The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-31

ed into two parties, each determined Il
| support it's own programme and defeat
| that of the other.
| Proposed reforms and measures are
| judged not on their merits but by
| party considerations, and officials, how.
| ever impartial they may wish to be
are considered to belong to one side OF
the other, according to their nation
ality, and inevitably end by becoming
more or less partisans.
From the very commencement of the
late contests for the kingship 1t was no
mere native quarrel between Mataafa
and Tanu, On the one side were ranged
one foreign nationality and its officials,
and on the other side two other ma
tionalities with their officials, and the
contest was prolonged and not allowed
to reach its natural termination.
We do not think 1t will ever be pos
sible to do away with this state OF
things under tripartite administration
and we take this opportunity of record
ing our opinion that the only natural
and normal plan of government for
these islands and the only system which
can assure permanent prosperity and
tranquility is in a government by one
power. We regard it, however, as be-
yond our province to make any but
general statement on such subject,
and we have endeavored to amend eX-
lSllllS arrangements IN SuCl d nidHUeT
that they may prove, if not entirely
satisfactory, at least workable.
We propose to introduce an element
of unity and Capitalization into the
government by the appointment of an
administrator who will doubtless be
chosen from some DISTINGUISHED power.
He will be assisted by "a council of dele
gates from the three governments, who
might exercise such consular functions
necessary Samoa We
pose to give this administrator large
measure of authority, which, if exer-
cised by just and capable man, should
enable him to put an end to many dis
putes.
We propose that the administrator
and the three delegates should form a
le legislative council and we have intro
duced into the act several clauses Civ
ing them power to modify existing ordi-
nances.
We are of 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 its pro-
visions would have beneficial effect.
We have therefore empowered the
council to make such alterations as it
may think fit in the boundaries of the
districts, the details of native govern
ment and other matters enumerated in
the proposed act.
Greater Harmony.
Thirdly, we hope to create a greater
harmony among the white residents by
abolishing consular jurisdiction. We
believe that in other parts of the world
such jurisdiction prevails only when the
laws of a country are for religious or
other reasons not suitable for applica-
ton to foreigners. But, the chief justice
of Samoa is an American or European
ND adroiniStnrS ma ifpoy,
law. 1t would appear, therefore, that
there is no reason why he should not
take cognizance of all suits brought
against foreigners nor why foreigners
should enjoy privileges of extra-terri-
toriality except that not of being amen
able to the jurisdiction of native courts,
which will deal only with such matters
as are decided according to native GUS
tom. Hitherto consular Jurisdiction has
been a powerful means of embittering
international strife in Apia. Each ma
tionality has had its own law and the
consul who administered that law was
popularity regarded not as an impartial
judge, but as the protector of his own
nationality. E
We believe that by aboIishing this
outward sign of separate national insti-
tutions and by submitting all nationali-
ties to one court and one law a great
advance will be made in the direction
of removing petty rivalries and jeal-
ousies and restoring good relations be-
tween the various white colonies.
Lawlessness of Natives,
The third class of evils arises from
the lawlessnesS now prevailing in Sa-
moa outside the municipality. For
many years there has been no law in
these districts and native institutions
permitted chiefs to commit crimes with
f1ar. hnf nd nth nf
lenses We're left UNPUBLISHED and trade
suffered, owing to the difficulty of af-
fording planters adequate legal pro'tec-
ton in their dealings with the aborig-
ines. We hope to improve this state of
things by giving the chief Justice an
enlarged jurisdiction over all the ISL
ands, so as to include all cases be-
tween natives and foreigners as we'll as
che higher grades of crimes committed
by natives against each other
To tighten the work of the supreme
court, we have made the municipal
magistrate a court of first instance
within the limits of the municipality.
Fourthly, We have felt it our duty to
deal somewhat severely with the i'm
portation of arms and ammunition into
Samoa. The prohibition existing in the
treaty has become dead letter; the
management of the customs has been
exceedingly lax, having been largely in
the hands of merchants who naturally
found it convenient to have easy regu-
lations.
Private commercial houses have been
allowed to discharge goods direct into
their own receiving sheds without any
examination and, though we make no
specific accusations, it is clear that
there can have been no difficulty in in
Producing large quantities of arms and
that arms were so introduced.
We therefore feel it essential that the
customs regulations should be strenu-
ously enforced under the supervision
of the administrator and that adequate
customs accommodation, with an ade-
quate staff, shall be provided with as
little delay as possibly.
BARTLETT TRIP,
High Commissioner of the u. S.
c. E. N. ELLIOTT,
Her Britannia Majestys High Com
missioner.
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