The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-29
THE SAMOAN
TROUBLES INA
NUTSHELL,
Chief Justice Chambers Arrives
In San FrancIsco..Not Likely
to Return to Apla.
GIVES NO ENCOURAGEMENT
For the Future Peace of the Is
lands.-Mataafa Is Crafty and
Also Ambitious.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 2S-chlet
Justice ". II. Chambers, of Samoa, ar
rived here to-day on the steamer Moa-
na, accompanied by his family. He ls
on four months leave OF absence. but
says that his business In the United
States is of such nature that he Will
probably not return to Apia.
In an interview tLs chief justice said:
'AlI is now quiet in Samoa, but cam
not answer for the future. Both Ma
tanfa and Malle!oa AFFECT to be satis-
fled with the present arrangement
which abollShes the office Of king and
vests the responsibility OF government
in the consuls of the three powers. 1
feel sure Aialletoa is sincere in this,
Though fairly elected, and after elec-
ton accepting the klngshlp, he never
had ambitions in that direction. AS
soon as the commission arrived he pro-
posed to resign, a spirit which later
proved to be in accordance with the
plans of the commissioners, and have
every reason to believe that he will live
up to his bargain.
"Nataafa is ambitious. For many
years he has thlrsted for power, and
will NOT be SO easily satisfied. At the
same time. he is a man OF exceptional
ability, is shrewd and have never
thought the interests of tho natives
would especially suffer in his hands,
Eyes. my decision has been sustained
by the commission and 1t has publish
ed the fact in a proclamation.
AGloomy outlook.
with respect to the future can say
little. There Is the problem. In It's
work the commission has endenvored
to eliminate from the original arrange
ment all the features that have appear
ed faulty or weak. Those sections have
simply been struck out, leaving nothing
in their places. What will rob the
whole document Of proper effectiveness
is the trlpartite treaty under which 1t
will have to operate. I am sure that
no government in sGmon viii succeed
under such an arrangement. The
sooner the powers see this and formu-
late some correction the better for all
concerned"
Judge Chambers said he had finished
up all OF the cases to come before the
court this summer. The commission is
empowered to appoint a chief Justice.
I'D interim to act in case anything arises
before permanent appointment Is
made. Up to tho time Chambers left,
the commission had not decided whom
the new man would be.
Samoan advices under date Of July u,
were received to-day by the steamer
Moana as follows:
An Uneasy Situation.
The situation in Samoa is one Of great
uneaslnesS. Tho attitude OF tho natives
being far from reassurlng. Several
fights have occurred in different parts
of the islands between supporters Of
the rivals for the kingship and several
natives have been killed. Nothing
much seems to have been accomplished
by the high commission since arms to
the number Of 400 were surrendered by
the contendlng factions. Chief Justice
Chambers being dissatisfied with the
support extended to his court by the
commissioners will leave today for
Washington. Their action in refusing
the aid asked for to sustain the courts
authority Is said to have been prompt
ed by dispatches received by the Ger
man commissioner from his home gov
ernment which, 1t is claimed, is greatly
dlspleased with his recognition Of the
decision Of the supreme court in the
hngship case.
The commissioners have been well re-
celved on all the islands they have visit
ed. At Tululla the natives were pre-
pared to accept tho proposed abolition
of the royal office and the substitution
Of an executive appointed by the three
powers. At sapotullfa, the headouar-
tiers Of Lanati, that chisftain was DELI
ant In manner, indicating future trou-
BILE. At safune, the only place where
the natives took a prominent part in
the proceedings there was fight with
axes, knives and stones in the presence
OF the commissioners, one man being
severely wounded.
The trouble was caused by tho meet
ing of parties Of MataHfn and Maitetoa
men who were bearing food offerings
to the commissioners.
The outcome OF all these conferences
Is a mass meeting being held to-day at
Mullnum Point, where the leading men
Of both sides arc discussing the future
government of the islands. Tho COM
missIoners expect to sail for the United
states ON the Badger on July 10.