Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-11-16
THE TaOUBlES OF SAMOA.
The Possible Notifications Of Her Present
System Of Government.

the Alliance to Apia was naturally inter-
preted rs sign that all is not well in
Samoa. The wooded corvette has been
stationed hitherto. v it'll the Boston, at Hon
olulu: ami II is known that affairs in the
Sandwich Islands require watching. while
the Boston has been desired, if possible, for
Admiral Gherardis squadron, which is to
call at the ports Of Central AMI South
America on its way around 10 New York
for the naval review of n,xt spring.
Ii is true that the Mohican, nox Under
going repairs, OF the Ranger, can he sen,
t, Honolalu to take the place of the Aili-
ance; but the ordering of the latter to Apia
before she is thus relieved by another yes
sci was held TO Indicate urgency for her
presence Mt that point. Now the affairs at
Honolulu are so threatening that the orders
of the Alliance are revoked, but the Ranger
or some other vessel is to 20 to Samoa.
The building of the wharf and coal sheds
al Page Pago cannot require the immediate
presence of a war ship, since the bids for
this work are not to be opened until next
mouth, and the award of the contract and
the preparations of the contractors will
carry the beginning of il far along into
next year. The real cause of anxiety AT
Samoa is believed to be the unsatisfactory
working in some respects, of the govern
ment imposed upon the islands by England.
Germany, and the United States under the
treaty of Berlin.
The people complain that large part of
the money raised by taxation goes to the
payment of salaries. and that these are dis
proporti0nateiy large for the work per
formed and the moderate cost of living in
the South Seas. There appears to have
been also a rumor current that by some ar
raDgement of Great Britain and Germany
the former would assume protectorate
but such scheme would be out of the
question under the agreement made by the
three powers at Berlin, and may be dis
missed as preposterous-
What deserves more consideration is the
fact that the treaty arrangements may be
somewhat modified. BY article s of the
agreement of 1888, which was submitted to
to the Senate early in 1889, its provisions
were to continue in force until changed by
the action of parties to it, but at the end of
three years, upon the request Of either of
them. amendments of the treaty were to be
considered.
1t is accordingly evident that a combina-
ton of England and Germany to secure some
arrangement different from that which
already exists might thus be made effective,
even under the existing treaty; and posi-
blv this fact may have been the origin OF
the rumor already referred to. Apart from
any combination, complaints of defects in
the working of the treaty arrangements
may lead to its modification.
Still another though perhaps minor, ele-
ment of possible trouble is the attitude OF
Chief Mataafa and his immediate support
ers, who are not satisfied with the present
order of things, in which foreign domino
ton is so complete and King Malietoa little
more than puppet.
They seem to have regarded Mataafa as
the true choice of the natives for their SOW
ereign and as being prevented from reign
ing by the hostility of Germany to him, on
account of bis successful repulse of their
forces during the war with Tamasese. Last
year the people of the island of Monono
were dissatisfied with the Governor assigned
to them by King Malietoa, and claimed
their ancient right practically to nominate
their own head chief.
On the departure of the appointed Gov
ernor, they endeavored to keep him from
by a sentence of Punishment. and
an incipient rebellion thus resulted. How
ever, quiet was restored without much diff
Guilty. and for long time Mataafa has
practically yielded to the necessities of the
situation, and has not contested the right
of Malietoa to reign.
But the new government provided by the
treaty powers has from the first been COM
planned of When Chief Justice Ceder-
krants reached Samoa he gave some dis
satisfaction, it was reported, on account OF
his limited knowledge of English. Fault
has since been found with him in all posi-
BILE ways, and some of the accusations have
been almost ludicrous.
For instance, it was said that he refused
to pay duties on his own imported liquors,
knowing that his decision would not be
overruled, and that he took a vacation trip
to Sydney against the wishes of the rest of
the government. Complaint also was made
of his diatoriness. and that for bis salary
of $500 per month he was doing very little.
AT one time the grievance was that after be-
ing many months in Samoa he had not
fromed single Law for the guidance of the
government.
But afterward the trouble was certain nm
palatsble decisions which were declared to
show his incompetency for his office. A
dispute also arose between the chief justice
and the land commissioners over their re-
spective Jurisdictions, aud then the rumor
pre- vailed that the former was influenced
by desire to get large fees for clerks.
Baron SENT Won Piisach. a high author
itv in Samoa. has come in for his share of
criticism. He is treasurer and receiver of
customs as well as president of the mum
cipal council. One of his performances is
said to have been to endeavor to appreci-
ate the value of German money, although
the United States currency is the treaty
standard of value.
lie agreed to take German piece worth
81 10 at the same valuation as an American
- gold piece in payments to the govern
ncnt. and then found himself in trouble
because the creditors of the government de-
lined to take the German coin which he
had collected at that valuation. And yet it
vas at meeting of taxpayers that this ar
-angement about the German coin was re-
,uested.
Last spring it was reported that the taxes
IN the natives were two years and with no
prospect of collecting them, as the natives
we're also hopelessly in debt to foreigners.
The taxpayers were then trying to bring
Town expenses and at the same time to-
ret export duties abolished. There appears
o have been further difficulty in procuring
money for needed public works, on account
# doubt AS to whether the customs duties
,elong to the Samoan government or the
of Ap:a.
During the present autumn these financial
ronbles have increased. and there have also
'een disputes. it appears, between President
,enft and Maben, Malietoa's Secretary of
state. 1t was found that the natives were
till further in arrears for their taxes while
he whites complained that although they
aid up their share, everything went for
alaries, and that not dollar had been ex-
ended on roads outside the municipality of
pia since the Berlin treaty went into oper-
ton.
Mataafa's party has remained quiet, but
-ould perhaps take hand IN any disturb
nee that might arise. So lorg as the gov
has control of the ammunition.
here is little fear Of a revolution: but the
condition of the finances
,ads to the belief that notifications in the
realty arrangement may be urged under
ne provisions for amendment already
poken of. /, is accordingly deemed wise
hat our government sEould have war yes
ell at Apia.
SPARKS FROM MAINE WIRES.