The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-01
Samoan Administrator From a
Disinterested Power.
COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS.
Opinion Stated That No Government
nder Tripsrtite Agreement Can Ever
Entirely Remedy Existing Evils-Favor
Permanent Adjustment of Kingship.

with to the consideration OF our three
governments the enclosed draft of a
modified and amended version Of the
act of Berlin. In preparing these modl-
fications and amendments our method
had been to consider first what are the
evils which caused the recent troubles
in Samoa, and the general conditions of
the islands, and, secondly, which are
the measures most likely to remove OF
minimize those evils.
"The chief evils may be, in our opin.
ion, grouped under four heads:
"First-Those which appear to inevitably at
tend the election of a king in Samoa and his
subsequent efforts to exert his authority.
"Second-Those which are due to the rivalry
OF foreign natonalties between themselves
and to their disposition to take sides in the
native politics and thus increase the import
ance and bitterness Of the disputes which
arise.
"Third-A third class Of evils have their
origin in the fact that for many years there
| has been no law or government in Samoa
other than native custom outside the limits
/ of the municipality. Murder and other seri
Gus crimes have remained unpunshe wheu
committed by persons Of rank, and the su
| preme court and the nominal government at
| Mulinuu have been equally powerless to eX
| ert any force
| "Fourth-The insufficient enforcement OF
the customs regulations has allowed unscru
| pulous traders TO dist ribute large numbers OF
| arms among a native population rent by po
| htical factions and ready to fight both one an
other and Europeans
"To meet the first Of these evils, we
have temporarily abolished the kingshiI
and recommend that it be permanently
abolish ed. The action which we have
taken in the matter does not appear tc
have aroused any hostile feeling among
the natives.
SIN the place of the kingship, we
pro pose to create a system of native
government analogous to that which
wor ks successfully in Fiji. The islands
will he divided into certain admins
trative districts corresponding as nearly
as possible with those recognized by
Samoan usage), for each of which a
chief will be responsible, and these
chiefs will meet annually at place in
a native council to discuss such matters
as interest them, and make recon-
mendations to the administrator and
council. Native courts will be allowed
to punish minor crimes according to
native laws and customs, and every
provision has been made to secure tC
the Samoan population complete indie.
pendence and self-government. We
fear. however, that the same causes
. which produced rival kings, will long
continue to produce rival chiefs who
will claim the post of the provincial
government and create continued dis
sensiOn. S-
perhaps the evils which it is least
easy to cure are the second class those
which arise from the rivalry and mu.
I tual hostility Of the different nationah-
> ties. This hostility permeates all de-
, partments of life.
. "From the very commencement of
the late contest for the kingship it was
. no more than native quarrel between
I. Mataafa and Tanu. On the one side
were ranged one nationality and the Of
feials, and on the other side two patton
j alities with their officials and the con.
/ test was prolonged and not allowed to
reach its natural termination.
i 1--WE do not think it will ever be DOS.
o sible to do away with this state of
I things under a tripartite administra-
0 tion, and we take this opportunity of
recording our opinion that the only nat
!, ural and normal plan of government
for these islands and the only system
which can assure permanent prosperity
and tranquility is government by one
, power"
: The commission expressed the opinion
= that their plan cannot remedy this evil,
= but will tend to improve the situation.
ave propose co introduce an element
9 of unity and Capitalization into the gov
ernment by the appointment of an ad-
ministrator, who will doubtless be
chosen from some disinterested power.
, He will be assisted by a coun-
+ Gil of delegates from the three govern
ments, who might exercise such con-
sular functions as are necessary in
Samoa. We propose to give this ad-
, ministrator large measure of author
:, ity, which, If exercised by just and
capable man, should enable him to put
!, an end to many disputes.
u 1--WE propose that the administrator
), and three delegates should form legis.
u lative council and we have introduced
- into the act several clauses giving them
t power to modify existing ordinances.
"Thirdly, we hope to create greater
harmony among the white residents by
abolishing consular jurisdiction.
THE third class of evils arises from
the lawlessness now prevailing in Sa'
T. moa outside the municipality. For
many years there has been no law III
i THESE districts, and native institutions
G permitted chiefs to commit crimes with
u impunity. Murder, theft and other
p otfenses were left unpunished and trade
, suffered, owing to the difficulty Of al
l. fording planters adequate legal protec
/ ton in their dealings with the aborig
l. ines. We hope to improve this state OF
things by giving the chief justice an en-
larged jurisdiction over all these islands
Is 30 as to include all cases between Ma
E. tiVes and foreigners, as well as the
. | Of hN
z natives against each other.
% "Fourthly, we have felt it our duty
VI to deal somewhat severely with the i'm
= portation Of arms and ammunition int
Ct Samoa.
I'VE therefore feel it essential thai
customs regulations should be string
emily enforced under the supervision o
u the administrator.
( BARTLETT TRIP,
u Commissioner of the United States
Il 80. N. ELLIOTT,
IA n =.