New-York tribune., 1899-07-31

saioo,s to that which works successfully IN
Fiji The islands will be divided INTO cersa,n a
administrative districts Corresponding as hea'
iv as nossihle with those recognized by Samoan
usage for each of which a cniei wiz .,aity y.
sponsbe. and these chiefs VIII mees s,s,ns snch
at a place in native council TO discuss % eu
matters as interest them. and make recoi''i,S Nn
dations to the Administrator ano it CountS ,,,,nor
tive courts will be allowed 70 pun' pun n,s,oms
crimes according 10 native laws an" .aours
and every proyision has been mace 10 seso' son
TO the Samoan population compe,e hnwaver
dence and self-governnent w We nroduced rival
that the same causes which proIue1I ohiefs
tinss viii long continue TO produce rivai Gn,es o,,
who will claim the post OF tne Ip,.oars,on psos1,
ernment and create continued uies -. 90 cure
perhans the evils which II Is least easy " ,o.
-a 90 the second class those which ariSe nu.n az
the rivalry and mutual hostinX h,iy, oi rsrmeates
ferent nationalties; In,s MS tpsders on one side
combine against those on the oiher IL nv ach
nicinai Council is divided into two par.les. eao "a
determined 10 support us o"" -
defeat that of the other. - ,,daed
panosad reforms and measures are Iuugeu
not on their merits but by parry as 80
.Is .os ard ofBcials however impartial they may
Th 20 bs are considered 10 belong to one slue
or the other according to their natlonahty' anu
Inevitably end by becoming more or less par
tisans. ..-.o,. 20 tho late
,ontest for the kingship 1t was no more thah d d
native quarrel between Ma,aaIa anu and its
oesc,als and on the other side two other ma
tionaiities with their officials: and the contest
was prolonged ana not aii0"eN ~ ~ 80
ural termination
A SINGLE POWER TO GOVERN
We do not think it will ever be possible to DO
away with this state OF things undet ~
administration, and we take this opportunity 0,
recording our opinion that the only natural anu
normal plan of government for these islahus'
and the only system which can assure peInia
nan, nrosnerity and tranquility, is a govern
ment by one Power We regard u. however, az
hevond our province TO make any put gen
eral statement on such subject, ara we nave
ordes vored 10 amend existing arrangements IN
such a manner that they may prove II not en-
firely satisfactory, at least workable
we nropose to Introduce an element or unit!
and Capitalization into the government Dy tne
appointment Of administrator: VINO VIII
doubtless be chosen from some ulsinteresteu
power He will he assisted by a council or dele
ea,es from the three Governments, who might
exercise such consular functions as are neces-
sary in Samoa. We propose TO give TINS az
ninistrator a large measure OF authority WhIci;
II exercised by a just and capable man. should
enable him 10 put an end TO many disputes
We propose that the administrator ana .ne
three delegates should form a legislative coun-
ell. and We have introduced into the act several
clauses giving them power TO modify existing
ordinances. ,,, A.. =,
Rerlin was drafted and has been construed In
too rigid a manner and that greater elastcit!
in its provisions would have benehcial enect, en- =.
We have therefore empowered the Counch ~
make such alterations II may think NJ IN the
boundaries of districts. the details OF native
government and otner matters ehuOi"'NN go
the proposed act. .
Thirdly, we hope TO create greater harmony
among the white residents by aboIlsnlng con-
sular Jurisdiction We believe that IN dnG oangG
parts OF the world such jurisdiction prevaiIs
only where the laws of country are LOT re-
lgous or other reasons not suitable Ior eppIi
cation 10 foreigners. But the Chier justice VI
Samoa is an American or European. and al
rninstrates American or European law II
would appear. therefore. that there is no reason
why he should not take cognizance OF All sul's
brought against foreigners. nor why foreigners
should enjoy privileges OF extra-terrltorlahty'
except that OF not being amenaole TO the Jurls-
dicton OF native courts. which Will deal only
with such matters as are decided accoroing 10
native customs Hitherto consular jurisdiction
has been a powerful means Of embitterlng inter-
national strife in Apia.
EVILS OF CONSULAR JURISDICTION.
Each nationality has its own law. and the
consul who administered that law was poIu-
larly regarded not as an Impartial Judge put de
the protector Of his own nationality
we believe that by abolishing this outward
sign of separate internal institutions ana py
snhrnitting ali nationalities to court and one
law great advance will be mace IN the urec-
ton Of removing petty rivalres and 1ealouslsss
and restoring good relations Det"eeit Inv ''
Gus white colonies. ~, -,
The third class of evils arises from the law
lessness now prevailing in Samoa OUTSIDE tne
municipality For many years there has peen
no law in these districts. and native lnstltu-iohs
permitted chiefs TO commit crimes with I'M
punity. Murder. theft and other oifences "ere
left unpunished and trade suffered. owing 10 the
difficulty OF affOrding planters adequate lesdl
protection in their dealings with the aborlglhes'
We hope to improve this state OF things py CIV
ing the Chief Justice enlarged jurisdiction
over all these islands as TO INCLUDE all cases
between natives and foreigners, as well as the
lower grades of crimes committed by natives
against each other. -. .
To tighten the work Of the Supreme Court we
have made the Municipal Magistrate court
OF first instance within the limits OF the munlcl-
pality. -,
Fourth-We have felt it our duty 10 deal
somewhat severely with the importation or arms
and ammunition into Samoa. The prombltloh
existing in the treaty has become DEAD Ietler'
the management of the customs has been eX-
ceedingly lax having been largely in the hands
OF merchants, who naturally found II con-
yenient TO have easy regulations. private COM
rnercial houses have been allowed 10 dlscharge
goods direct into their own receiving sheds WITH
out any examination, and, though we make no
specific accusations. IL is clear that there can
have been no difficulty In introducing large
quantities OF arms, and that arms were so intro
duced
We therefore feel 1t essential that the customs
regulations should be stringently enforced under
The supervision Of the Administrator. and that
adequate customs accommodation, with an sde-
quate shed shall be provided with as little delay
as possible.
BARTLETT TRIPP,
High Commissioner of the United States.
c. y. f. ELLIOTT.
Her Britannia Majestys High Commissioner
H. STERNBERG.