The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-06
Representatives Of the Three
Powers Confer With Native
Leaders at Mulinuu.
United States Government Expected to Pau
Natives for Arms Now Being Taken
to Mare Island in the Badger.
From a Special Correspondent of The Call.

enough to stock up again. Had it not
been for the war his stock of goods
would still be on the shelves.
This, of course, is merely one side or
the question. There are many other
traders who have lost money and prop
erty and who will be glad that peace is
at least temporarily established. The
report that Malietoa Tanu was to be
banished to the Fiji Islands is entirely
without foundation.
The proposed amendments to the
Berlin treaty consist briefly as follows:
The kingship is forever abolished on
the islands of Samoa. In place of
King there will be an Administrator,
possibly some man from the Dutch
West Indies, as by long years of ex-
perience the Dutch thoroughly under
stand the management Of colonies. The
islands will be divided into districts,
each district to be ruled by a Governor,
who will be native chief. The munic-
ipal district of Apia will be governed
by a Mayor, and there will also be a
Municipal Magistrate. Although the
Chief Justice of Samoa has retired,
having left on the last mail steamer
for San Francisco, there will be an
other man appointed in his place. The
native judges will be allowed to try
all cases of crimes and offenses COM
mitted by natives only, according to
the laws and customs of Samoa. So,
practically speaking, the Samoans will
govern themselves. although every
thing will be subject to the approval of
the Administrator, who will be the
big Chief Man"
The abolishment of the kingship, It
was expected, would be bitter pill to
both Mataafa and MaEetoa as we'll as
to the chiefs and high chiefs, but on
the contrary they seem to all outward
appearances to be perfectly satisfied
with the decision of the Commissioners.
The Badger has on board about $500
rifles which were surrendered by the
natives on each side. These arms will
be turned in at the navy yard at Mare
Island. An appraisal of their value
was made by representatives of the
three powers and the natives will prob
ably be reimbursed.
The importation of arms, other than
those used for sporting purposes, is
prohibited. Violation of this law is
made punishable by fine of $25OO.
The claims filed with the Commits
sioners by the residents of Samoa
amount to about $4,000 OF this
amount $4,000 is asked by the native
population. The principal claims for
indemnity are those of the French
Catholic Mission, which asks $22. 900,
and the German firm which claims
$500. These two claims are largely the
result of looting done by the native
soldiers at Mulinuu while under the in
structions of the English officers. Dur
ing the war and during the armistice
the natives were penned in at Mulinuu
and were short of rations. The English
officers ordered them into the bush on
weekly foraging expeditions, and they
looted the first available place. which
was the property of the French Mission
and the German firm
The commission has received no in
structions in regard to these claims and
have arrived at no decision as to what
will be done with them. While they
have filed the claims, they have in no
way committed either themselves or
the powers as to the manner in which
they will finally be treated.