The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-12-19
OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
Per s. 8. s. Rio de JaneirO,'' San Fran
cisco, December 8, 1888.
From our Special Correspondent

The Sugar Trust.
The case against the North River
Sugar Refinery Company was continued
at New York on December 5th. Mr..
James @. Carter, counsel for the de-
PENDANT, argued that the combina-
ton of sugar refining companies
was not intended as monOp-
oily for the manufacture of sugar, nor
was it for the purpose of increasing the
price of sugar. Sugar, he said, was a
commodity limited only by inability to
manufacture. The raw material is I'M
limited in supply, and all that was re-
quired for it's manufacture was capital
and labor. There were other commodi
ties that were by nature restricted in
supply, and combinations to control
such for the purpose of increasing value
might come under the charge of viola
ton of law. Sugar is not necessity of
life, although, being 80 much used by
people all over the globe, it might be
considered nearly so.
The North River Sugar Refining Com
pany, Carter continued, was not insti-
tuted for the benefit of the people, but
exclusively for the benefit of those whose
capital was embarked in it. The object
of all business was gain. If men can
control the coal fields of Pennsylvania
they can control the price of coal by linn
iting the production. The definition of
monopolist, according to Carter, is one
to whom exclusive right to sell or buy
commodity is given. AS to sugar, which
may be brought to us in avalanches if
the trouble to extract it be taken, the
term monopoly cannot in any degree be
appropriately applied. ''Take the Stan
dard Oil Trust" continued Carter.
"When it was first organized oil was sold
by the gallon for certain number of
dollars. How is it to-day that gallon
of petroleum can be purchased by the
consumer at cost of six cents? And yet
there was combination so vast and
well organized that it could have in
creased the price of the commodity.
This combination is the Standard Oil
Company"
The arguments being concluded Judge
Barrett gave counsel until the 22d inst.
to submit their briefs, and reserved his
decision.
The African Slave Trade.
Fifty members of the Emin Bey Re-
lief Committee held meeting and it was
unanimously decided to send Louis Wis
siman as soon as possible to lead the
first column. DR.. Peters will in the
meantime prepare to equip a supporting
column of which he will have command.
The question regarding the fugitive
slave harbored by the Mission station at
Mombassa bas been settled to the salts
faction of the natives. This arrange
ments has secured the freedom of l 800
slaves.
The German Government has rejected
Frances proposal to join in the blockade
of East Africa on condition that the slave
dhows and dealers under the French
flag, seized by other powers. be handed
over to France for punishment.
Three Arab caravans, with slaves and
ivory, are reported to have fought their
way into Bagamayo through opposing
coast tribes. They said that the Ger
mans then armed them with breech-.oad-
ers and sent them back to fight the tribes
again. The latter have dug rife pits
along the coast to protect themselves
from the German shell fire.
The Orient.
An uprising has occurred at Formosa,
which troops were required to suppress.
The first railway in China has been of
fcially opened. The condition of the
flooded districts is becoming constantly
worse. Great distress prevails in New
chang and the surrounding districts, sew
eral thousands being without food. The
Europeans at Taiwanfoo have been
threatened by the Formosa insurgents.
A seizure of 40 pounds of opium was
made at Hongkong October 29th. M.
Nicolas, q French official in Tonquin,
was captured and beheaded by pirates.
Central America.
Advices are to hand from Panama to
November 10th. The accounts from Bo-
livia are conflicting, President Arce is
suing proclamations congratulating the
people on the complete suppression of
the rebellion, while private advices re-
present it as in full blast. A bloody af-
fair, in which 1877 persons lost their lives.
is reported from the important city of La
Paz, capital of the province of that name.
Indians have killed several people in the
Peruvian town of Huancanalica. The
attempt to confederate the FIVE Central
American republics bids fair to be a fail
ure.
Colonial Governors.
In the Sydney Assembly the Premier
moved an address to the Queen advising
that the Office of Governor of a colonV
henceforth be confined to a class of
public men who can be called to assist
in the government of the empire. and
that the Colonial Government be in
formed of the proposed nominations.
"There was no idea," he said, "of dis
turbing the relations with the mother
country, but it is of the highest import |