Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-04-22
THE SAMOAN commission
Bartlett Trip, the American
Member Arrives in Wash
ington From So. Dakota.
WILL HAVE UNIT RULE.
Arrangements for Trip Across the
Continent Have Not Yet Been
Completed.
WILL HAVE UNIT RULE.

Terms of tho Convention Make the Conn
missioncrs Not onlv Judges Hut Cover
nors-Superosds All Former Authority
nr. Trip Anticipates No DiiIicuIty Ina
Effecting AN Agreement.
Washington. April lg.--Bartlett Trip,
the American member of the Samoan
Commission, called at the White
House and received his instructions
from President Mckinley and Secre-
tary Hay. Some additional Instructions
may be given, but they Will be verbal.
Thecondition of affairs in Samoa was
discussed TO some extent. Secretary
Hay entertained the three Samoan
Commissioners. Mr.. eliot. Baron ven
Sternberg and Mr.. Trip, at luncheon.
The arrangements for the Journey
across the continent have not 1 been
completed yet, but il is expected that
the Commissioners will leave al dif-
ferent times and meet M San Francis
co. In speaking of the Commission
and Its duties. Mr.. Trip said he an
ticipated no difficulty whatever In set
| Ting the Samoan matter In manner
satisfactory TO all the nations partici-
pating.
''fhe question of the unit rule he
| said, judging from the reports In the
newspapers, has been somewhat mis-
understood 1t would be very difficult
to have a tripnrtitc government with
out unit rule. for IL two OF the gov
ernments were To hold the balance OF
power and their decision should pre-
vail. the tripartite government would
Immediately fall and become major
| ity government. In asking that the
unanimity feature OF the Berlin treaty
should be preserved in the dealing Of
the Commission Germany made no I'M
reasonable request. and when the
American and English Governments
assented they did not make what could
be strictly called concession. Thav
simply agreed to continue the arrange
ment under which the trlpartite gov
eminent had been formed and con-
Quoted up to the present time. Any
other arrangement would hayee been
an abrogation OF the Berlin ff'eaty
and would have nlled for new con
vention between the Governments.
II do not think that any of the three
Commissioners haveever visited Samoa
and we VIII go there with unpreiu-
diced minds, something very neces-
sary In this case as Judges should have
no bias
II was somewhat surprised TO learn
that by the terms of the convention
providing for the Commission we are
not only to be Judges. but Governors.
From the moment we land the govern
ment made by the Consul-Generals
ceases and we supercede all former
| authority This win render our task
much more difficult. Our DEGREES will
be the supreme law of the land. This
Is another reason for the preservation
Of the unity rule. II does not follow.
however. that because Of the nnan-
unity clause one Government shall pre-
vail against the other two. any more
| than the wishes of any two shall be
paramount 1t must be give and take
| on all sides. as In any tripartite or
iual government. A mans household
Is good example of this where the
man and his wife form the dual gov
/ eminent and without allowances on
both sides there can be no harmony"
Mr.. Trip said he had no idea how
long the Commission would be gone or
what the extent OF Its labOrs would
be. The Commissioners hope to estab-
! fish suitable government and ar
range matters SO that there would be
no cause for future trouble. Speaking
| Of division OF the islands he said this
question rested on the possibility Of
dividing the islands so that each ma
ton would be satisfied with its allot-
ment.