St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-08-21
AMERICAN INTERESTS IN SA1OA.

object the uplifting OF the human race.
AMERICAN INTERESTS IN SAr1OA'.
They are Safe in the Hands Of Chief Justice Ide-
Interesting Facts Cleaned from the Cor
respondence OF the Boston Herald.
In the passionate and excited dis
cussion Of the Venezuela question,
and of the protection Of American
citizens in Turkey and in South AZ
RIGA, little attention is likely to be
given to our Samoan ward, for whom
England, Germany and the United
States have constituted themselves
joint guardians. Apparently the
guardians have so many other es-
tates to administer that this par
ticular one is left largely to its own
guidance. The latest advices from
Samoa indicate that the natives are
entirely peaceful, and are likely to
continue so, but that the ancient
teud between the Malietoa and Tu-
hiud IdSllOllS Slill Continues 90 plllSl
as ever, so as to prevent any cooper
alton between them for purposes Of
industrial development, or well or
dered government. There has been
no fighting for nearly two years past.
During the past year there has been
much financial depression in the isl
ands, owing to the low price and
small crop of copra, the principal
product. This, with other causes,
has led to uneasiness and dissatisfac-
ton among the foreigners, who have
finally petitioned the three powers
to remove President E. Schmidt, the
German official, who, by the treaty,
is executive officer of the municipality
of Apia, and adviser to the king.
The native government has also sent
in petition to the same effect.
Chief Justice Ide, who is the Ameri
can official in this complicated sys-
TEN, in the meantime seems to be
holding steady and even hand, and
to be making success of at least
one department of the government,
under difficult circumstances, in deal
ing with conflicting and jealous ma
tionalities. Chief Justice Ide is Yer
monter. The London Times recently
published the following from its Sa-
moan correspondent:
A word as to the official person
atty of the two gentlemen holding
the posts of chief justice and presi'
dent. Chief Justice Ide is generally
considered to be a conscientious
man. He exhaustively examines all
evidence brought before him, and
takes time to digest points of argu-
ment submitted by counsel, even
tually delivering a written judgment
which all acknowledges to be fair
and reasonable. Judge Ide is dis
tinctly smart man, as one need be
in the office of chief justice Of
Samoa, where international questions
are constantly arising. President
Schmidt, on the contrary has given
no evidence whatever of ability.
When presiding at council meetings,
he is prolix, vague and unbusiness-
like. AS "chief municipal executive"
he fritters money away in useless and
distinctly impracticable experiments.
And as "adviser to the king" l need
only to refer to petition signed by
the king and his government in
December last to the three powers
praying for his removal, to support
the statement that, in that capacity,
he is unpopular and useless.
All claims ofaliens to land in Samoa
are finally passed upon by the chief
Justice. There are about 1000 such
claims. In recent letter to Judge
Ide the king expressed the satisfac-
ton of the Samoan people with his
work. German reports are equally
favorable. An offcialetter from the
German foreign office states:
Prince Hohenlohe charges me to
express to you his satisfaction at the
zeal and ability displayed by you in
settling the intricate questions con
nected with land claims in Samoa"
The Samoa Herald OF March IA
contains this item:
Immediately before the adjourn
ment Of the supreme court yesterday.
Mr.. Carruthers, on behalf of clients,
thanked the chief justice for the care
and attention given by him to the
hearing Of the land claims, and for
his kindness IN having postponed his
we'll earned vacation for month to
enable so many and such important
cases to be disposed Of"
The former chief justice, Cedercranz,
was severely criticised, and finally
removed from office.
1t is satisfaction to know that
our American chief justice is making
so good record in so complicated
IA