The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-12-14


Mr.. James c. King wished TO add a little to what
Mr.. Brooks had said. He thought the interests of the
Islands on the question OF nationalties were divided
as follows American, English, German and Chi
nese. They were suffering severely from the depreSs-
ion caused by the high tariff. In regard to the area
of land Il; for sugar. lac believed the Islands could
supply the world with sugar. One island Is as large
n Connecticut. and has plenty of water for irrigation.
His own idea was that the ratification of the treaty
would destroy all hopes Of annexation. The Hawaii
AL system of labor could not be tolerated by a civil
ized government in this enlightened age, and one
that mad broken up its own slavery system at - fear
ful a cost. The Hawaiians would want nothing bet
ter than an advantage IN duty equal to 100 per cent
on the cost Of the sugar AT the place Of consumption,
and a Government that allowed them 10 use compul-
sorry labor, and which, on most plantations, took the
form Of a whipPing-Post. 1t struck him that the
great incentive TO the treaty came from this side. tie
could not understand ON what grounds a treaty should
be made for the benefit of consumers which shut out
all the higher grades which families consumed and
only admit low grades which were taken by the re-
fneries. What object could there be in excluding
Sandwich Island sugars which went into domestic
consumption and admitting the other free? 1t was
said that the relaxation of a duty of 10 per cent. on
American manufactures would increase the general
trade. 1t was very unlikely that u difference of 10
per cent. would do away with the preference for the
cheaper cargoes of English manufactures imported
direct.
Mr.. Dibblee asked what proportion of sugar was
raised in the island which would come under the
standard of No. II Dutch?
Nh. King said that no grower would continue to
make line sugars, because IL was Impossible that they
could do so probably and pay a duty OF 1 cents a
pound when sugars passing through the refinery paid
nothing. The Refinery contracts for the low sugars
now known of were 5000 to 5000 tons. Formerly
all the sugars made in the islands were above No. II
standard Dutch, and were packed in barrels now a
large quantity was put up in bags for refining pur-
poses. No man would think of making fine sugars to
pay duty when he could, by taking less trouble, send
his sugar in free.
Mr.. Dibblee asked would this treaty DO away with
the Importation of family sugars from the islands?
Mr.. KiAg-Certainly. There was no d~isputing
the fact. No planter III his senses would continue TO
make high grades Of sugar. 1t would give the San
Francisco sugar refneries all the trade of this coast,
and the command of the Eastern trade Tor all their
surplus. The duty saved by this treaty would be
more than an equivalent for freights and insurance
i'll sending refined sugars East.
Mr.. Gordon asked Mr.. King a few technical ques-
tions, to which Mr.. King replied.
Mr.. King attributed the change in the character of
the sugar made by some plantations-he referred to
the new practice of making low class sugars-to the
inability of small planters 10 buck successfully against
joint stock companies of great reputed wealth, who
could throw tons of sugar into the auction-roOm
whenever they desired TO operate on prices.
Mr.. Gordon asked if these sugar sales had not
been profitable to the consumer.
MIR. King said he had known low prices for a short
time turn out 10 be n very costly indulgence to con-
sumers for Il yecy long time after they had ceased.
In answer TO another question by MIR. Gordon, MIR.
King said the effect would be to throw the refining
busin, IS entirely into the hands of the United States.
Mr.. GordOH-As raw cotton?
Mr.. KIRg-Yes.
Mr.. Diblee asked if any refined sugars were i'm
ported from the Islands?
Mr.. King said the only refinery on the Islands was
on n small scale, and refined the sugar by taking
out the molasses. There was no sugar bakery on the
Island.
Washington Bartlett brought up the favored nation
clause of treaties as an objection to its passage. \
discussion thereupon arose between Messrs. Gordon
Brookes and Bartlett, in which Canada was cited as
an instance that the clause did not affect reciprocity
treaties. and the legality of the treaty was n question
for Congress.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Mr.. Feuerstein, agent of the San Francisco and
Pacific Sugar Refinery, said the production of the Is
lands had been over-es;imated. The centre of most
of these Islands were nothing more than barren rocks,
The area of the land near the shore, which is the only
soil available for sugar, is, the Government says, not
more than 10000 acres. OF sugar. they could not
produce more than 5000 tons.
II membsT-Pounds?
.9aOiher msmber-Thousands
.Nr. FsusrSteia-35,O 900 tons of sugar. That was
the outside calculation, if the labor question was set
tlel, and the labor question was not settled, but was
the great trouble OF planters. 1t took three years
to cultivate "a plantation, and the treaty was for
seven years. Any plantation started on the ratifca-
ton of the treaty would look forward to four protita-
bic years during its continuance, but had no pros pect
beyond. Would it be likely that for sake of any
probable profit accruing during these four years cap
ital would 20 largely into sugar cultivation ? No.
The question for this Chamber was: Is it benef-
cial to the Pacific coast? 1t was not required in TO its
hCA AhS bh NhhNA NV WIZ NuOSNAnu WAS
Will it be beneficial to the people on this coast
Whether it would be beneficial to the refineries was a
secondary consideration. Ii was a recognized rule of
trade that the cheaper an article could be impo rted,
the cheaper it would be supplied to the retail con-
sumner.
The treaty embraced other articles, as coffee, etc,
all of which advantages the inhabitants of the Pacific
would reap; for these reasons the treaty ought to be
supported by the Chamber.
Mr.. King said it was n question whether the pc
crliar form of government would not tend to invite
capital from other countries rather than the United
States 10 settle in the Islands.
Mr.. Feuerstein said out of 20 planters ten were
Americans and sig were British; the remainder were
Germans with the exception of one Chinese
Mr.. Kings experience was that the popular feel
ing leaned to the British. The American planters
were a sort of white washed Americans. Something
like our ships sold during the wal American wood
and work, but sailing under British colors.
Mr.. Swain thought that from the caution with
which the members of the Chamber approached
the subject, they We're rather Indifferent to the
matter. lie believed powerful ifluences would be
brought TO bear to defeat the ratification of the
treaty. Every importer of sugar into the Eastern
States would oppose 1t; also the producers east
would protest against the introduction of sugar
from the west. 1t was not clear to his mind that
the people of this coast would be benefited. 1t
was a question If sugar would continue cheaper.
of course importers would obtain the highest price
they could for their sugar-he would If he were Il
dealer.
Mr.. Dibblee said it wasnota question with which
he was very familiar. There was much doubt
about this treaty and its ratification in a political
sense. His opinion was that a good reciprocal
treaty would benefit this coast. The two countries
would be 50 closely connected under the treaty
that in a few years it would only be necessary to
say at Washington we desire the annexation of
the Islands to bring them under our flag. lie
thought it would be well II submit the matter to II
committee to report at another meeting.
Mr.. Brooks stated that this was not a new meas
ure. MIR. Allen, commercial agent at the Islands,
had several years ago carried 10 Washington a
treaty, which was only defeated by the votes of two
Senators.
Nr Gordon stnt tod thnt the Island nennlc cnnnnt