Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-07-31


delegates from the three governments.
who might exercise such consular fuuc-
tiuuH ns are necessary IN samoa. We
propose to give this administrator
large measure uf authority. which. n
exercised by Just and capable man,
should enable him to put an end 60
Ne propose ihat the administrator
and tho three delegates should form a
legislative council ana We have In
troduccd into the act several clauses
giving them power to modify existing
ordinances.
We arc or the opinion that the origi-
nal act Of Berlin was drafted and has
been construed In too rigid a manner.
and that greater elasticity IN ila pro
visions would have "a beneficial effect.
We have. therefore. empowered the
council 10 make such alterations ng II
may think NJ In the boundaries VI dis
irlctr. the details u native government
aud other matters enumerated Ia the
proposed act
HARMONY AMONG WHITES.
Thirdly. we hope TO create greater
harmony among the white residents by
aboilshlng consular Jurisdiction. We
believe that in other parts Of the world
such Jurisdiction prevails only when
the laws of n country are Tor rehKlouH
or other reasons not suitable Tor apple
cation 10 foreigners. But. the chlci
Justice of Samoa ls an American or
European. and administers American
or European law. II would appear
therefore. that there iH no reason why
ne should not take cugnzance OF an
suits brought against foreigners nor
Nhy Foreigners should enjoy privilege
OF cxtra-tcrritOrinlity except thnt OF
not being amenable 90 the jurisdiction
Of native courts. which VIII deal only
with such matters 40 are decided ae-
curdiug TO native custom hlthetto
consular Jurisdiction has been "a pow
orfut means Of emhitterinT Information
al strife In Apla. Each nationality mas
had ita own law and the consul who
administered that law was p9puntly
regarded not as an impartial iudEe'
but ne tho protector Of his own ma
Ne believe that by abollshng this
outward sign Of separate national IN
ntitutlonH and by submitting all ma
| tinunlltlca 10 one court. aud one laW'
/ great advance viii boz made M the al.
/ rrctlon N removing petty riNalrlea anu
| ioaiousica and restoring good rclhtohA
| between the various white colonies.
POWERS or THE COURT
The third class Of evils arises from
| the lawicasncaa now prevailing In sa-
/ mun outside the municipality For
! many years there has been no law IN
| these districts. aud native institutions
| permitted chiefs to commit crimes WIN
| impunity. Murder. theft and other Of
lenses were left unpuniahcd ana trade
| suffered, owing 10 the difficulty OF az
! fording planters adequate legal pro-
tcctlon In their dealings with the nbo-
| rhymes. We hope TO Improve this state
| uf thinua By giving the chief Justice
/ an cnlnrrcd Jurisdiction over nll the
Islands. 20 az 20 include all cases be-
| tween natives and Foreigners az Wen
I A. d. 10 I'd
! mittod by natives against each other
10 Tighten the work 81 the supreme
court. we have made the municipal
magistrate a court ~ first instance.
within the limits Of the municipality.
IMPORTATION or ARMS.
Fourthly. we have felt Il our duty
20 deal somewhat severely with the
| Importation Of arms ana ammunition
into samoa The prohibition existing
In the treaty has become dead let
ter; the management of the customs
has been exceedingly lax. having b'er
largely In the hands N merchants who
naturally found u convenient 20 have
easy regulations.
Private commercial houses have beer
allowed TO discharge goods direct Int,
their own receiving sheds without any
examination. and though We make n,
specific Accusations. II II clear tina
there can have been no difficulty In In
PRODUCING large quantities of arms, nnt
that arms were - Introduced.
We, therefore. feel Il essential tina
the customs regulations should b.
stfingcntiy enforced under the super
vision ~ the administrator ana tina
adequate customs accommodations
with an adequate stan, shall b. pro
yidcd with as little delay az possible.
UARTLfrr TRipp,
High Commissioner OF the Unite,
States.
g. y. y. ELLIOTT.
Her Britannia Majesty's High Commits
Hluncr,
n. sTERNBERGER.
High Commissioner uf Germany