New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-10

HOW NATIVES AND RESIDENTS OF THE MAR.
SHALL ISLANDS ARE OPPRESSED.

SHALL ISLANDS ARE OPPRESSED.
San Francisco, July 0 (speciaD-News from the
Marshall Islands shows that the Germans there aI,
carrying on the game they played in Samoa and
the result promises to be explosion, there
was in Apa In fact. the injustice complained of by
American and English traders In Apia is trining
pared with what other merchants have had to suffer
from German greed and intolerance at Jalu, the chief
port Of the Marshall Islands American firms have
done large business in shells, sponge and coral but
they gradually being driven out. Jauit Gesele-
schaft is the name of the German company, which Is
backed by the German Consul and wlici, practically
rules the islands. A leading merchant, who has Just
returned from the Islands, says:
"The natives much dissatisfied. but they are
poweIcss as the sale of firearms is prohibited. They
have 5oen badly treated by the German company
and its agents that they refuse to deal with Cor
except when forced to. For this reason AmcI1-
can traders enjoy good trade with the natives and
American goods in demand. a few years ago
Peruvian and Chan coin was the currency of the
islands, and was brought there by the German cont
psny large quantities and passed at the same value
as American coin. Recently German authorities de-
clared German coin legal tender Inhabitants of the
islands hold Peruvian and Chlian coin, bat the Ger
man company now refuses accept IL except at dis
count OF 81 IL per cent Tie natives experienced
consider able loss by this action, sill further by The
German company refusing them credit. They are not
allowed TO purchase anything from The company with
COIN but must gather cOpIa other products to pay
for the little merchandise they desire They are also pro-
hibted from renting their land, besides suffer-
ing the results of a heavy tax which Is i'm
posed upon them by the German Commissioners
Foreigners are at the mercy OF the Germans lax
alton is the Germans principal weapon In destroy ing
our commercial interests with the islands An aIhual
tax of S5 is levied every foreign subject on the
islands and every trading vessel other than those of
the German company is compelled to pay SloO on
zach trp TO the Islands before it land men or
cargo In addition 10 this, each trader has 10 pay
m annual license of $40. All commercial firms
6olpg siness to the extent of Sl25,0O0 are taxed
81 500 annually Firms carrying on smaller business
are taxed $3.50 year. The natives are compelled
10 pay over to German authorities ZOO annually,
but not in currency they would prefer to do.
They are forced pay the amount in cOpra TO the
German Company at the rate OF one cent per pound,
making a total of 100000 pounds
The American firm of a. Crawford d Co. has from
wear TO year rented tract of lard sufficiently large to
carry on their business, but owing 10 recent law
passed by the Commission the firm is unable TO renew
the lease and as a consequence their business has
suffered IL the United States Government does not
take action in the protection Of its interests in these
islands few years will witness the retirement OF the
American firm and the issuing of an order by the
German Commissioner prohibiting trading there.
"Talk about Commissioner knappe al samoa, why
his actions nothing compared 10 those oil The
Commissioner at Jaluit The natives clam ma tne
United states promised them protection ana aithough
they bear friendly feeling for Americans they a q
surprised that they not treated with the same
consideration the SamOans. The d0mneering
ways OF the Germans VIII surely result IN tfo1 1Dle.
Several American shipmaStcrs have already dcled
the German Commissioner and bad feeling exists be-
tween all Amesicans visiting the islands and HIMSELF