The Hawaiian gazette., 1876-12-20
what i. sandwich island sugar.


The mail per S. S. Australia brings the
news that the Custom House authorities in San
Francisco have refused to allow washed
sugars to come in duty free under the treaty.
The question came up on the Importation of
SIS kegs of McKee's n sugar, per bark R. C.
Wylie, aud belonging to the California Sugar
Refinery The Collector claims that this
sugar is refined, because it is washed, and
that washing sugar is refining it. The duty
of Eve cents a pound was demanded and paid
on this sugar under protest. We publish be-
low a copy Of the protest and appeal made by
the California Sugar Refinery, also of state
ment signed by the principal commission
merchants and wholesale dealers in sugar Of
San Francisco. Colonel Spreckels, the presi-
dent of the Refinery, writes to his agents here,
Messrs. H. Hackfeld & Co, that he is in hopes
the Treasury department in Washington viii
set aside the decision of the Custom House
officials, but if the latter should be sustained
he will bring the matter before the courts,
and there he is confident TO win his cause
The same class of sugar has for years been
sent frum here to San Francisco and Portland,
and is well known at these places as sand
witch Island Sugar." SO designated in the
treaty. The fact that there is no sugar re-
finery in these islands, and that all the sugar
shipped from here are made by the ordinary
process of manufacturing sugar from cane
juice, ought to decide this question, and we
doubt not it will be decided in favor of the
manufacturers. Col. Spzeckels has under
taken, At his own expense, to test this ques-
ton, aud our planters aud all interested in
cane planting and sugar manufacture will be
benefited should be win his suit.
tCoPY OF PRorEsr.I
SAN FRASCIsoo, CAL, Nov. IS, 1876.
HoN. THos. B. SHANNON,
Collector Of Customs, San Francisco, Cal,
SIR,-we do hereby protest against the payment
OF duties charged by you at the rate of cents per
pound. and in addition thereto 25 per cent OF said
duties, amounting to the sum OF 81 7U5, SSS
kegs sugar, marked James Mckee n sugar."
weighing net 5. 25S pounds imported by the Cali
fOruia Sugar Refinery, In the Hawaiian bark K. C.
Wyle from Honolulu in the kingdom of Hawaii
Nov. II, 1876, and catered BY Us at this Custom
House, as per entry No. 6lS7, Nov. Il, 1876.
miued into all the ports Of the United States tree
of duty, provided for 10 the schedule 10 article
/. OF the Convention between the United States
OF America aud His Majesty the King of the Ha-
Naian Islands Commercial reciprocity, concluded
January so 1875. aud the Act Of Congress TO carry
into effect said Convention approved August Is,
1876, and proclamation Of the President OF the
United States 10 enforce said treaty dated at Wash
lngton The 9th day Of September, 1875, because:
Eirst-Ihat said sugar is the growth, production
or manufacture OF the Hawaiian Islands aud was
imported directly from said Islands.
SecOnd.-That said sugar is unreiued sugar
meaning thereby the grades of sugar heretofore
commonly imported from Tie Hawaiian Islands
aud nov known in the markets Ut San Francisco
aud Portland as Sandwich Islands Sugar"
ThiTd.-That said sugar is not the refined loaf
lump, crushed, powdered, or granuated SUGAR.
the only refined sugar specially enumerated III the
Statute,
We, therefore, protest against the payment of
duty charged by you. and we pay the amount ex-
acted. not voluntarily, but because We are COM
PEELED 10 do so, in order TO get possession of sand
sugar, aud clam 10 have the whole amount so
refunded.
We are, very respectfully yours
California Sugar Refinery
c. SPRECKLEs, President
c. A. McNultF. Attorney