The Portland daily press., 1889-05-15
HOW THE SAMOANS MAY BE GOVERNED
Details OF the Plan Before the Con-
ference In Berlin.
Native Independence Protected by
the Strong Arm OF Civilization.
The Wisdom OF the Appointment OF
Messrs. Bates and SewalI.

WASHINGTON, May 14-The plan Of a
constitutional council Of natives, controlled
by a ministry Of the foreign powers, which
committee OF the Berlin conference has Just
recommended for Samoa, follows che general
lines Of the proposal made by Mr.. George II.
Bates In 1886 This, therefore, does not look
as II Bates's views were boycotted by Bis
marck in fact, It Is one more proof Of the
good sense which insisted on sending Mr..
Bates and Mr.. Sewall to Berlin. as men who
had a knowledge derived from personal
observation Of the Samoans and their needs.
According TO the plan adopted by the Ber-
lin committee. the constitutional council Is
TO be composed Of chiefs chosen by the ma.
tiyes, while In the ministry. which Is to have
executive functions. each treaty power will
have Representative. The proposal OF
Germany that there should be a prime min
lister. holding the office for several years, and
and that the first incumbent Of this ONCE
should be a German. TO be followed in turn
by an American premier. and then by an
English, was less acceptable; but Count Her
bert Bismarck implies that this may not be
II Is remarkable that all three of the Com
missioners sent out by the treaty powers In
1886 agreed that, to use the phrase OF Mr..
Bates, mo autonomous native government Is
at all practicable. The grounds for this
difficulties they have already experienced in
attempting self-goyernment under favorable
circumstances.
The plan looking to partial self-govern-
ment, suggested by Mr.. Bates In his report
to Secretary Bayard, involved Joint stlpu-
lation or treaty Of the three foreign powers
and OF Samoa, to which definite constltu-
tion should be annexed. This should con-
tain a guarantee of the neutrality and au-
tonomy OF the new government. Then the
executive power eould be vested either In
council or nominally In a king and vice king
In the latter case, these two officers should
be chosen by the 1aimua. or upper house Of
the legislature, with an alternate tenure be-
tween representatives OF the two leading
families OF the islands. But In any case the
real executive power was to be exercised, at
least for long time, by white men appoint
ed by the Samoan government upon the
nomination OF the treaty powers. There
would be three such executive officers, form
Ing the kings cabinet, or else an executive
council In the lack Of king; In which lat
ter case the heads Of the two leading families
instead OF being king and vice-king, should
be made members Of the council The three
ministers should be Of equal grade, one be-
ing Secretary Of State, with the charge OF
foreign relations and some other matters;
second, Secretary OF the Interior, with the
charge Of land surveys, public works, and
harbor and quarantine; the third, Secretary
Of the Treasury, in charge Of revenues and
disbursements.
Then the legislature should be the familiar
one OF two branches, the Taimua and Fal-
pule, the three foreign ministers, however,
having seats In the former branch and also
some form Of veto power. The judiciary
should chould consist Of a chief Judge, who
should be white man appointed by the
three foreign executive officers, and native
associate judge, selected by the Taimua. and
sitting with the chief judge In cases
where native Is a party. Other details
proposed by Mr.. Bates relate TO local mag
istrates, the preservation Of order, and con-
sular jurisdiction.
AS FAR as can be judged from the cable re-
ports, the plan proposed by the Berlin con-
ference Is In the general line Of Nc. Bates's
views The chief point Of controversy ap-
pears to be that whereas he proposed per-
fectly fair division OF executive authority
between the three treaty powers, each selec-
ting a minister, and all three being on an
equal grade, the Germans are clinging 10 the
idea Of constituting a prl me minister and
selecting German for the first four years.
This might give them the prestige with the
natives Of a nominal victory, and also the
practical advantage Of moulding the govern
menr at the start. But our commissioners
appear to be alive to that project, as also, no
doubt, are those Of Great Britain.