The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-25
WHAT 1T MEANS.
How Free Sugar May Hurt
This Coast.
CLOSING OUR REFiNERIES.
Injuring San Francisco as a
Distributing Point.
THROWING MEN OUT OF WORK.
Facts and Figures Showing the
Disastrous Prospect of Demo-
cratic Tariff Tinkering.
THROWING MEN OUT OF WORK

The recent passage in the House OF the
amendment to the Wilson tariff bill. viz
tually placing all sugar on the free list
means consequences of the gravest import
ance to the sugar aud widespread affiliated
interests on this coast. The measure has
yet to be passed upon by the Senate, and
the dire forebOdings as to the result.
should the action OF the House be con-
frned, appear justified by the state
ments of local sugar men.
A representative of the j. ID. Spreckels
Il Bros. Company said yesterday that the
Pacific Coast would be a serious sufferer
if the bounty on beet sugar were abolished
and the duty taken off refined sugar
at MEANS" said he. that sugar will be
on the free list. which will at once admit
the German and Hong-Kong product to run
our home industry out of existence. This
is especially true Of the sugar from Hong
Kong. Take the refineries at Hong Kong,
for example. In the first place. they are
much nearer their base of supplies, the
Philippines and Sumatra. Then the cost
OF labor is almost nominal, while the
freight to this coast is only 81 80 ton. 1t
costs us, on the other hand, 81 a ton for
refining alone.
Another effect of the passage Of this
amendment will be 10 injure San Fran
cisco as the principal distributing point o f
tanned that position. and the handling of
sugar and It's shipping have constituted big
factors in San FranciscO's revenues. II sugar
is Imported, only sufficient will come 10 this
port 10 supply California and Nevada; The rest
will 90 10 Tacoma, Portland and Los Angeles.
The amendment Will practically close our
California reiineres. Few people understand
what blow that will mean 10 labor, not only
In this city, but in other portions OF the State.
why, IN our business alone we pay out
$4,000 a month in actual wages. besides
$4,000 a month for cooperace. Then. take
the item of coal; the wages OF the stevedores
who handle this important agent OF the manu-
facture amount to at least $500 month.
"Boneback is another essential In the busi-
ness, and a large number OF people are en-
ployed gathering up material for IL throughout
the coast. No less than $500 month goes TO
provide US with bOneblack.
ITO sum IN, our conc rn alone distributes
each month The following sums:
Wages $50 600
Cooperage 30, 900
Coal (stevedoring). ....................... $500
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 1000
TOtal...................... ssO.O 200
ave employ over 1000 men, and should our
refinery be closed il would work undeServed
hardship and distress for many worthy fami-
lies. The supply stores would suffer proper
tionately.
ut will be noticed that in The above state
ment, which can be sustained by our books,
only direct expenses are included. Again. our
firm is only one out OF many California houses
which are menaced.
Take the promising young beet-sugar in
terest for Instance Since last August we
bought 100000 tons OF beet sugar from the
factories at Chino and Watsonville. That
meant disbursement of abOnt S950.000 in
that time, and IL meant also the profitable en-
ployment OF thousands of intelligent wOrkmen
In those districts. In time the beer-ralsing In-
dustry would have stood on its own feet, but
now, under this runous legislation, IL promises
TO be crushed out"