The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-04-16
OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER
Per S. s. Alameda, San Francisco
April 8, 1890.

Per S. S. Alameda, San Francisco
April 8, 1890.
(From Our Special Correspondent.)
Sugar Matters.
New York, April 9, Cuban centri-
fugal 96 degrees, Sc cents.
The local sugar market is some
what firmer than it has been though
prices have not changed. Raw sugar
intended for the American refinery
is being shipped in large quantities
to New Orleans and the westward
shipments of refined from that point
are heavy. The trouble over the
American Refinery is apparently no
nearer the end than 1t was some
weeks ago, and the local jobbers are
becoming used to the situation all
drawing their supplies from Spreck-
els except few firms to which the
California Refinery will not sell
sugar. These firms claim to be re-
ceiving ample supplies from Loulsl-
| ana.
The Ways and Means Committee
of the House is about ready to re-
port the new tariff bill and once it is
before the House there will be bat
tie over the sugar schedule. The
changes proposed are meeting with
strong opposition in the East. The
two arguments that are brought to
bear in favor of the reductions are
that they will reduce the national
revenue by about $25,OOO,OOO annu-
ally and weaken the power of the
trust.
Plot Against Spreckels.
A Philadelphia dispatch dated
March 18th says: Claus Spreckels,
having had reason for some time to
suspect that some of his confidential
employees were revealing the secrets
of his business to those who were
using them to further their own
ends, put the matter in the hands OF
detectives, who, after some very
adroit investigation, were able to
discover the whole plot.
r. X. Hunt, who was Mr.. Spreck-
els confidential book-keeper and
had access to the private books, fur
nished daily information from them
of the condition and operations OF
of the business to George Simpson,
who had been the chief accountant
until very short time since.
The information was given by
| Simpson to Mr.. Robinson, a
, dealer in tobacco in New York, who
used it himself or communicated it
to parties who could turn it to Mr..
Spreckels' injury. As to what Rob
inson did with this information,
which could not be of help to him in
his business, or as to who were his
principals, if he had any Mr.. Spreck-
els is not willing to speak.
After the whole conspiracy had
been discovered by the police they
confronted the parties and obtained
from them full confession. The
matter will probably not end here.
Delayed Steamers.
The delay of the steamer Alameda
on leaving San Francisco is due to
the English Postmaster Ger eral. OF
late that official has been selecting
the slowest transatlantic steamers
to be found, to carry the English
mail to New York. The last mail for
! the Alameda was shipped in the
Bothnia twelve day steamer, when
it could just as we'll have been sent
on six or seven day vessel. It is
said that the English Postmaster
General is not altogether disinter.
ested in the matter. He is said to be
stakeholder in the P. & O. line
} which is interested in carrying the
Australian mails. By sending the
mail to New York on slow steamers
he can greatly delay the steamers on
this side, and create bad impress
sion of the American service. This
may lead to a withdrawal of the sub
sidy from the Oceanic line. Capt
Morse of the Alameda, is under
orders to push his steamer for all
she is worth. The action of the
British postal authorities is a plain
discrimination against the service.
LOuisville's Disaster.
The full extent of the disaster to
the city of Louisville is now known
The cyclone struck the city from
, the southwest and crossed in q
northeasterly direction sweeping q
path about half q mile wide and
three miles long. It demolished
some OF the finest mercantile estab-
lishment of the city and in all
about $500 buildings dwellings
and business) were destroyed. The
loss of life is estimated by the ma
| sons at aiohtv.fiva Hundrads Of moo