The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-12
AMERICANs IN SAMOA.
German Influence Over the New King Maxi
ing IT Very Uncomfortable for Them

German Influence Over the New King Maxi
ing IT Very Uncomfortable for Them
| Washington Special.
Representative Morrow, of California, has in
trodueed resolution calling upon the President
for the correspondence between the State De-
partment and the German government relative
to the recent trouble in Samoa This action is
the result of the arrival in this city of Fl. j.
Moors, q leading American merchant of Apia,
| who has Washington in the interests of
the American residents of the Samoan Islands
| The state of affairs under the new King
| Tamasssss. who is but puppet in the hands of
the German eoneul, has not been at all ex-
aggerated by the press reports from the islands.
| judging from Mr.. Moors's story to World COR
respondent. He said tonight:
II have come to Washington to see if some-
thing cannot be done to relieve the Americans
in the islands. My own case I have laid before
the State Department. but my efforts are chiefly
directed TO securing some action the part of
our government which shall establish the status
OF our flag and citizens in Samoa My own case
is fair illustration of the lawiess methods
which prevail at present. / am the proprietor
of two stores and one hotel in Apia, and own
considerable land III the town. Several years
ago an Auckland frin with whom / had been
doing business, purchased square of ground
from native whose title 10 the property was
undisputed- large warehouse was erected
the ground but as the campany concluded other
arrangements, the property was never occupied
by them. | Rad been in correspondence with
them, and they finally engaged me agent TO
look after the buildings and see that the taxes
were promptly paio and necessary repairs made.
For several years paid the taxes until the
party owning the pro perty decided to sell it.
No purchaser could be found but concluded,
finally. TO buy il for myself, and the transfer
was duly made and recorded the American
consulate Some time afterwards member of
the great German trading monopoly that
trolls almost all the business of the country ap-
preached me and offered TO buy the property I
had recently purchased. The land adjoinrd a
piece of which he was the owner and be desired
to extend his holding. Idecned his offer. how
ever, and he left me in an angry mood. Within
day or two was summoned from my store by
friends. who told me that the German company
was Al work fencing in my property, claiming
to have purchased it from a native whose claim
antedated the recorded title. When / arrived
upon the ground the fence mad been extended
some little distance over my lot. I called
force of ten men In nv employ. and armed with
hammers and proceeded to cut the fence in
two the division line and after completing il
set up lofty pole, and ran up the stars and
stripes.
'.My determined attitude saved me from fur
ther molestation. but a great manv other for
eiRners in the island have had their property
seized by the Germans under similar crcum.
stances. If You take your case to the local
courts you find the German consnl presiding
with two or three German assessors and even
German door-keeper II is needless TO say you
lose your suit Not long since an Enelishman
caused the arrest of German shipping clerk
employed by the trading company Tor |
provoked assault The case was clearly made |
ont and the charge admitted. A party Of Ger |
mans walked boldly into the courtroom, ard IN |
spite of the feeble resistance of the judge and |
conrt officials. carried the prisoner off by force.
The trading company then transferred him TO |
another port, 400 miles distant, TO keep him out |
of danger.
Il am now anxious to lay in . large stock of |
goods and return TO Apia, but cannot risk |
taking back years supplies while the present |
lawiess state of affairs prevails If our govern /
ment would take firm stand in this matter We /
would speedily fnd relief
II Is understood that the State Department /
has requested the German government to agree |
10 the app0in tment of q council composed of |
one repressn alive from each foreign treaty |
power to constitute cabinet of advisers for
King Tamassese. This council would make |
new code of laws for the governments of the i
islands. The German government s said 10 |
have. declined to accrde 10 the propstion The |
matter will now be laid before Congress, aud /
is likely to be speedily and thoroughly investi-
gated.