Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-25
THE SAMOAN TROUBLE.
Reported Negotiations for Purchase Of q
Mail Steamer by This Government.

Inquiry at the State department this morn
ing developed the fact that there was nothing
additional to be learned in the way Of Samoan
intelligence. It is expected that the next mail
from Samoa win throw considerable valuable
light on the subject and its arrival is awaited
anxiously. 1t should be here by Sunday, it is
thought.
SECRETARY WHITNEY SAYS 'sNo STEPS HAVE YET
BEEN TAKEN"
Secretary Whitney's attention was called this
morning to the paragraph in to-day's New
York Herald stating that negotiations are pend
ing for the purchase by the government Of
large Pacific mail steamer for use during the
samoan troubles. He said that mo steps have
yet been taken" and would give no further in
formation on the subject.
CHAIRMAN HERBERT's LETTER TO SECRETARY
WHITNEY.
Following is the text of the letter of Chair
man Herbert, of the House naval committee, to
Secretary Whitney in answer to the Secretary's
letters calling attention to the importance of
making an appropriation of 100000 for the
harbor of Papo Pago.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. "a, 1889.
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter of January 23, calling at
tention to the Importance of making the APP
Page, Samoan islands, asked for by your
letter of January 81, arising out of the
fact that just at this time the whole
question of the relations of this govern
ment to the Samoan islands and to the other
powers having treaties with them has been re-
ferred by the President to Congress for its con-
sideration and action. There has been no
meeting of the naval committee since the
letter was received, and no formal action has
been taken, but speaking for myself have no
doubt of the wisdom of preparing by decided
action for whatever emergencies may arise;
and such is the feeling of such individual
members of the committee as / have been able
to consult. Appropriate representations will
be made to the House of Representatives when
the matter shall be before it. In accordance
with the suggestions of individual members of
the committee, request that there may be
transmitted to it any recent reports from the
officers of the vessels stationed at the Samoan
islands, showing the condition of things; and
the request of the department for the an
nouncement of definite policy, referred to by
you in your letter Of the ed instant, if part of
the records of the department. I should be
glad to know if any further enlargement of the
appropriations of your department should be
made in view of the existing conditions.
Very respectfully, H. A. HERBERT.
NO REPLY YET FROM SECRETARY WHITNEY.
Mr.. Herbert has not yet received response
to the above letter to Secretary Whitney. 1t is
apparent that the members of the committee
are entirely willing to comply with any reason
able request of the Navy department in this re-
spect. The committee, in its report on the
naval appropriation bill, noted with satisfac-
ton that the contractors for supplying gun
forgings and armor plate for the navy ex-
pect to begin deliveries of material i'll March
next, although they are not required to do SO
by the terms of their contracts before Febru-
airy, 1890, and there is some talk of stimulating
them to greater efforts by making an appro-
priation for bonus to be paid for early deliv-
cries of material.
REPRESENTATIVE MoRRows VIEWS.
Representative Morrow, of California, who is
the chairman of the subcommittee of the
House committee on foreign affairs, intends
to call the subcommittee together and get to
work at the earliest opportunity. He says that
his views on Samoan affairs are positive and
have been known through the resolution intro
duced by him in the House last session. The
status quo at the time the representatives of
the United States, Germany and England met,
he says, must be restored, and this would ne
cessitate the replacement of King Maliatoa in
the position from which he was SO unjustly re-
moved by the German agents and sent to the
Marshall Islands. This step, Mr.. Morrow in
sisted, must be a preliminary to any further
napOtiatiOns on the suhiact