February 27. 1888. To the members of Congress of the United States of America: We. the undersigned. citizens of Key West. would respectfully petition the honorable Congress of the United States to increase the duty on stripped tobacco or tobaccoleaf without stems to 75 cents per pound. We ask this because the cigar manufacturers are importing stripped tobacco into the United States. thereby turning thousands of persons out of employment. as American labor can not compete with the pauper labor of Cuba. and for this we will ever pray the honorable members of Congress to take a proper action. . The proposed addition to that tax was based upon the former rate. which was 35 cents when not stemmed and 40 cents when stemmed. In order to carry out the purpose desired by these petitioners I have submitted the amendment so as to make the rate in the Senate substitute 40 cents a pound. which rate is the same as the existing law.
Identified stereotypes
Cuban laborers are described as 'pauper labor' that American labor cannot compete with.