The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-19

Washington. d. c., April 1S.-The in
structions TO the Samoan commission
ers have been completed.
They are alike in all essential re-
spects. They are summed up today 10y
one OF the high commissioners sub
stanually as follows:
The commission is given complete
authority to carry on a provisional
government for Samoa In doing this,
the instructions carefully prescribe the
preservation OF order and the security
of life ard property as a, first requisite,
1t is provided that the duties of all
officials heretofore exercising author
ity in Samoa, either through the treaty
of Berlin or in the service Of any gov
eminent, shall be suspended, in order
that the high commission shall have
complete authority over the AFFAIRS OF
the islands.
The commission is required to make
report upon a variety of things, includ-
ing the recent collisions and the causes
leading up to them; also as to the ad-
ninistration Of the islands ana the
rights of the several claimants to the
kingship; also as to what changes are
desirable in the methods provided by
the treaty of Berlin.
The instructions call for unanimity
in all action. The action Of the commits
sion when unanimous, is to be con-
elusive, without referendum, except
when il suspends a provision OF the
treaty OF Berlin. In that case, also, g.
provision of the treaty Of Berlin may
be suspended by unanimous agreement
OF the members, but the suspension is
ad referendum and is not binding UNI
til the three governments approve or
disapproVe il.
The instructions are broad enough to
include the recent troubles, so that
1 laAe
eral government of Samoa, viii be ad-
justed.
TTipp Visits the President.
Mr. Bartlett Trip, the United States
representative on the Samoan commits
sion, called at the state department to-
day and was cloSeted with Secretary
Hay Tor half an hour. He also conferred
for some time with Third Assistant
Secretary Cridler, who has been par
ticularly in charge of the Samoan nego-
1iations, and then accompanied the sec
rotary to the White House, where he
was introduced to President Mckinley
before the cabinet meeting began.
The department was adding the I'M
fishing touches to the written instruc-
tions which will be supplied to AIR.
Trip, but in addition to these he Will
be made fully acquainted with the pri-
waite views of the president and Secre-
tary Hay respecting the proposed work
for the commission.
The three commissioners have been
left TO deal with the selection OF a Sec
rotary for the commission, but it is pos
siole il viii be decided that there is no
occasion Cor an Office Of this grade and
that all the clerical needs of the COM
mission viii be met by the individual
private secretary who viii accompany
each of the commissioners. 1t is IN
E -, Sn1f in San Fran
cisco. will accompany the commission
IS secretary to the German commits
sioner, Baron Sternberg.
Banquet to the Commission.
Secretary Hay entertained the Sa-
1rfsan high commission at luncheon at
his residence at 1870 today. 1t was the
first time the members Of the commits
sion had come together, and while the
gathering was quite Informal and So
sisi. mainly for the purpose of getting
acquainted, yet it afforded an oppor-
unity for discussing the Samoan topic
in its general phases.
Tie commission viii be off Oh its Il is
Sim tcnorrow. The members VIII make
no effort 10 keep together on the way
u, San Francisco. Mr.. Eliot. the Bril-
ist member, left this afternoon. Mr..
TRIM Is anxious to have Mrs. Trip ac-
ceg,nlsanV him to Samoa. and this may
fal5e hin, home before he reaches San
Francisco. Baron Stenberg leaves to-
I.,orrow afternoon.
Tht. several members stated positive
~ today that except for the informal
gathering at Secretary Hays house,
Srere would be no meeting, ana no Ell
F',st 10 enter into the merits of the Sa-
1,,ea, question, the intention beng to
lave everything open until Samoa is
reached.
S,he members are making plans to be
sraue about four months They VIII Re
t,,rr together to Washington, and their
,s.sr,ective reports. as well as their
5osnr conclusions, will be framed here
1870 ffrne in The early autumn.