The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-31
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
Recommendations Made BY the Commission
Sent to Samoa
THEIR REMEDY FOR THE EXISTING EVILS
They Glass the chief Cnuscs OF the
Recent Troublcs Under SIX Heads,
with Comments.


to Samoa. making various recommends
tlons regarding the new form OF govern
ment decided upon by the United states
IA suitable for the Islanders. These
recommendations are based upon the bes
features OF the Berlin treaty and included
the principal features OF tho proposed new
treaty as amended and modified by tn,
commissioners. The official report Of the
commissioners aud the draft of the pro-
posed amended treaty are said to be now
ON the way to their respective govern.
ments.
Tho report OF the commissioners Is ms
follows: We have the honor to submit
herewith TO tho clerk OF our various gov
ernments the enclosed draft OF modified
and amended version or the act OF Berlin.
Our method has been to clear, first, what
are the evils which have caused the recent
troubles In Samoa, and the general condi-
ton OF the island. and, secondly, what nrc
minimize these evils. The chief of those
evils may be. In our opinion, grouped
under four heads:
/. Those which appear to inevitably at
tend the election of a king In Samoa and
his subsequent efforts to exert his au-
thority.
2. Those which are addicted to the
rivalry Of foreign nationalties between
themselves and the desire to take side In
the native politics and thus increase the
bitterness of Disputes
B. Tho class of evils which have their
origin In the fact that for many years
4. 1.At sngNV ont Iva
Samoa other than native customs outside
the limits of the municipality.
8. Murder and other serious crimes have
remained unpublished when committed by
persons of rank, aud the supreme court
and the nominal government ut Mnlinu
have been equally powerless to exert any
force
6. Tho sufficient enforcement or tho
customs regulations has allowed unscrup-
ulous traders to distribute large numbers
of arms among the native population sent
by political factions and ready to fight
both one another and Europeans
To meet the FIRST OF these evils we have
temporarily abolished the kingship and
recommended that II be permanently abol-
ished. The action which We have taken
In tho matter does not appear to have
aroused any hostile feeling among the
natives. No doubt many chiefs regret that
they will no longer have an opportunity to
crafty their ambitions and indulge that
passion for rank and ceremony which IL
Innate in the breast Of every Samoan
But even the chiefs have acquesced In
the change some OF the most important
have stated that they think 1t is Tor the
good of the Samoans and we believe that
the population, unless worked upon by
extraneous Influences (which Is unhappily
not impossible) Will assent to the aboli-
tion without murmur ana without re-
greet
Every white man, German, English and
American alike who have given evidence
before the commission with the exception
OF one or two lawyeS who had interest
In the case) has asked that the commission
do away with the klngship aud we may
also refer to tho opinion OF Sir u. Malet,
recorded In tho protocols OF the conference
OF Berlin and of Mr. Bates In his report
on Samoa.
II seems impossible to say OF the office
any good whatever, II Ia comparatively
modern as an institution. II served no
useful purpose, ln recent years nj any rate
tho king had no authority or practical
power to collect taxes beyond the limits
of the municipality and within those limits
his authority WAS supertuous, The greater
part OF the population was 10 all intents
and purposes in permanent rebellion
against him. and the mere fact that orders
were issued through him was liable to
provoke disohedience IN many districts.
Further It seemed impossible to devise
any plan By which an undIsputod or peace
full succession can be secured.
The kingship dependa on tho grant OF
certain titles by certain districts. They
are IN the gift not OF the whole popula-
tion, but Of small bodies of electors, The
principle that the majority of the vote be-
slows the title Is accepted and the gist
of all tho laws and customs OF Samoa
Is that there Ia nothing 10 prevent two
candidates from being duly elected king ut
the same time.
Formerly the claims Of such were de-
cided by force of arms, but the trainers Of
Thy act Of Berlin, who evidently thorough
ly understood Samoan customs In this
matter, laid down that questions re-
specting the rightful appointment of the
king shall not lead to war. but shall DO
presented for decision TO the chief Justice
OF Samoa"
Recent experience has unhappily proved
that an attemp, to settle tho question In
this way always leads to war and We are
therefore strongly OF the oplnion that the
only chance of preventing such dissen
siona lnsthe Aiture Is to abolish the office
which provokes them. In the place of the
klngshlp we propose to create system Of
native government analogous to that which
works successfully In Fill The Islands
tive districts Corresponding as nearly 40
possible to those recognized by Samoan
usage) for each Of which chief Will be
~ ponsihle, and these chiefs will meet
annually at place In native council |
TO dscuss such matters as interest them.
Tney make recommendations TO the ai- |
ministrator and council, Native courts
WIN be allowed to punish minor crimes
according to native laws and customs
and every provision has been made 10 so.
cure The samoan population compiote In
9fpenuence aud SELF government. We fear. |
however, that the same causes which pro- |
ducea rival kings VIII long continue TO
produce rival chiefs. who will claim the
paat Of provincial government and create
Perhaps that which ii Is least EASY 10
cure are the second class. those which |
arose from the rivalry and mutual hos
tiiisy OF he different nationnlltles, This
hos!iiily permeates all departments OF lIfe'
/. The traders on ono side cpmblne arainst
shfse on the 6fhtr, Tho municlral coun,
81 y divided into two parties, each de- !
eermined TO suppnrt It's own prograrnme
ana defeat that Of the other proposed
tefrrms and measures are Judged not on
their merits but By party considerations
and officials however impartial they NAV
Wish 70 be-, ara consldared To- hclonr |
to Ono aida mr. fhe ofher nc.fratr.-T : = |