The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-03-23

mand for outlet.
The rainfall for the season in this city thus far
has been 20 inches, than double that of either
of the past two years and yet its volume has been
much less than has fallen upon Honolulu in the
same time California wet season would pass
at your islands for dry one.
SUGARS.
In the year 1861, Mr. Gordon, of the San Fran
cisco Refinery entered into contracts with the
island planters for their sugars all grades of which
were delivered to him in Honolulu. when they
were mixed together, and the color, when neces-
sary, reduced by admixture of charcoal, to tally
with the grade on which he proposed to offer them
at the Custom House IN this city. These sugars
were seized upon the plea that fraud upon the
U. S. revenue was intended, although Mr. Gordon
argued that it was his right in the manufacture of
sugar abroad to make 1t of any color that he
pleased, the rights of the Custom House commence
ing only when the product was offered for entry.
That color was the basis OF the duty the aD-
praisers must view the product as offered and not
as to how produced. That if the L. s. official
could go back to the manufacturing process. the
island planters could all be deemed guilty of prac
ticng fraud upon the U. $ revenue, if they failed
to clarity IN the most perfect the juice in
their cOppers, or attempted to keep down in any
way the color of their sugars. The question then
started by the Treasury Department, which then
resulted Ill nearly running Gordons estate. (for he
had died ere II was decided by the COuTts) it
seems Is now, under discussion on the Eastern sea-
board, where it appears that importers are smart
ing under like accusations of fraud, which they
accept no more kindly than did the Gordon. The
New York Chamber of Commerce endorsed the
views of the importers and sent n memorial to the
Secretary of the Treasury to which Mr.. Sherman
made reply. This reply has walked up the import
ers to an emphatic protest " in which they DENY
the impeachment of their honesty and integrity
and claim that they have with them, the Courts,
which have had this matter under review.
NV YoRK, February 15.-At the great meeting
of the sugar lade yesterday committee of five
was appointed 10 prepare reply to Secretary
Shermans letter, in which he Insinuated that
fraudg had bppn NV
sugars so as to escape high grade duties The fol-
lowing resolutions we're adopted
ResOired That this meeting indorse the report
adopted by the Chamber of Commerce on the sub
ject of the collection of duties on sugar as true
and fair statement of the controversy between
merchants engaged in the importation of the
article and the Secretary of the Treasury.
Resotced, That the question at issue is not one
OF fraud and this meeting desires to enter ar en-
phatic protest against the manner in which the
Secretary of the Treasury has treated the subject.
clothing 1t with the appearance of fraudulent
purpose on the part of importers. If the Govern
ment has reason to believe fraud has been at
tempted on the revenue, it is the bounden duty of
It's officers to act accordingly, to seize merchan-
disc, ana institute proceedings for its condemna-
ton, and In pursuing that course they will receive
the hearty support of importers But the DEPART
ment has assumed, without evidence, to place up
ON every importer coming under the operation of
obnoxious regulation the stigma of an attempt IT
fraud
Resoirsd, That the offensive order is made in
defiance of rulings of the Courts in the very cases
TO which reference is made. which IulinCs are
plainly to the effect that the manufacturer has a
right TO color his sugars he pleases in or during
the process of manufacture. The Treasury regu-
latlon says: That any means used to degrade
cOlors OF sugars, during after the process of
manufacture, Is fraud upon the revenue" while
the official records of the Court say: "a foreign
manufacturer has the right to make sugar of what
color he pleases."
Resolre,i, That the merits of the question are in
nowise affected by the fact that member of the
special committee Of the Chamber of Commerce
Is, as the Secretary states, pecuniarily interested
IN one or more pending suits, and the insinuation
conveyed thereby is unworthy so high an Official
Any and every importer must unavoidably be
party to innumerabe suits if the Treasurer's regu
latlOns are maintained.
Resoired, That the Secretary's communication
does not in any manner meet or counterwail the
statements of the report. The real question is
p" Has the Department the right and power to fix
the test OF import duties other than that establish
ed by Congress 2 On this point the testimony of
the Secretary himself, cited IN the report is a con-
elusive answer. He says, Phe Courts have de-
clced that the Dutch standard of color is we'll
known commercial phrase that enters into the
compact between the importer and the Govern
ment, and we have no right by regulation to sub-
stltute anything which affects duties ON this
Standard
Happily for the island planters these reouIa-
lations of the Secretary at present do not affect
their products and tie subject is interesting cnIy
rs being which had a starting point with their
early contracts. The result Of the controversy
probably viii be the abandonment of tho anti |
quated and absurd use of. the Dutch color stand
ard as the criticism for imposition of duties. II
was asserted some years ago by the Philadelphia |
importers that the New York ditto GOT in their
sugar at considerable less duty than those of the
former city, owing to the inability of the New |
York officials to distinguish No. Is sugar from |
No. u. The color line In many cases is a rather
misty one.
Your townsman, Mr. T. H. Davies. who arrived |
by last steamer, has left again for England While
here he was very busy investigating the saccharine
standard by which island sugars are sold his |
opinion being thaty2 degrees Is above the STRENGTH
of Manila sucars If he is able to establish his
point, the planters will owe him thanks.
MoNKr.
II seems pity that while money is so abundant
here, that 1t actually "goes a begging that the
Islands should have been pinched at any time
during the past two years Yet call for the same
by our planters has been about as successful as
calling spirits from the Vastly Deep and such
agents as have been able TO fortify themselves
from capitalists here have indeed been made to
pay through the nose emphatically. The follow
ing statement Of the money market in this CITY
made last week exhibits somewhat the pilikia of
the capitalists:
The banks are carrying more idle coin than j.
desirable at this season of the year. The reduc-
hon IN the rates Of interest has failed to give