The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-10-10

attempt TO defraud the revenue, by attempting TO
import sugar q: a higher duty As melsio. which pays
less. The case was appealed, and the decision of the
Supreme Court rendered in favor Of the owners but
the delay, the leakage and expenses ruined their
enterprise. l have known melado sent from here,
charged with sugar duties, whilst there could not
have been more than 100 pounds Of drained sugar
in a TONI referred to Washington, and no redress
obtained. But l have already said more than l in
tended, and viii only say in closing, that if my views
are wrong 1 am sure they are honestly held.
Yours, truly, = y CASTLE
p. S.-A friend first mentioned TO me some weeks
since the dIrkening Of the sugars, and the spontane-
Gus remark which he made was, that i; reduced them
10 the condition Of raws, which must be manufactured
before they could be~old. 1t seemed 50 natural and
just, as they would then be obliged TO pay excise tax
IN addition, that l was surprised two days before the
steamer arrived 10 hear the suggestion that they
might be seized, for even If there were no further tax
TO be levied ON them, no industry or manufacturing
interest 10 be promoted or fUstered, | fail 10 see why
the rehner's right to darken his sugar Is not rs per-
feet as the distller 10 weaken his spirits. One adds
water and the other colOring matter, neither Of which
are spirits or sugar but the refner fosters Il great
industrial interest which would not otherwise be, and
pays the treasury an additional tax of more than the
half cent duty which he would have paid
As 10 not giving information TO the officers about
darkening the sugar. why should Mr.. Gordon or any
one else do 80, if they thought it was their unques-
toned right 3 y. 1.
RENAEKs.-We give place TO Mr.. Castles COM
munication with pleasure, "a the subject 1t dis
cusses is one of interest not only TO planters, but
10 nearly every reader. He undertakes in his let
ter 10 establish two points
lst.-That the color of the sugar does not de-
termine it's value.
2d.-That sugars of n higher standard than re-
fnery grades, when adulterated to appear like
them, possess no greater value than refinery sugar.
Both these we consider unsound.
Regarding the first point, we would say that
the d. Dutch standard, which grades sugar from
No. l to % and over, has been adopted by most
countries as the simplest method of classifying
sugars. This standard is based on the quantity
of pure sugar obtained from each quality. The
United States tariff adopts this standard, and fixes
the duty on melado at p cents a pound on raw
sugars under No. -, 3 cents Il pound from No.
- to Is, 81 cents per pound from No. 10 to 20,
4 cents a pound on refined sugar, 3 cents q
pound. The duty is evidently basel ON the value
Of the sugar crystals contained in the various
grades as an article of commerce, and not specially
with reference TO refining purposes. The color of
sugar. therefore, as fixed by The Dutch standard
does determine Its value as an article OF COM
merce, and consequently It's value for refining or
any other purposes.
Because the refinery demands and the planters
have agreed to a deduction of seven cents n pound
for every pound of grape sugar found to exist
in their manufacture over n certain per centage. rs
no proof that grape sugar is yalueleSs, rs assumed
by Mr.. e. IL is well known to constitute a large
part Of the fine golden syrup, which is made in
such quantities by the reiineries. 1t is not icasted
by any means, and every pound of - grape sugar"
is used in some way. In France its manufacture
il n distinct business, and it is there used TO adul-
terate brown sugars. Ii planters choose TO yield
TO the deduction of seven cents for each pound of
grape sugar, it may be all very well, but it should
not be done with the idea that it is a IcdSte pro-
duct. 1t has its value. wherever it may be found.
Mr.. Castles arguments simply show that 80 far
as the contracts are concerned, light sugars may
be OF less value to the planter than some darker
grades. But the intrinsic value of sugar as an
article Vr commerce Is that fixed by the Dutch
standard, which is based on the amount OF crystals
or pure sugar contained, as indicated by it's nat
urGl color. And this is the basis of the United
States tariff. 4
We now come to the second point in Mr.. C.is
letter Does the L. States revenue suffer 10y dark
ening tue high grade sugars? OF course it does, if
the commercial value of sugar depends on its natu-
raj color, and consequently ON the amount of sugar
crystals in II. An English authority gives the
average product of 6 ton of refinery sugar, when
refined, as follows
Pure sugar, rehRed and eefee 1,4lO lbs.
Molis-es-.--.-...-- $50 "
VAST. .......----.