The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-05-19
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

Jne proposed CarlH Dill making import
ed wrapper pay So. 35 pound:
We nearly had the sc cigar back
again. But the chances are slim, now
that Congress is seriously considering
permanent continuance of the high duty
on imported tocacco which was clapped
on during the war.
Former Vice President Marshall made
big hit when he said, What this
country really needs is good Sc cigar. +"
For the epigram contained the homely
truth that the sc cigar indicated a re-
turn to normalcy all the way along the
line, and that rents, food, clothing and
prices for amusement might soon re-
turn to pre-war conditions.
Before the war the duty on Sumatra
tobacco was $1.85 pound. The emer-.
gency war tariff increased this duty to
S. 35 pound, and the purpose of SEN
ators who are supposed TO be acting on
behalf of the growers of domestic to-
bacc0 in some states is to have this
emergency tariff made permanent.
Cigar manufacturers say, 1t is i'm
possible to make cigars exclusively of
domestic tobacco that Americans will
smoke. The tobacco grown in Connec
ticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Wisconsin and other states in which the
industry is carried on positively requires
Sumatra wrapper in order to secure a
blend. Efforts to use American wrap
pers on cigars with domestic filters
have always failed. =
Recently some cigar manufacturers,
anticipating a return to pre-war tariff
on tobaccos, have made reductions in
the prices of domestic cigars, but they
assert it will be necessary for them, to
raise their prices again If the PROPOSE
ton to make the emergency tariff per-
manent is adopted.
But even the loss of the good sc
cigar of which Vice President Marshall
speaks is perhaps the least serious of
the effects which will follow a contin-
uance of the $2.35 duty on Sumatra
wrapper tobacco.
American farmers who raise tobac-
co will be first to feel the pressure if
|sthe plan to increase the duty is adopt
ed, said prominent manufacturer.
'Instead of applauding the senators
who are trying to jam through the high
tariff, tobacco growers will be likely to
curse them year hence. With 81 80
tariff, we will have either to raise the
price of domestic cigars or pay less for
domestic tobacco. We can not raise
prices without losing business. More
cigars were smoked five years ago than
are being smoked today in this country.
So in order to keep prices down and
prevent the cigar business from going
lx, %o hox ~ ant
costs, wherever possible, and the first
cut will necessarily come on home
grown tobacco"
Cigar manufacturers all over the
United States are plainly worried over
the proposed plan to continue the high
tax on Sumatra wrapper. They are
pessimists, due to the fact that they
predict, many cigarmakers will be
ers will receive less money for their to-
bacco and less tobacco will be sold, that
factories will have to be closed and
cigar jobbers and retailers will be af-
fected. In the end, the government,
instead of getting more revenue be-
cause of increased duty, will get less,
for importations will be cut down.
***
The Department of Markets has is
sued the following statement relative
to the organization of the Wisconsin
Agricultural Traffic association:
1.-THE functioning and success of the
Wisconsin Agricultural Traffic associa-
tion is bound up with the future devel-
opment of Wisconsin agriculture, stat
ed w. P. Jones, traffic expert of the
Department. of Markets. The anti
quated system of differentiation of
freight rates on some products in favor
of certain sections of Wisconsin him
ders considerably the development of
| the less favored sections. An example
| is given of case where the spread on
certain commodities is 81. 04 per hum
dred pounds between southern and
northern points within the state to
southern markets, the cost of produc-
| ing these commodities being the same
at both points. 1t is to adjust condi-
! tions of this kind which are detrimental.
to the growth of northern Wisconsin
rather than to follow the regular traffic
| work done by any number of firms that
started the movement TO organize a
Wisconsin Agricultural Traffic associa-
| tion.
The cost of transportation being one
of the determining factors in market
| ing the future progress and develop
| ment of Wisconsin depends upon just,
fair and equal freight rates. Any dis
elimination in rates kills the agricul-
tural industry of the section discrim-
! mated against. Unless all discrimina-
| ton is eliminated, the progress of
northern Wisconsin will be seriously
checked.
The Department of Markets is urg-
| ing all those who are interested in fair
and just freight rates to write for ap-
plication blanks and become members
of an agricultural traffic association
which intends to give every producer in
the state an opportunity to have some
thing to say regarding rates Of freight
he shall pay in marketing his products.
S. A. B. in the Leaf of May'l1 says
that indications Npoint to curtaiIment
of acreage IN the Connecticut valley,
though Shadeprown and Round Tin will