Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-10
JUST AS AT SAMOA.
How Natives and Residents of the Mar.
shall Islands Are Oppressed.

A San Francisco special to the New York
Tribune says: News from the Marshall Islands
hows that the Germans there are carrying on
the same game they played in Samoa, and the
result promises soon to be an explosion, az
there was in Apia. In fact, the injustice COM
planned of by American and English traders in
Apia is trifing compared with what other
merchants have had to suffer from German
greed and intolerance at Jaluit the chief port
OF the Marshall Islands. American firms have
done large business in shells, sponge and coral
but they are gradually being driven out. Jaluit
Geselleschaft is the name of the German COM
pany, which Is backed by the German consul,
and which practically rules the islands. A
leading merchant, who has just returned from
the islands, says:
THE NATIVES DISSATISFIED.
"The natives are much dissatisfied. but they
are powerless, as the sale Of firearms is pro-
hiDited. They have been SO badly treated by
the German company and its agents that they
refuse to deal with Germans except when
forced to. For this reason American traders
enjoy good trade with the natives and Amer
lean goods are in demand. A few years ago
Peruvian and Gillian coin was the currency OF
the islands, and was brought there by the Ger.
man company in large quantities and passed
at the same value as American coin Recently
German authorities declared German coin
legal tender. Inhabitants of the islands hold
Peruvian and Gillian coin, but the German
company now refuses to accept it except at a
discount OF 3715 per cent. The natives ex.
perienced considerable loss by this action. still
further by the German company refusing them
credit. They are not allowed to purchase'any-
thing from the company with coin, but must
gather copra or other products to pay for the
little merchandise they DESIRE They are also
nYnhihlfad frnY fhafr l,,nl A.
suffering the results Of heavy tax which is i'm
posed upon them by the German commits
sioner.
FOREIGNERS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE GER
MANS.
Taxation is the Germans principal weapon
in destroying our commercial interests with the
islands. An annual tax of IS is levied on every
foreign subject on the islands and every trading
vessel other than those of the German company
is compelled to pay $50 on each trip to the
islands before 1t can land men or cargo. In
addition to this, each trader has to pay an an
nual license Of $40. AL commercial firms doing
business to the extent of S125, 1000 are taxed
1880 annually. Firms carrying on smaller
business are taxed $3.50 a year The natives
are compelled to pay over to German authori-
ties % 900 annually, but not in currency as they
would prefer to do. They are forced to pay the
amount in copra to the German company at
OF 200, 900 pounds.
AMERICAN INTERESTS NEED PROTECTION.
THE American firm of A. Crawford l. Co.
has from year to year rented q tract of land
sufficiently large to carry on their business but
owing to recent law passed by the commits
sion the firm is unable to renew the lease. and
as consequence their business has suffered.
If 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 commission prohibiting
trading there.
Talk about Commissioner Knappe at Samoa.
why his actions were nothing compared to
those OF the commissioner at Jaluit. The ma
tives claim that the United States promised
them protection, and although they bear a
friendly feeling for Americans they are sur
prised that they are not treated with the same
consideration ~ the Samoans. The domineer-
ing ways Of the Germans will surely result in
trouble. Several American shipmasters have
already defed the German commissioner and
bad feeling exists between all Americans visit
ing the islands and himself"