suitable
md is not available for manufacture
ing purposes until one to three years
after 1T passes from the growers
Lands; and also, in the case of cigars,
because the cigar types Of leaf tobac-
co have not yet declined in price.
a.. And, lastly, that good part
OF the purcn2se price Of every pack
age OF cigarettes, tobacco and cigars
is the Internal Revenue Tax-impos-
ed by the War Revenue Law whic his
still in force; that the taxes on Gig
arS, plus the duties on imported Gig
%rs or on the imported tobacco used
IN domestic cigars, run from about
lalt cent to over 9 cents on each
cigar; that the taxes on cigarettes
amount to 3 cents on each package of
~, and cents on each package of
~, while the tax on tobacco is ! l-8
cents ON each onc-omce, or 2 Id cents
on each two-ouncc package.
The law of compensation is incyor-
able, an dthoSc mon or those indus
tries who and which danced to the
music Of wartime profits may well
expect to pay the fiddler. Having
Toasted nightly of the fat, they can
we'll afford to chew their quid of lean.
But the tobacco trade, as it happens
and as the records prove. was not
among the industries that so indulg-
ed. Having had no feast it is not now
conditioned for famine.
Clearly, where there has been no
initiation there can be no dcnution. The
tobacco industry kept it's hands clean
ana ITS cards on the table when in
dustrlal America was pcrmcatcd with
the spirit of Grab. Surely the con
@umcr will not pcnalzc the industry
trat gave him square deal when his
hands were ticd-not if he recalls
Fast circumstances and is made ac
qualntcd with present conditions.
When and if these facts become
known to the man who uses tobacco.
as they are known to the man who
makes it, the great mystery of why
tobacco prices have not vet hit the
toboggan will be mystery no more.