The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-12-17
DGfraldilg the Revenue.
THE AMERICAN REFINERY CHARGED
WITH 1T.
Cargo Of Steamer Westmeath
Seized.
The California Refinery on Top.
T CORRESPONDENCE OF THE BULLETIN
SAN Francisco, Dec. 9th.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9th.
The American Trust refinery is IN
difficulties. 1t has not got itself
into trouble by building churches
or other benevolent enterprises
which might be construed into
breach of trust, but on charge of q
vulgar attempt to defraud the United
States revenue. This is not surpris-
ing in the case of the Trust, but
considering the constitution of the
American Refinery Company it GER
tainly is an unexpected and aston
fishing development. The facts in
the case are as follow:
The British steamer Westmeath
arrived from Batavia last Monday
with cargo of Java sugar consist
ing of about $500 short tons for
the American refinery. AS this was
the biggest cargo of sugar ever inn
ported at San Francisco, and the
first Java produce landed here for
about twenty years the arrival ex-
cited considerable interest in the
jobbing trade. 1t was q new de-
parture, and seemed to promise an
unlimited supply of raw sugar with
corresponding advantages to job
bers, because the American reduced
the price of refined the day the
Westmeath arrived by 18th cent per
pound. On that occasion the Cali
fornia refinery did not follow the
move of the American, but adhered
to it's price of 81 cents for granu-
lated. AS the American was cent
per pound lower on the entire list
the jobbers took their orders. to it.
The result has been that the Ameri-
can is loaded up with contracts
which it cannot fill, thus leaving the
market to the almost exclusive con.
troll of the California refinery.
This situation will be appreciated
by business men, when it is stated
that the stock in jobber's hands Is
unusually low, and that very
active holiday trade has set in on
the Coast.
The Trust management has itself
entirely to blame. 1t appears to
have resorted to peculiar practices
to increase its profits, hence its
present trouble. On the arrival OF
the Westmeath they entered the
cargo at under Is Dutch standard,
which is covered by duty of 1872
cents per pound, and rendered O
check fer $40, 900 odd at the Gus
tom House for duty.
The work of discharging and
warehousing cargo was begun, and
for a time everything appeared tc
work like a charm. But Uncle Sam
has a staff of vigilant officers al
San Francisco, and among the most
capable and alert is Appraiser Beck
The fact that Java sugar, which
usually polarizes about 81 . should
only polarizes at SO was a suspicion:
circumstances in itself, and the
Appraiser had samples of the West
meath's cargo tested by the Unite
States chemist.
This officers repeated tests con
firmed the suspicious Of the APP
praiser, as it was clearly demon
strated that the sugar was of ia
higher grade than represented, ant
had been artficially colored. Re
peated tests with Hawaiian sugar o
the same grades as the Java suga
had been entered at, showed un
colored crystals in the Islands sam
Piles, while in every test of the Jaw
the alcohol washed away yelloN
coloring matter leaving beautiful
white crystals, which would easil
came up to No. 20 Dutch standard
the duty upon which would be tire
cents per pound-an apparent frau
of LOS cents per pound.
This discovery was reported b
w. Beck, the appraiser, to ColleC
tor Hager, one of the most caution
of men and lawyer of eminenct
The chemists report with sample
of Java sugar taken from the oarg
and warehouse, were forwarded
the Secretary of the Treasury q
Washington yesterday, Decembe
9TH, and the Collector ordered de
livery stopped, and placed the jaw
sugar ashore and aaoat in the Gus
tody of United States officers.
This actien by the Collector {
the Port withdraws the Westmeath'
sugar as efIectually from the ma
ket from present use as if it were ;
the bottom of the sea. The Collet
tor will be guided by instruction
from the Secretary Of the Treasury