The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-02-27
OUR AMERICAN LETTER.
SAN FRASCIsCo, Feb. :,

snow blockade on the Central Paci- |
iic was raised on the day the Aus
tralia sailed, and the trains
have been running on slow time
since then owing to the bad condi-
ton of the road. The blockade on
the Oregon Division of the Southern
Pacific has not been broken. In the
Willamette Valley, Oregon, great
deal OF property has been destroyed
by floods, and the City Of Portland
is partially under water, traffic be-
ing conducted by boats on streets
where the current was not too
strong. Snowslides are reported in
various districts, the peculiarly of
the season being that the Atlantic
States and Northwest have had an
open winter, while the Pacific Slope
has had an Arctic winter in its
mountain ranges and continuous
rain in its valleys. Now that the
weather has cleared however, every
one is taking a more hopeful view of
things.
The San Francisco papers will
give you details OF all local occur
rcnces, but the reception to Admiral
Kimberly by the San Francisco
Chamber Of Commerce was an event
which deserves special mention. 1t
was very successful affair and
was highly appreciated by the gal
liant veteran. The President of the
| Chamber, ,cX-Governor Perkins, ,madc
a felicitous address of welcome.
Congress has not made any great
progress in legislative work. The
| Senate has ratified the Samoan
Treaty and made IL clear to the Eu-
ropean powers that the United
States will not tolerate national buc-
caneering in the Pacific Ocean.
Should a great European war result
in q change of owners of the various
groups now under European control
| it is possible that America would
insist upon having voice in the
settlement. But this is in the fu-
ture, and need not disturb Hawai-
ian diplomacy. Its future is assur-
ed under the shetering folds of the
star spangled banner.
The House of Representatives has
been skirmishing about rules.
Speaker Reed resolved to put an end
to filibustering, and reversed the
practice of the House since Congress
was established. 1t was the prac-
tice, in making quorum, to count
only members who voted. The MI
nority, by abstaining from voting,
although under the Speakers eye,
could thus force an adjournment
and delay business unless the domi-
nant party happened to have n quo
rum of its own, which was rarely
the case. The Speaker ruled that q
constitutional quorum was formed
by members present, whether voting
or not, and when division showed
the number voting short of quo
rum he named members of the De-
mocratic party present sufficient to
complete the list. The new rules
sustain this ruling, and will work
well in practice. The Constitution
requires q quorum to he present and
says nothing about voting; the
practice vas to ignore the presence
Of members who refraincd from vot-
lug. There was no sense in this
practice and its dsusc will 90 far
towards raising the House in public
estimation, because the Speaker can
now always keep it down to bust.
ness. The Republicans will have q
good working majority when all tho
election contests have been decided
The news brought by the W. G
Irwin of the death of Judge Preston
was received with regret by the Ha
waiian colony and the numerou:
personal friends Of the deceased iur'
ist in this city. His death leaves ;
void in the judiciary Of the kingdom
it will be difficult to fill, owing tt
the great experience and legal acu
men of the deceased.
THE SUGAR WAR CONTINUES.
The Sugar Trust gave out as ;
, pointer in Wall street that the oppo
sition of the Sprcckels refinery ha'
:, been arranged by Il mutual under
standing and on the strength of thi
lie ropcd in few more Spectator
f at higher prices for their "sliffs,
but when the truth came out that nj
such arrangement had been made o
would be made by Mr.. Spreckels
the certificates again slumpcd, ant
! there was tall swearing among th
victims.
This style of doing business ha
been pursued by the Trust peopl
for some time back. Having beel
driven to despair almost by tn
, Spreckcls opposition at Philadelphia
they deliberately issue lying state
ments through the press to the effec
that a compromise has been arranged
with Claus Spreckels, or that hi
hostility to the Trust is only as
Sumed to imDOso uDOn the DeODlc