The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-07
so AT LEAST HE DECLARES
THE GERMANS ACT WITH THE
OTHER POWERS.
MAXSE AND ROSE GO HOWE ON THE 18TH
Chief Justice Chamb rs Will Continue The Si.-
iings Of the Supreme Court Con-
sdering Reduction in Cost
of Administration.

Apia, Samoa, May 81, via Auckland,
\. r., June 6.-Maietoa and Tamasese
have visited the members of the Sa-
moan commission on board the United
States transport Badger, and Mataafa
visited them the following day. Neither
of them was recognized as King.
Mataafa expressed willingness to
abide by the commissioners decision
and blamed the Europeans for the
trouble here. The commissioners in
formed him that they had power to es-
tablish Il government with or without
a king. Mataafa thought the Samoans
should have king. but expressed will
ingness to disarm his followers and leave
the matter in the hands of the commits
sion. The Germans acted, for the first
time i'll many months, with the repre-
Sentatiyes of the other powers and have
officially sent Il guard ashore.
The naval authorities and the mission
societies have submitted their views to
the commission, and the latter, by pro-
clamation, fixed May 9th as the date
for the natives to surrender their arms.
Mataafa, however, asked for an extern
sion of the time until to-day, when he
surrendered 800 guns on board the
Badger The Malietoans are now dis
armed.
The United States cruiser Philadel-
phia. flying the flag Of Admiral Kautz,
sailed May DIST, and the British and
German Consrls, Mr.. e. b. S. Maxse
and Herr Rose, proceed to Europe June
18th.
Queen Victoria's birthday was cele-
brated with great rejoicings, about
5000 strong men of the Maietoa party
attending the festivities at Mahnuu. in
the presence of the British Consul and
naval officers. The procession visited
the graves of the British and Americans
and then marched to the graves of the
GeEmans. who were slain in the battle
of Fagalt, in 1879. The Americans
fired salute over the German graves.
The natives are gaining confidence,
and are freely submitting their Sriev-
ances to the commission.
The natives brought here from other
islands at the time of the disturbances
will be returned to their homes, and
all the warships will probably leave
Samoa ut an early date.
The Chief Justice, Mr.. William l..
Chambers, will continue the sittings of
the Supreme Court. Dr. Wilhelm Solf,
the newly arrived German President of
the Municipal Council here, has not yet
assumed his duties.
The commissioners are Tetcent, but
it is understood they are considering Il
reduction of the cost of the administra-
ton as established by the Berlin treaty,
and that the number of officials may
be reduced.
The residents of Apia express dissatis-
faction at the indications given by the
commission that the rebels will not be
punished and they also should be
punished for arms Illegally imported.
They consider this bad precedent. but
it is admitted that this is too early to
criticise the action of the commissioners.
The American engineering staff has
arrived here, and will proceed to erect
Il naval jetty and coal stores at Pango
Pango.
Judge AIulligan, the former American
Consul, has arrived here to conduct the
compensation claims and defend Ma
taafa But the commission has lntl-
mated that no notice will be taken OF
the claims beyond recording them, and
it is possible the commission will ask
each power to compensate its own citl-
zens or subjects as the case may be.
DISARMING OF NIATAAFA.
Washington, June 6.-The Secretary
of State has received the following
cablegram from Bartlett Trip, the
United States representative on the
Samoan commission:
".Apia, May 31st, via Auckland, n. H.,
June 9th.
"Mataafa tisarmed. Over l 400 reb-
els surrendered (Signed)
"TRIP"