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Show OK IXTKKICST TO CK1AK MKN. l'roios!tion to Krdure thr Bond of Cigar Washington, May U. The secrclarv of the treasury has forwarded to the speaker of the house a letterfrom Commissioner Com-missioner of Internal Revenue M;vson recommending certain amendments to existing laws taxing manufacturers of cigars. Commissioner Mason suggests that the bond of cigar manufacturers manufac-turers be reduoMl from frilH) to $I0J, an. I that no additional bond for cigar makers in tho employ of a manufacturer manu-facturer be required. I'pon this subject sub-ject the commissioner says: "My reasons rea-sons therefor are, first, such a modification modifica-tion would be popular and in accord with the petitioned reipiestof numerous poor persons w ho w ish to engage in the manufacture of cigars with a very limited lim-ited capital and acipiaiulaiice, and to whom the present law is practically prohibitory. The penal sum of the bond required of inauufactiiiers of cigars was fixed at a time when the rate of tax on the interest involved were much greater than they now are under the present law. J am, therefore, clearly of the opinion that even the miiijnaiii sum of bor.d may bt diminished to HKl, as recommended, rec-ommended, ami then be ample to protect pro-tect tho interests of the government. No harm would result to gov eminent interests, as the discretion of the collector col-lector is exorcist d In each case, ami it is only the minimum amount of bond that is proposi ti for amendment. There does not exist any gootl reason for bondiii'T the employer for the workmen employed. If , is not done with distillers or brewers or manufacturers . of oleomargarine, and no advantage has yet resulted therefrom. The intent of the law requiring a bond of 100 for each maker of cigars was to furnish the collector with average data as to the probable output of the factory and the quantum of business proposed to bo tlone, but the general introduction and utilization of machines in the making of cigars, the evident tendency to generally gen-erally displace hand work by the use of perforated machines, the formation of unions, frequent strikes by workmen, etc., renders the existence of Ihe statute of no practical benefit, and its abrogation abroga-tion would be eminently proper." |