The Indianapolis journal., 1899-07-31
REPORT OF COMMISSION.
First Publication of the Samoan Find
ings in San Francisco.

ings in San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 3O.-The Call pub
fishes the report of the triparte commission
sent to Samoa, making various recommen-
dations regarding the new form of govern
ment decided on by them as most suitable
for the islanders. These resolutions are
based on the best features of the Berlin
treaty and included the principal features Of
the proposed new treaty, as amended and
modified by the commissioners. The official
report of the commissioners and the draft
of the proposed amended treaty are said to
be now on the way to the respective gov
ernments. The report of the commission
ers is as follows:
1--WE have the honor to submit herewith
to the consideration Of our three govern
ments the inclosed draft of a modified and
amended version Of the act of Berlin. In
preparing these notifications and amend
ments our method has been to consider first
what are the evils which have caused the
recent troubles in Samoa and the general
conditions of the islands, and secondly,
which are the measures most likely to re-
move or minimize these evils. The chief
evils may be, in our opinion, grouped under
four heads.
"First-Tkose which appear inevitably to
attend the election of king in Samoa and
his subsequent efforts to exert his authority
'Second-Those which are due to the
rivalry Of foreign nationalities between
themselves and to their position to take
sides in the native politics and thus increase
the Importance and bitterness of the dis
putes which arise.
''Third-A third class Of evils have their
origin in the fact that for many years there
has been no law or government in Samoa
Other than native custom outside the limits
of the municipality. Murder and other seri-
Gus crimes have remained unpunished when
committed by persons of rank and the Su-
preme Court and the nominal government
at Mulinuu have been equally powerless to
. exert any force.
'Fourth-The insufficient enforcement Of
the customs regulations has allowed un-
scrupulous traders to distribute large num-
bers Of arms among a native population
rent by political factions and ready to fight
both one another and Europeans.
ABOLISHED THE KING.
ITO meet the first OF these evils we have
temporarily abolished the kingship and rec
ommend that 1t be permanently abolished.
1ne action which we have taken In the mat
ter does not appear to have aroused any
hostile feeling among the natives.
mo doubt many great chiefs regret that
they will no longer have an opportunity of
gratifying their ambitions and indulgine
that passion for rank and ceremony which
is innate in the breast OF every Samoan.
"But even the chiefs have acquiesced In
the change: some Of the most important
have stated that they think 1t Is for the
good of Samoa and We believe that the pop
ulation. unless worked upon by exsraneous
influences (which is unhappily not impossi-
ble) viii assent to the abolition without a
murmur and without regret. Every white
man. German. English and American alike
who has given evidence before the commits
sion with the exception Of one or two law
yers. who had interest In the case) has
recommended that the commission do awst