CHAP. 303.—JOINT RESOLUTIONS with reference to ‘regie’’
contracts by foreign governments for the purchase of leaf tobacco.

Approved March 9, 1880.

Whereas it has been made known to this general assembly
that one of the great staples of this commonwealth—namely,
leaf tobacco—together with the interests of all persons in any
way connected with the same, whether as producers, sellers or
buyers, is being seriously, injuriously and to a ruinous ex-
tent affected by the action of certain European governments,
namely: France, Spain, Italy, and Austria, discriminating
against said staple, by making a government monopoly of the
purchase and sale of the same within their respective domin-
ions, thereby cutting off all competition on the large amount of
leaf tobacco—over one hundred million pounds—required to
supply the citizens of these several governments, for which
there is no other market; and whereas these four governments
purchase their supplies of leaf tobacco through an agent,
termed a regie, by contract let to the lowest bidder, thereby
placing it in the power of two or three men, contractors, whose
interest it is to purchase at the lowest figures attainable to con-
trol the prices of leaf tobacco on the markets of this country,
and through our markets, the original source of supply, to con-
trol the markets of the world; therefore,

1. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Delegates in
legislature assembled, That our senators in congess be and
they are hereby instructed, and our representatives requested,
to use their influence and all legitimate and honorable means
to induce congress and the state department at Washington to
take steps and use every effort to do away with this unjust and
unreasonable discrimination against this our great staple, and
to cause the present regie system for the purchase and sale
of leaf tobacco within the dominions of the aforementioned
European governments to be abolished, and the markets of
these four great governments made open markets into which
all persons who desire to do so may import, and thus protect
this great staple, which furnishes the means of support not
only to thousands of families in this commonwealth, but in
thirteen different states of this Union.

2. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the clerk
of the House of Delegates to each of the Virginia senators
and representatives in congress, and that they are hereby
requested to cause them to be presented and read in the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United States.