The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-31

publishes the report OF the tripattite
commission sent TO Samoa. making vari-
ous recommendations regarding the new
form OF government decided upon by
them as most suitable for the islanders.
These recommendations are based upon
the best features of the Berlin treaty.
and include the principal features OF tho
proposed new treaty. amended and
modified by the commissioners The Of
fetal report of the commissioners and
the draft OF the proposed amended treaty
are said 20 be now on the way to their
respective governments.
The report OF the commissioners 10 as
follows:
We have the honor TO submit here
with TO the consideration of our three
government the inciosed draft q: a modi-
lied and amended version OF the act OF
Berlin. In preparing these modiaoa-
tions and amendments our method has
been To consider, first. what are the evils
which have caused the recent troubles
In Samoa and the generally unsatisfac-
tory condition Of the islands. and seq
ondly, what are the measures most likely
To remove ar minimize those evils.
The Evils tn lie Met.
THE chief evils may he. In our opin-
ion. grouped under four heads:
L. tf1fH WHICH appear tp Inevitably
attend the election OF king In Samoa
ana his subsequent efforts to exert his
authority,
-. Those which are due 10 the rivalry
of the foreign nstionaii,ies between
themselves and the disposition In take
sides In the native politics. and thus In
crease the Importance and bitterness Of
the disputes which arise.
- A large part of the evils have their
origin in the fact that for many years
there has been no law OF order In
Samoa other than native customs, OUT
side tho limits or the municipality, Muir
der and other serious crimes have re.
mained unpublished when committed by
persons az rank. and the supreme court
and the nominal government, at Mulinuu
have been equally poweriess 10 exert any
controlling force
- The insufficient enforcement of tha
customs regulations has allowed un-
serupalous traders Ia distribute large
numbers cf arms among "A native popu.
lation rent by political factions and ready
to hight both one another and Europeans
Abolition of kingship.
ITO meet tho fret of these evils va
have temporarily abolished the kingehip.
and recommend that IL be permanently
abolished The action which We have
taken IN the matter does not appear to
have aroused any hostile feeling among
the natives
NO doubt many great chiefs regret
that they vii no longer have an oppor~
tanity ~ gratifying their ambitions aad
indui&ing that passion fnr rank and cefe-
Inony which Is innate in the breast Of
every saYnoan
"HHt even the chiefs have acauiescad
In the change. some of he most ifupor-
tani have stated that they think I, Ia
for the good of Samoa. and We bslisya
that the unfs4a xunrL ,,,aa
hy ostrausons Influences (which Is nm
happily. not imrosalhst. will assent 20
the abolition without a rnurmur and with
ont regret
Every white man. German Engitsh
and American alike. who has given ED
denee before the commission with thu
exception of nne ar two lawyers who
had private Interests In ihe rase5 has
recommended the commission 10 IN away
With the kingship and se may aisa refer
10 the opinion II Sir r. Maiet. recorded
In the protocols of the conference of
neriin md os Mr. Bates In his repor; on
Samoa.
1T seems Impossible 10 say Of the office
any gooti whatever. II In comps rmstveiy
modern Ms an Institution n served no
useful purpose. In recent years ~ any
ra'@. the king had NJ authority or prac-
Teal power to @yen collect taxes bev0nf
the limits - the municipality ard within
those limits his authority was sfftperGI-
etsia The greater part "f the population
was 20 sil intent ard purposes in fersna4
usut Tebsiii9u against him. sne The mere
fart that orders weTe iss4fed through him
llatie 10 provoke disDbeaiefsce In
naaY districts
Further II seems impossible 10 devise
any pian ~ which ar sgnsiisputed or even
Fseacsfui succession car hs secured The
EinKship depends m TIRE grant ~ certain
titles H. certain Atasriets They are In
fae gffs raf ~ fhe ni39Ie population sa.
ef argaH bodies ~ electors ssho Swa their
positions 80 their rank. Even among
fh@se eleegoTs tfsa principle thar the ma
torifT 0f th~ vote te@saw@ thn title In not
accented. ard fff glst ~ sii .hA laws
aru} customs ~ samoa is that thsrH -
rsssthtnz 81 prevent tyeg candidates from
bring aufv elected king at tha same time
veere Geclgssd by force ~ arms tslt the
Trainers re ihe aet ~ Berlin who evil
IDENTIFY Thoroughly understood The samoaa
custom and practice In this matter laid
ftowa that Questions respecting the right
fui appointment ~ kirw shall not Had
IN war. ia; ataIi be presented fof dsscis-
lon 70 ths rhief tgstire ~ samoa Re-
cent experience has f7HhE nFtiy proved
that an attempt fos settle she question in
this wsY also lssfs 20 waf. aBd we are
therefore strongly ~ tna opsniau that
the only chance of prsy<nting suoA d1s-