The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-03
MR.. TRIP is CHAIRMAN |
Commissioners Investigating AT
fairs in Samoa.
MAKING A CAREFUL STUDY
The Jurisdiction OF the Chief Justice
Has Not Been Interfered With.
DR.. Solf Finds Himself in
Dilemma.

Alameda, from Australian ports via
Apia, arrived here to-day and brings
the following from the associated press
correspondent at Apia, dated May 10:
The United States steamship Badger,
bearing the commissioners of the Unit
ed States Great Britain and Germany
arrived at Apia on May Is. The COM
missioners have elected Mr.. Trip, the
American representative, chairman. On
their arrival they received letters of
welcome from King Malietoa Tanu and
from Mataafa. Both letters were ac-
knowledged.
The commissioners are reticent as to
their plans and their proceedings. 1t
does not seem to be their, purpose to
hold any public sessions. Up to date
they have been busily engaged in pre-
liminaries and a careful study of the
situation. They have had interviews
with the three consuls. the admirals
and captains of the British warships,
the chief justices and representatives
of the London Mission society and the
Roman Catholic mission. Their inquir-
les seem directed to a thorough and
exhaustive examination of all con-
cerned in connection with the trial and
proceedings in the kingship matter
This afternoon they are to have an
interview with King Tanu and to-mor-
row with Mataafa. Mataafa and five
of his chiefs are coming up to Apia at
the request of the commissioners, and
they have guaranteed him a safe pas
sage to and from Apia. In connection
with the kingship proceedings the COM
missioners wrote asking the chief jus
tice If he would forward them a copy
of the docket on file in the supreme
court. This the chief justice did, at the
same time he, in writing, Informed the
commissioners that he did so from a
desire to aid them in their investiga-
ton; that he claimed for himself and
his court, Notwithstanding the presence
of the commission In Apia, the full
power and functions of the court as
exercised in the past, and that his ac-
ton must in no way be regarded as
abrogating those powers or privileges.
The supreme court decision in the king
ship matter was final and was not sub
ject to revision or alteration at the
hands Of the commissioners. The COM
missioners, in reply, were strictly nom
committal and simply acknowledged
the receipt of the chief Justices letter.
The chief justice has been informed by
the chairman of the commission that
| the commissioners while in Apia did
not intend to interfere with the powers
| or jurisdiction of the supreme court,
and that the court will pursue the even
tenor OF Its way.
| DR.. Solf, who was nominated as pres
| ident of the municipality, arrived by
| the last steamer from San Francisco.
| He is on the horns of a dilemma. A
| president sent out by the three treaty
| powers, and yet he is no president, for
| the reason that he was unable to get
into office and assume his duties before
| the arrival of the commissioners. Be
| fore he came to Apia he was informed
that as there was only a provisional
| government In Samoa he had better APP
| ply, on his arrival, to the consuls to be
put into office. The Berlin treaty re-
quires that the president shall be APP
| pointed by the Samoan government.
| When he got to Apia, he found Tanu
installed as king and recognized by the
| United States and Great Britain, but
| not by his own government. Dr. Solf
is an official on the foreign service list
of the German government. He could
not and would not be allowed to act
until he had obtained his appointment
but he could not in the face of his con-
suls and his governments attitude ap-
ply to and thereby recognize Tanu and
his government. He waited the arrival
of the commissioners. They have SUI
perseded all hitherto existing authority
in Samoa, and as such do not see the
necessity at the present for president
DIR. Solf applied for the secretaryshiI
of the high commission, but this will
be conferred on Mr.. Morgan.