The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-17
VERY DULL BUSINESS
GIVES sAMoANS TIME TO CRITI-
CHE THE GOVERNMENT.
Eighty-Five Per Cent. of the Reve-
nues Applied to the Payment of
Salaries-PreSident Schmidt Asked
to Resign-A Crisis Impending.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1.-THE
steamship Mariposa arrived from Apia
this morning, bringing news of an up
rising of the business men of Samoa
against President Schmidt.
Business being very dull in Samoa
the people. as they do everywhere.
criticised the government. The sftua-
tlon had been talked over by several
leading merchants and it being as
certalned that IS per cent of all munich
pal and governmental revenues were
Delng pald out in salaries, a meeting
was held by the prominent business
men, where resolutions were unani-
mously adopted. The resolutions were
to the effect that after years of trial.
the different functions of the president.
who receives a compensation from the
municipality of Apia of $1,000 yearly.
had proved to he either wholly un-
workable or he was a failure and a
burdensome expense upon a small com
munlty. That as adviser to the king.
he could never be a success. To prove
this charge the resolution set forth
that the king and government had
found 1t necessary to petition the
three treaty powers for the removal Of
President Schmidt Referring again to
TGSOIUIlOn
states that as chairman of the munich
pal council his success is just as re-
mote. The committee said the Sa-
means were quite capable of conduct
ing their own affairs, especially where
they have the three consuIs as :.
supervisory board. AS treasurer and
custodian Of the revenue it was repre-
sented that 1t did not require a man
at a salary of $4,000 per annum to
superintend the running of little
custom house ard oversee a few clerks.
There are plenty of business men in
the place, it was said, who could fill
this office. under bonds. in far more
satisfactory manner in the regular
course of their daily business for a
nominal salary. Furthermore, since
the ratification Of the Berlin treaty
while the foreigners have always com
piled with its regulations and have
paid their taxes. the Samoans have
not done so and no attempt whatever
has been made to collect the Samoan
capitation tax. Therefore the treaty
powers were requested to recall Presi-
dent Schmidt. and allow their repre-
sentatives, the three consuls, to take
the office.
1t was then agreed that communica-
ton be made TO the municipal council
III OIQGI " allow THEM 10 approve or
disapprove Of the foregoing. This ac-
tons was taken. but the members re-
fused to meet the peoples committee,
which aroused such storm of hos
tile criticism that four of the six mem
bers Immediately resigned. However.
the council at a special meeting held
shortly afterward. unanimously ap-
proved of the resolutions of the peo-
pie, including the abolition of the Of
flee of president and adding a rider
to the effect that the ad valorem duties
should be raised from to 10 per cent.
Matters then assumed a farcical as
pect but the people were in earnest and
obtained sufficient number of sigma
lures of councillors to demand the
president to call a special meeting, to
receive the resignation and issue a
writ for a new election. Unfortunately
for the people an error was made in
the date for the meeting, as the re-
quest was made for Tuesday. Deem
Der 23, when it should have been the
24th. The presidents perceptions was
acute enough to detect the error and
he replied asking which was the date
intended, and has In the meantime
taken a weeks holiday.
So the matter stands, but the peo-
pie are earnest and even If force is
necessary will make a change in the
existing order of things.