Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-31
CHIEFS WILL BE GIVEN RESTRICT
ED POWERS.
Native Courts Will Punish Minor
Crimes According to Native Laws
and Customs, and Complete
independence Will
Prevail,


resolutions are based upon the best fea-
tures of the Berlin treaty and include ths
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 pro-
posed amended treaty are said to be now
on the way 10 the respective governments.
me report of the commissioners is as
follows:
we have the honor to submit herewith
10 the consideration of our three govern
mehts the inclosed draft of modified and
amended version of the act of Berlin In
preparing these notifications and amend
hents our method has been to consider
nrst what are the evils which have caused
the recent troubles in Samoa and the gen.
eral conditions of the islands, and second
iy, Which are the measures most likely to
remove or minimize those evils.
The chief evils may he in our opinion,
grouped under four heads:
tirst-Those which appear to inevitably
attend the election OF a king In Samoa and
his subsequent efforts to exert his author
fly.
Second-Those which are due to the
rivalry of the foreign nationalities between
themselves and to their disposition to take
sides I'm the native politics, and thus in
crease the Importance and bitterness of the
disputes 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 serious crimes have remained un-
punished when committed by persons of
rank, and the supreme court and the NOM
inal government at Mulinuu have been
equally powerless 10 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.
ITO meet the first of these evils we have
temporarily abolished the kingship and rec
ommend that it be permanently abolished.
The action which we have taken in the
matter. does not appear to have aroused
any hostile feeling among the natives.
Farewell to Fuss and Feathers.
mo doubt many great chiefs regret that
they VIII no longer have an opportunity of
satisfying their ambitions and indulging
that passion for rank and ceremony which
Is innate in the breast of. every Samoan.
But even the chiefs have acquiesccd in
the change; some of the most important
have stated that they think It Is for the
good of Samoa, and we believe that the
population, unless worked upon by ex-
: traneous influences (which is, unhappily,
not impossible). will assent to The abolition
without a murmur and without regret.
Every white man-Germau English and
American alike-who has given evidence
before the commission with the exception
Of one or two lawyers, who had private
interest in the case), has recommended that
the commission do away with the king
SHIP ana we may also refer to the opinion
OF Sir Z. Malet, recorded in the protocols
or the conference of Berlin, and of Mr.
+ Bates, in his report on Samoa.
1T seems impossible to say of the Office
any good whatever. 1t is comparatively
modern as an institution. II served no
useful purpose. In recent years, at any
rate, the king had no authority or prac-
tical power te even collect taxes beyond
tne limits oil the municipality, and within
Lhose limits his authority was superfiuous
Inc greater part OF the population was, 10
All lntents and purposes, in permanent re-
bellion against him. and the mere fact that
orders We're issued through him was liabl
10 provoke disobedience in many districts
Furtner, II seemed impossible to devise
any plan by which an undisputed or even
peaceful succession can be secured The
klngshlp depends on the grant of certain
titles by certain districts. They are in the
gift, not of the whole population, but of
small s,, bodies Of electors who owe their po-
electors the principle that the majority of
3D. the vote bestows the title is not accented
g. ana the sist Of all the laws and customs
of Samoa is that there is nothing to pre-
vent two candidates from being duly elect
SAFE To-day All
Royalty an Incentive to War.
Formerly tho claims of such rivals were
declded-by force, of arms, but the trainers
OF the act of Berlin, who evidently thor
oughly understood Samoan customs and
practice In this matter, laid down that
questions respecting the rirhtful anp1int
ment OF king shall not lead To war but
shall be presented for decision TO the chief
70 JUSTICE of Samoa Recent experience has
unhappiy proved that an attempt TO SET
tie the question In this way also leads 10
% war, and We are therefore strongly of the
. opinion that the only chance of preventing
such dtssensiops in the future is TO aboi-
ish the office which proXokes them.
In the place of the kingship, We pro-
pose TO create system of native govern
ment analogous TO that which works size
cessfully in Fiji The islands will be diyId-
ed into certain administrative districts
corresponding as nearly possible with
those recognized by Samoan usage), for
each of which chief VIII be responsIble
ana these chiefs will meet annually at a
place i'll a native council TO discuss such
matters as interest them, and make recom-
mendations TO the administration and coun-
ell. Native courts will be allowed to MN
ish minor crimes according to native laws
and customs. and every provision has been
made to secupe 10 the Samoan population
complete independence and self-rovern
ment, We fear, however. that the same
causes which produced rival kings, will
long continue TO produce rival chiefs who
will claim the post of the provincial gov
ernment and create continual dissension
Perhaps the evils which il is least easy
to cure are the second class, those which
arise fl ON the rivalry and mutual hostility
of the different rationalities. This hostility
permeates all departments of life The trad
ers or one side combine against those on
the other. The municipal council is divid-
ed intn two parties, each determined to
support its own programme ana defeat thai
OF the other.
Politics Rule the Samoan Roost.
Proposed reforms and measures arc
judged not on their merits, but by partv
considerations, and officials, however i'm
partial they may wish to be, are considered
10 belong TO one side or the other accord
ing TO their nationality and inevitable end
by becoming more or less partisans. From
the very commencement of the late con-
test for the kingship. 1t was no mere ma
tive quarrel between Mataafa and Tanu
On the one side were ranged one of the
nationality and its officials, and on the
other side two other nationalities with their
officials and the contest was prolonged and
not allowed to reach its natural termina-
ton.
I'VE do not think IL will ever be possible
to do away with this state of things under
a tripart'te administration, and we take
this opportunity Of recording our. opinion
that the only natural and nominal plan OF
government for these islands and the only
system which can assure permanent pros
perity and tranquility is government by
one power We regard it. however, as be-
yond our province to make any but A gem
eral statement on such a subject, and we
have endeavored TO amend existing ar
rangements in such q manner that they