Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-01-25
BISMARCK, BEW ARB!
Congress Takes a Hand in The Sa-
moan Difficulty.
A POINTER For GERMANY.
The sherman Amendments Authorize the
President TO send Fleet of War
ships to settle the dispute.
The valae of Pago Page.

WASHINGTON, Jan. -. "A iubilant tone
can plainly be noticed about the state de.
partnenL Dir. Bayard is delighted at tie
outspoken action OF the senate holding up
our rights in Samoa and appropriating sums
neeael to carry out the governments plan
of operations The committee was unani-
nous in voting thu sinews of diplomacy on
the Samoan question. The Sherman amend
ments to the consular bin now penllng are
as follows:
For the execution of the obligations and
the protection OF the interests of the United
States existing un ler the treaty between the
United States and the government of the
Samoan islands, S500,0)0, or SO much thereof
as may be necessary, TO be expended under
the direction OF the president This appro-
priation TO be Immediately available
Also the following paragraph:
For the survey, Improvement aud occupa-
tien OF the bay aud harbor OF Pago Pago, in
the Island of Tutinla, Samoa, and for the
construction Of the necessary wharves and
snildngs for such occupation, and for
coaiing station therein under the direction
of the president, 100000, this appropriation
TO be Immediately available.
These amendments mean that the president
is TO send fleet of war ships on any other
force he may think necessary to protect thu
Legitimate Samoan government from Ger
man oppression and TO seize and use the har-
Dor Of Pago Pago for coaling station, as
conceded in the recent treaty with Germany
The senate will undoubtedly pass the above
appropriations and the house will concur
This viii stitfen the. national backbone and
serve notice on Bismarck that he can't bully
Uncle Sam. Mr.. Sherman aud the commit
tee believe that the treaty warrants our
government in protecting Samoa from OPP
preston by amy foreign power, and that our
duty would be the same We're any other
power now tampering with the islands
They must be neutral and under their own
control
On Jan. Il Secretary Whitney called the
attention of the chairman of the house naval
committee to the great value of coaling
station in the harbor of Pago Pago for the
Pacific squadron. The secretary says that,
in accordance with tho provision OF She
treaty. the department directed the rental OF
a piece of laad in the harbor of pago Pago,
and had stored there large quantities OF coal
for use OF our naval vessels in the Pacific
ocean.
Owing, however, to the limited authority
of the department in such matters it has
been unable to make or to enter into any
agreement Of lease for a site good beyond a
year, and he requests that the department
be authorized to purchase the necessary land
for coalng station, and be authorized to
erect a wharf and lighters for handling coal
and a small building for keeper. For these
purposes he recommends an appropriation OF
100000.
Secretary Whitney ON Wednesday sent a
letter to Mr. Herbert of which ths following
is a copy:
81 have your letter of Jan 81, 1899 stating
that as the naval appropriation bin has been
reported to the house, the amendment pro-
viding for al appropriation for the establish
ment Of the necessary improvements ia the
harbor of Pago Pago 70 make it effective as
a coaling and naval station will be offered
when the bin is taken up in the house
''In addition to what has already been said,
desire to call your attention to the import
ance of appropriation at the present tins,
when the whole question of our relations to
this group of islands and the other treaty
powers has been referred by the president TO
congress for its confederation ani action.
sin view OF the responsibility thrown upon
naval officers in dealing with these questions.
the department has heretofore asked for the
announcement of a definite national policy
regarding this group of islands for lis inform
alton and guidance, and it Is desirable that
all reasonable provision should be mads for
the future necessities Of commercc and Of the
navy IN that locality, in view OF the import.
ance which the question now assumes.
BIsMARCK's BACK UP
Meantime reports from Germany show that
naval re-enforcements have started from
Bremerhaven for Samoa They left on tbs
Nuremberg direct for the seat OF disturbances.
At the sans tims dispatch from Sydney to
LoDlon says that the German gunboat Olga
has taken Malietoa, the deposed king, To the
Marshall Islands In fact. things look de-
cidedly warlike all around, and congress 4
ready TO contribute its backbone 10 the
amusement.
Southern aIiIiers Combine