The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-02-14

EDITOR GAzEITE.-I have read with interest the
report of the Congressional Tariff Commission up
on the subject of sugar, Published in the Hsoaian
Ga-efts of the ID instant.
1t is very decidedly protective of the refining
interest. and correspondngly adverse to the sugar
growing and manufacturing interests seeking the
United States markets from beyond its iurisdic-
ton.
The Committee recommend specific duty to be
levied according to the value of the sugar, as per
Polariscope analysis, on and below all sugars,
including No Is Dutch Standard. These sugars,
on account of their dark color. are not in demand
for consumption, and only made so by being re-
6ned-upon these the Commission recommend a
reduction of the present duty of 20 70100 per cent,
but for these there is customer but the refiner
The seller has not the benefit of competitors, but
must sell for what his customer Is inclined to give
who has the facilities for refining them and put
ting them into competition with sugars introduced
at much higher rate of duty; for seconds, above
No. 10, the Committee recommend a higher rate of
duty to be imposed according 10 the color without
regard TO the intrinsic value. Sugar is saleable
for consumption over the counter upon its color,
and not its value. II the customer finds the arti-
Gle offered handsome and sweet he asks no ques-
tons about the degree of sweetness and most like
ly neither he the grocer know anything about it.
Both OF these classiications protect the refining
| interest and are adverse to the ntroducer-frsf,
there being but one class of buyers of pershable
article which must be sold, the seller must accept
the buyers terms. Second, the increase of duty
and change from intrinsic value to color enables
him TO prepare and place in market his moe
cheaply bought article than his competitar who
has paid the higher duty can do. / do not discuss
the policy of this system state policy but ii is
evidently protecting TO the refining interests and
adverse TO foreign interests and adverse to the for
eign produce. Through the courtesy of the United
States Consul, have also read the argument Of
| Mr.. Brown for the abrogatiou of the Treaty, and
| am fully aware OF the strong tide of opposition
| which is now setting against it.
| Mr.. Brown makes statements that have been
| disproved time after time. and seems to have no
difficulty in surprising that Hawaiian and United
States officials at this end are coluding in coun-
| tenarcing fraud. IL he supposes that everybody
can be bought, and has learned this lesson Of hu-
man nature in his deties as special agent Of the
treasury he has been very unfortunate in the class
| of officials with whom his duties have brought
HIM in contact. There are both United States and
| Hawaiian officials that are not to be bought and
there merchants and planters both here and in
the United States whose truth and integrity would
never perpetra;e or connive at the frauds charged
| on them by Mr.. Brown. He denies that the ante
treaty sugars in the San Francisco market, known
| as Hawaiian sugars, were as good as since the
treaty. Iassert that, with the exception of 1861,
1865 and 1863, they were, by my own personal OBJ
| servation and by the testimony of the United
States Custom House records, collated by man
| of unimpeachable truth. The sugars in the ex-
cepted years were chiefly contracted to the old San
Francisco refinery, and not 20 exceed No. l. Dutch
| standard in color. 10 bring them down to this
color in many cases they had to be boiled with
molasses. But through all the years, with this ex
ception, sugars were better in color before than
| since the treaty. by the general observation of
those who handled them here, sustained by the
United States Custom House records.
| He asserts that vacuum pans and centrifugals
were not in general use before the treaty. Here
again he is mistaken. Centrifugals were invented
here, and for the last % or 30 years have known
of no plantation drawing their sugars in any other
| way, and vacuum pans were introduced into the
larger plantations generally before the treaty
Upon kaupakuea, 0nomea, Hilo, kohala, Lahaina
Wailuku, Waikapu, Waihee, Grove Ranch East
Maui, Haiku, Koloa, Lihue, Princeville and kau
comprising about all the large plantations. Al
that time draining by centrifugals was the only
method, and think no other method of finishing
except by the vacuum pan was practiced by the
same. But neither of these methods of boiling Oh
draining arc refinery processes, any more than the
lining and skimming of the open train with the old
| slow method of drainage Boiling in the vaccun
pan does not eliminate impurities any more than Il
does in the open train. Neither does the rapid
separation of the molasses from the grained sugar
the solid from the fluid, any more than the Ole
slow method. The only thing which can be con
strued as having any approach to refining Is TIT
addition of lime or some defeating substance tc
which the grosser impurities attach themselves
and are removed by skimming; but all this is dons
| before the Juice goes into the pan. and whether
finished in the vacuum pan or open train.
l
adding eggs, milk, or something with similar prop
| critics. II removes the grosser impurities-but h,
knows nothing of technical refining. He has neyel
heard that il must be filtered through ten or fif
teen feet of pulveriZed animal charcoal TO remoy,
the coloring matter, and other processes to max,
it white as it comes 10 US in the form of loaf
crushed or graduated sugar. There have been NJ
abuses or frauds of the kind set forth by Mr.
Brown. The government and planters have hon
estly aimed TO fulfill its provisions. A committe,
of the Legislature of 1880 could find of tn,
kind; was chairman of that committee and full,
believe what write.
The commercial benefits of the treaty, too, ar,
mutual but not equal, If the sugar consumer
realized all the benefit. what would the Hawaiian
Government get in return for relinquishing dutie,
nearly all goods, the growth and product of thu
United States? II the planter could get no NOR
for his sugar, when he could scarcely make expen
before, what object could the treaty be to hin
with increasing expenses. But he did expect L
get for his sugar, a least part of the dutie
saved, and he has sold to the refiners on the Man
lila standard generally, the purchasers allowing fo
the duties in the price The Government has re
couped itself for its relinquished duties by it
growing commerce and increased activity in all ii
industries. Whilst the United States has reapet
its reward by five fold expectation of its product
TO the islands. and a corresponding increase OF 1T
commerce.
For 10 ships in 1876, the treaty being in opera
ton the last third of the year. it has for 1882
ly 200. The following table only covers 1876 ant
| $50; but the increase has gone steadily on.