Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-31

SAN FRANCISCO, July 3l.-The Call
published the report of the tripartite
commission sent 10 Samoa. 1t said il
part;
1--WE have the honor to submit here
with to the consideration of our three
governments the enclosed draft of a
modified and amended version of the
act of Berlin. In preparing these modl-
tications and amendments our method
had been TO consider first what are the
evils which caused the recent troubles
i'll Samoa, and the general conditions of
the islands, and, secondly, which are
the measures most likely to remove or
minimize those evils.
1.-The chief evils may be, III our opin-
ION, grouped under four heads:
''First-Those which appear to inevitably at
tend the election of king in Samoa and his
subsequent efforts to exert his authority.
"Second-Thosc which are due TO the rivalry
OF foreign natiOna!itieS between themselves
and to their disposition to take sides in the
native politics ana thus increase the import
ance and bitterness of the disputes which
arise.
"Third-A third class of evils have thei r
origin in tine fact that for many years there
has been no law or government in Sam "a
other than native csistom outside the limits
of the municipality. Murder and other ssri-
Gus crimes have remained unpunishe when
committed b. persons Of rank and the su
preme court and he nominal government at
Muiinuu hav= been equally powerless to ex-
srt any force
"Fourih-Th, insufficient enforcement of
the customs regulations has allowed unscru
puiouS traders 10 distribute large numbers OF
I
Iitical factions and ready to fight both one
other and Europeans,
ITO meet the first of these evils, We
have temporarily abolished the kingshiI
and recommend that it be permanently
abolish Ell. The action which We have
| taken III the matter does not appear tC
have aroused any hostile feeling among
the natives.
''In the place of the kingship, we
pro pose to create system of native
government analogous to that which
wor Ks successfully i'll Fiji. The islands
Will he divided into certain adminis-
erative districts corresponding as nearly
It's possible with those recognized by
Samoan usage), for each of which a
! chief will be responsible, and these
chiefs will meet annually ut place in
native council to discuss such matters
us interest them, and make reeom-
mendations TO the administrator and
council. Native courts will be allowed
to punish minor crimes according to
| native laws and customs, and every
provision has been made to secure to
the Samoan population complete inde-
pendence and lf-government. We
lear, however, that the same causes
which produced rival kings, will long
continue TO produce rival chiefs who
will claim the post of the provincial
government and create continued dis
senSiOn.
"Perhaps the evils which it is least
easy to cure are the second class, those
which arise from the rivalry and mu.
tpal hostility of the different natiOnah-
ties. This hostility permeates all de-
partments OF life.
''trom the very commencement of
the late contest fur the kingship it was
no more than ii native quarrel between
Mataafa and Taiu. On the one side
were ranged one nationality and the Of
fcials, and Oil the other side two nation
alities with their officials, and the con-
tSoU W DIS letOiOIISett dlu 1Ot tiIOW6u To
reach its natural termination.
awe do not think il will ever be pos
sible to do away with this state of
things under q tripartite administra-
ton, and we take this opportunity of
recording our opinion that the only nat
ural and normal plan OF government
for these islands and the only system
which can assure permanent prosperity
power"
The commission expressed the opinion
that their plan cannot remedy this evil,
but will tend to improve the situation.
I'VE propose to introduce an element
OF unity and Capitalization into the gov
ernment by the appointment OF an ad-
ministrator, who will doubtless be
chosen from some disinterested power.
He will be assisted by coun-
Gil of delegates from the three govern
ments, who might exercise such con-
sular functions as are necessary III
Samoa. We propose to give this ad-
ministrator large measure of author
ity, which, if exercised by just and
capable nlitn, should enable him TO put
an end to many disputes.
''We propose that the administrator
and three delegates should form a legis-
lative council and we have introduced
into the act several clauses giving them
power to modify existing ordinances.
Thirdly, we hope to create greater
harmony among the white residents by
abOlishing consular jurisdiction.
Tine third class of evils arises from
the lawiessness now prevailing i'll Sa-
moa outside the municipality. For
many years there has been no law i'll
these districts. and native institutions
permitted chiefs TO commit crimes with
mpunity. Murder, theft and oIher
offenseS We're left unpunished and trade
suffered, owing to the difficulty of af-
fording planters adequate legal protec-
ton III their dealings with the aborlg-
ines We hope to improve this state of
things by giving the chief justice an en-
larged jurisdiction over ali these islands.
so as to include all cases between ma
tiyes and foreigners, as well as the
lower grades ct crimes committed by
natives against each other.
'Fourthly. We have felt it our duty
to deal somewhat severely with the iu-
portation of arms and ammunition into
Samoa.
1--WE therefore feel it essential that
customs regulations should be string
emily enforced under the supervision of
the administrator
BARTLETT TRIP,
Commissioner of the United States.
&c. n. ELLIOTT,
'Her Britannia Majesty commissioner.
H. STERNBERG,
Commissioner of Germany"
I'niyersxiIst, summer Meeting.