The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-05
SAMOAN RIGHTS.
Report Of Special Commis-
sioner Chambers.
England's Claim the Largest-The
Pago-Pago Bay Interests.

wAsuINGToS. April 6.-Ths report OF
w. l.. Chambers. United States land COM
missioner to Samoa, dated Feb. 3, 1896
was mado public yesterday. Mr.. Cham
bers was one Of the three commissioners
appointed by the treaty powers Of Great
Britain, Germany and the United States
under the provisions Of the Berlin treaty
to adjust and settle all claims by aliens to
lands in Samoa
The fnal meeting of the commission
was held Dec 3. 1894, at Apia, and Its re-
ports were turned over 30 the chief justice
Of Samoa as required by the treaty, and
are now in his custody. These reports in
clude all the title papers 70 Samoan lands
and are OF considerable value. They give
in detail the history Of each of the S9ia
claims Investigated.
In view OF these facts Mr.. Chambers
earnestly recommends thai the reports
which have already cost the three gov
ernments many thousands of dollars and
involve the rights TO property said to be
worth many millions, should be pub
lished he says he feels honored by the
Endorsement given this proposal by the
u nited States and cannot understand
why IL has received so little consideration
vi iliC VI tht
OF Germany and Great Britain, as the SUBJ
jects OF each OF these governments in
Samoa largely outnum bered the Ameri-
cans, while their properties in Samoa are
many times more valuable The entire
work could DO put into permanent form
for preservation for about $4,000.
America Stands Fourth.
An exhibit attached TO the report shows
that the total number OF claims lled be-
fore the commission was 3942. OF these,
l422 were German, 1857 British. 307 Amer
lean, 626 French and 12o miscellaneous.
The total claims aggregated 1851, 1913 acres,
while the islands only contain $50, 600
acres. Only per cent. of the claims
were confirmed.
The British claims amounted to $780,
270 acres, lowing to the fact that one man,
under large number of deeds, claimed
practically the whole of the Island OF
Savaii, which contains nearly half the
acreage of the entire country. This man
also held large claims In other islands, but
all except about 10 900 acres OF his claims
were rejected.
The vast bulk OF acreage claimed by
Americans was alss rejected, owing to the
manifestly inadequate consideration given
tive under several provisions Of the
treaty. About 81, 900 acres were confirmed
TO Americans, most Of them belonging To
a corporation composed Of San Francisco
stock holders.
Mr.. Chambers said he heard of only 10
bona fide American subjects in the coun-
try, exclusive OF officials, and does not be-
lieve there are 80 Americans there all told,
including those claiming citizenship
through naturalization. He says there
arc several well-to-do Americans engaged
principally In mercantile pursuits, one OF
whom is the wealthiest in the country.
Somo Of these are married to native
women, and probably will never return TO
the United States for that reason.
Our Interests Insixniloant.
II have been thus explicit in referring
to the property owned by Americans, as
we'll as to the number Of Americans in
the country" continues Mr.. Cham bers,
'in ordsr that the department may know
our relationship to Samoa, as they were
developed in the course of the investiga-
tions into land titles and because con-
ceive it my duty to let our government
know how Insignificant such interests
really are"
In reference to Page Pago bay, he says
that the claims of the United States gov
eminent were examined and confirmed,
but they are by no means 50 valuable as
tho American public seem TO think.
What are thought to be the most valuable
parts OF che shore OF the bay have never
been acquired by the United States. Tho
harbor is SO deep ana the bay SO small that
not more than three Or four ships could be
anchored there in case the wind WAS blow
ing either into the mouth of the harbor or
of shore.
He recommended that if our rights are
considered To DO really of value, steps
should be taken to acquire such additional
rights as may make those already held by
us Of benefit. He argues, however. that
the station Is not likely to be Of further
use, and thinks the advisabiiity Of making
further investments there should be fully
considered before taking any further steps
In the matter
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