The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-27
Our San Francisco Letter.
ORION OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE

SAN FRANCISCO, January 10Th, 1888.
The Hawaiian Reciprocity Treaty still
hangs back at Washington. Some days ago
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
which has charge of the Treaty called upon
the State and Treasury Departments for in
formation on the subject, n it was then
intimated by members of the committee
that the news advanced by those depart
ments would have a strong influence upon
the action of the committee. The Treasury
was of course called upon to speak for the
revenue aspect of the question, while the
Department of State was consulted with
a regard to it's political bearings, as the
question of British influence might enter
largely into the consideration of the ques-
ton. In diplomatic circles the rumor was
that the ~abrogation of the treaty would be
at once followed by the acceptance by the
Hawaiian Government of the terms of re-
ciprocity offered by England or Japan. The
State Department has sent to the commit
tee the required information, but at present
the committee holds the communication. as
confidential.
1t is understood that Secretary Freling-
huysen strongly protests against the abro-
CATION of the treaty, but suggests its modi-
ffcation by the abolition of the color test of
sugar and the fixing of the dutiable limit
according to the saccharine quality under a
new treaty. The committee discussed the
matter yesterday, but laid it over until next
Tuesday, when a special meeting Will be de-
voted to its consideration.
Last week the Senate indirectly expressed
itself regarding the treaty by referring to
the Finance Committee q resolution in favor
of its abrogation. Senator Miller of Cali
fornia, who favors the treaty, wanted it re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, on the ground that diplomatic con-
siderations were involved. Jones of Louisi-
ana n others, who desire its abrogation,
wanted the resolution referred to the Finance
! Committee, claiming hat it was purely a
~;aI and commercial question. After
naIJId .->-olution was referred to
a discussion the Tes0s<srat CT vote of 81 to 20.
the Finance Committee by a. ssSrocity
Meantime the prepared RecTph~aS-
Treaty with Mexico comes into the quesT,
ton. There seems to nave been some
81 funny business +" about this treaty. 1t is
reported that General Grant and Senior
Romero representing the United States
Mexico respectively, nave stolen a
march on the Press and public by fixing up
a treaty quietly between themselves which
is all cut and dried and ready to be acted
upon. Among other things it Is alleged
that the treaty reports the Objectionable
feature of the Hawaiian Treaty Ito the
men that is) by admitting sugars
free of dHty, and that in this Mexico. like
Hawaii, will get the advantage of the
United States. Further rumor regarding
this treaty is that Grant has worked it with
a view to consulting the interests of Jay
Gould, of whom he is but the agent. Gould
is interested in the struggle for the control
of the rapidly increasing railroad interests
VI 1CAACO IL L SCAACluSo OpDOScu
to Gould are subsidized by the Mexican
Gould has no subsidy, and
be argues that by making a Reciprocity
Mexico will be deprived of any
venue by which to pay subsidies, thus
killing off Gould's rivals.
The House has passed the Shipping Bill,
which is expected to give relief to Ameri-
commerce, and the Senate has passed
the Civil Service Reform Bill. Both moves
in a good direction, though only compare
satisfactory in their scopes.
A fiery epidemic has swept over the
Last Tuesday night the Newhall
House, at Milwaukee, a six-storied f~ire-trat
down, and over eighty persons,
guests and employees of the house, were
either consumed in the flames or dashed to
on the pavement in jumping from
The windows. Yesterday the well-known
Planters House at st. Louis was partly
burned, several employees being killed and
fatally injured and on the same day, in
.erdicheff, a town of Russian Poland, the
circus building took fire during a crowded
performance, and three hundr persons
in the flames.
The valleys of Germany and Austria
nave been swept by floods within the past
week or two. The loss of life is counted by
hundreds, and of property by millions, and
widespread distinctions exists. Govern
mental aid is freely afforded, and subscrip-
ions have been started in the United
for the relief of the sufferers.