The record-union., 1892-09-03
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.
ISLANDERS STILL THE VICTIMS
OF MISRULE.
The Berlin Treaty Manipulated In the
Interests of Germany-Mataafa's
New Title.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.I

correspondence of the Associated PressI
APIA (Samoa), Aug. 1S.-A largely at
tended meeting of the chiefs has been
held at Malie, and Mataafa made presents
of fine mats to the assembled chiefs. The
Mataafa party still maintains a policy of
silence, though some chiefs desire to hoist
their own flag. The great desire of the
party is that the three treaty Powers
should withdraw the Chief Justice and
President of the Council on the ground
that they are incompetent and too highly
paid.
President Seuft is already at logger
heads with Maben. Secretary of State.
and has asked KING Malietoa to dismiss
him, but the Samoan Government does
not acquieSce. Seuft refused TO allow
Maben to inspect Government accounts
and, though the President is required
under the treaty to render accounts
monthly, he has not given them TO the
King since December last.
The Municipal Council is unable to do
anything in the way of public works, as
its revenue is not enough to pay salaries.
The monthly expense of the Council is
about 81, 200, including the Presidents
salary of 1920.
Seutt has been displeased by a letter re-
CClNSu from IuG Consular iSOaru. stating
that United States COnSul-Generai Black
lock had informed his Governments that
President Seult had not forwarded the
resolutions OF the Council appointing a
Returning Board. Seutt claimed that
under the treaty no one representative of
the Powers had the right to forward such
"a communication.
At a meeting of United States Consnl
Blackjack, German Consul Beerman and
English Consul Cusack Smith, with King
Malietoa and Secretary Maben OH the
10th instant, the Consuls informed the
King that the three Powers were pre-
pared to send men-of-war to carry ont
any warrant of the Supreme Court Tor
the arrest of any native whom the Gov
ernment was unable to arrest should the
ofense of the native be against a white
resident. This is good news to the
whites, as number of complaints have
been made to the Chief Justice without
effect, he pleading the unsettled state of
the country as the cause for not proceed
ing therein.
Mataafa has been given the name of
Tamasualii by the Safata natives. This
Is one of the tive titles necessary for the
King Of Samoa to hold in order to rule
with any power. Mataafa now holds ALI
the titles but two.
The native poll-tax is coming in very
slowly, and it is apparent the majority of
the natives Will refuse to pay 1t altogether
The natives are now Sl25, 900 in arrears.
and the whites are getting tired of paw
ing, as all moneys collected are disbursed
as salaries. The roads outside the muni-
cipailty are IN a very poor shape, and not
cent has been expended on them since
the Berlin treaty was put in force. Ma
Iaata is doing his best to clean up roads
about Malie, and is compensating the
whites for any depredations committed
on their property by the people.
Lieutenant Colin, United States Navy,
has arrived at Apia on his way 10 Pago-
Pago harbor, to make soundings for a
wharf on the United states Governments
property AT Swimming Point, where coal
will be stored.
White residents are grateful TO the
steamship company for continuing to stop
its mail steamers here, despite the small
subsidy allowed.