The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-29
SAMOAN SITUATION UNEASY.
ATTITUDE OF NATIVES Is FAR
FROM REASSURING.


VIII Not Prove successful-COm-
mission Has Sustained Him.
San Francisco. July 2S.-Samoan ad-
vices, under date of July IA. were received
to-day by the steamer Moana, as fol-
lows:
The situation i'm Samoa Is one of great |
uneasiness. the attitude of the natives be
ing far from reassuring. Several fights
have occurred in different parts of the
Islands between supporters OF the rivals |
for the ldngship. and several natives have |
been killed. Nothing much seems to have /
been accomplished by the high commits
sion since 400 Of the conteuding factions |
surrendered arms.
Chief Justice Chambers. being dlssatis-
field with the support extended TO his
court by the commissioners, will leave
to-day for Washington. The German gov
ernment, it is claimed, is greatly displeas-
ed with its commissioners recognition of
the decIsion of the Supreme Court in the
kngship case.
The commissioners have been well re-
oeived on all the islands they have visit
ed. At Tutuia the natives were prepared
to accept the proposed abolition of the
royal office and the substitution OF an ex-
eeuiive appointed by the three powers. At
Sapotulida, the headquarters of Lanau,
that chieltain was defiant, indicating fu-
ture trouble.
Al Safune, the only place where the
natives took a prominent part in the pro-
ceedings. there was a fight with AXIS, knives
and stones in the presence Of the commits
soners, one man being severely wounded.
| The trouble was caused by the meeting
of parties Of Mataafa and Maietoa men,
who were bearing food offerings to the
| commissioners.
The outcome of all these conferences Is
| a mass meeting being held to-day at Ma.
| linum Point, where the leading men of
| both sides ire discussing the future gov
| eminent of the islands.
! At Safata, on July T. some Mataafa men
| attacked the home of an opposing chief
| named Taamui, who with two others, was
| badly wounded. II. NJ. 5. Torch went 10
the scene, but quiet had been restored
Last week the chief justice issued or
ders to certain towns in SanaH to appear
| before the Supreme Court In certain civil
! cases where the judgment Of the court
| had not been complied with. Chief La
natl ordered them not to obey telling the
| towns to pay no attention 70 the orders Of
the court which were only words pa
per Some towns did not appear. while
from The remaining ones only Malietoa
men appeared. The Mataafa men openly
dehed the court. The chief justice then
asked the commissioners to support his
authority with warships, If necessary. and
on their refusal he decided to leave Samoa.
The commissioners expect to sail for the
United States on the Badger on July 16.
Chambers on Samoa.
San Francisco. July 2S.-Chief Justice
w. T. Chambers of Samoa arrived here
to-day on the steamer Moana accom-
panied by his family. He is on a four
months leave of absence, but says th1t
his business in the United States Is of
such a nature that he viii probably not
return to Apia. In an interview, the chief
justice said:
"AIl is now quiet In Samoa, but can
not answer for the future. Both Mataafa
and Malietoa affect 10 be satisfied with the
present arrangement which abolishes the
office of king and vests the responsibility
OF government in the consuls of the three
| Powers.
feel sure Maietoa is sincere in this,
Though fairly elected, and after electi1n
accepting.ihe kingship, he never had am
! bitions in that direction. AS soon as the
commission arrived. he proposed TO re-
sign. a spirit which later proved to be In
| accordance with the plans of the coTOmis-
s;oners. and ! have every reason 10 believe
that he viii live up to his bargain.
: Ma aafa is ambitious. For many years
he has thirsted for power, and viii mol
he SO easily satisfied. At the same time
he is a man Of exceptional ability, Is
shrewd and l have never thought the IN
= terests of the natives would especially suf-
5 fer in his hands
''Yes. my decision has been sustained
by the comm ssiou, and ii has published
the fact IN a proclamation.
''With respect 10 The future, I can say
I little In its work The commission has en-
deavorod to eliminate from the origna
, arrangement all of the features that have
= appeared faulty or weak.
.',rhose features have been substituted
by others, which experience has demon
strated to be more desirable aud work
able. 1t rs difficult to frame any govern
, ment under tripartite control that will b'
permanent, but this Is not due 50 mucl
to the faultiness Of theory as 10 lOca
- dissensions and the want harmony
among the treaty powers. The success
of the commission demonstrated conclus
= ivelv that the native can be controlled
e peace maintained and laws properly en-
forced when the foreign government
work in accord. Perfect harmony ex
lists between the commission and the chic
justice.
f"Apropos Of the reported difficulties an,
O fight. of which so much IS made In cor
. respondence published here to-day, pre-
nit me TO say that these were nothinl
g more than little village difficulties whicl
4 would have passed entirely unnoticed
y were It not that all eyes are turned on sa
moan villages just now and that the lapd
:, scape is being swept with a telescope L
:, perceive troubles not discernible TO tn
r naked eye"
= Judge Chambers said he had finished u
All OF the cases 10 come before the cour
this summer The commission Is empow
cred to appoint a chief justice ad interim
to act in case anything arises before
= permanent appoin mcnt Is made. Up to IN
y tine Chief Justice Chambers left tn
~ commission had not decided who the ney
!, man would be.