The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-05
l)u BETWEEN THE cONSuS.
~wAy REPRESENTATIVE At sA-
uOA RATHER AGGRESSIVE.
-x.A IN Run the whole Govern
lent. but In Sat On by the Two
0fhers-No King Selected and
s..e May BE for Some Ttme Yet.

VANCOUVER. Nov. News just
x...s,sd mere from Samoa Is not very
s.:a.sns TIE board II contro. OF Samoa
s.s;ny the present interregaum had sew
-, ,ee.,IrsgS and then split UP. The con-
-. 81 Germany, the United States ara
r~gsand ard the two treaty officiais Ola
- lang work harmoniousiy together
rhat this board really Intended to 90 mas
-, hsea aseertained. but 1t is believed
-, ,he president desired 10 take charge OF
-. samoan government and 10 run tue
rsale snow himself with occasional help
s-sra The chief justice. II Is certain that
!, meeting the president OF the munich
rs,.,v arrogated 10 himself certain powers
seer the Samoan government. when the
pyitssh consul explained TO MIN in plain
rnvllsh and pretty straight German his
.ssf rositior In relation to the government.
The president insisted upon hts alleged
yssfts and combatted strongly the argu-
sssts OF the British consul. who was as
.,sssd by the United States consul. The
assrs.e waved warm and got 20 hot that the
eisEef Justice withdrew from the meeting.
.nd informed the consuls that he viii no
,onger attend their meetings, but will con-
en4 himself 70 such administrative duties
= are assigned TO MIN ander the treaty.
When the aorangi left Il was learned
shfa the relationship between the British
eansul and President kafrel were still
strained. The president was inclined to
rive in. but finds II difficult 10 extricase
hlmself from the difficulties In which he
has becomes b. his own acts involved.
Meanwhile Mataafa was not yet king
vhen the mall left.
The sydney Daily Telegraph of October
has the following. Up to the present no
de6niie steps have been taken by the Sa-
means To elect a successor to King Male
la One excuse for the delay Is that tie
ceremonies Incidental To- the death OF
King or high chief must first be carried out
ossore his successor Is appointed The dis
.r.bufion OF fine mats, which Is one of
rhss functions. Ia not yet finished. When
Ii il completed the Samoans Will talk about
another king. The second excuse. and one
IN which there IL a great deaf OF truth Is
The aisinclinafIon OF people TO take the
matter up lest the country be plunged into
war for the leading chiefs openly state
that the election, according TO Samoan Gus
ION. viii give cause for fighting. There
II a strong feeling among the natives 10
leave this matter entirely with the great
powers. but 10 do this the treaty would
have TO be abrogaied. II IL definitely
stated that the consuls will not interfere
with the election. but will stand by ready
10 stop any disturbance that may arise out
II the election. Some or the people, urged
on by section of the foreigners, are adj
yocatng the aboiishmerii OF the kingship.
There are others who are DESTROYS OF try
Ing the experiment or running the country
without king for six or twelve months.
Tha plan may receive favorable considera-
ton from the chief justice. who actually
has full power in the matter. The treaty.
In section 8 OF article ILL., confers upon
him the duty of settling the kingship. ''ln
case any question shall hereafter arise in
samoa respecting the rightful election or
appointment OF king. or Of any other
chief claiming authority over the island.
or respecting the validity OF the powers
which King ar any chief may claim in
The exercise of his office. such question
shall not lead 70 war, but shall be present
ed 10 the chief justice OF Samoa who shall
decide /, in writing conforming TO the pro-
visions OF this act and to the la wa and Gus
toms Of Samoa not in conflict Herewith,
and the s'gnatory government will accept
and abide by such decision
When the question is presented to the