The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-08-19
LAWYER MULLIGAN ON SAMOA
SITUATION.
Says Judge Chambers Decision Was
Not Impartial and Condemns Bonn
bardment-Claims for Damages.

Former Consul ]. H. Mulligan was a
passenger by the Alameda last night
from samoa to the mainland. He is re-
turning to his home in Kentucky after
a visit to Apia as attorney for the vari-
Gus German and Opposition" interests
there.
He it was who worI -. up the claims
of residents against the United States
and Great Britain for damage done
their property during the bombardment
and presented same to the commission
ers. Mr.. Mulligan also appeared before
the commission in his personal capacity
and gave his views on the situation.
The remainder of his stay in Samoa was
devoted to other legal matters of his
clients.
IF the new order is carefully estab-
lished and is continued with firmness,
Independent of all interests and above
the petty jealousies of nationality or
tribe, 1 feel confident 1t will bring
peace to Samoa. Everything depends.
however, upon how the powers go about
it. The start will tell the story.
Maietoa Tanu is not yet satisfied and
/ believe he would take advantage nf a
loophole to make trouble. Mataafa is
sincere in his promises to abide by the
arrangement of the commission. And
by the way Mataafa is q superior man.
He has been abused more than anyone
else in Samoa, and yet he has more
| brains than all the kanakas on the
! beach. He is unquestionably the most
| popular man in the Islands. He is gen.
teel, makes a good appearance and at
once commands the respect of strang-
ers."
Mr.. Mullgan does not think the leci-
sion of Chief Justice Chambers was the
proper thing. He says Mataafa was
elected by very large majority. Cham.
| bers was prejudiced on the other side
and went about the matter like law.
yer to make a case for his faction.
mo part of the decision would hole
water. OF course the public, unfamiliar
with Samoan conditions, accept it ant
know no better. 1t is not fact thai
| the commission endorsed the decision
Anything else was done, but in the in.
| terest of peace they announced that /
must stand Moreover, there was per
haps a desire to smooth over that bonn
bardment outrage.
Our claims for damages will b'
pressed at Washington and London
We are asking simply for the value o
property actually destroyed. There wa
no more justification of the lombard
ment in theory or fact than there would
be in an American warship cuttinl
loose and blowing Honolulu to pieces.
British Commissioner G. N. e. Elio
was also a passenger by the Alameda
/ He welit from Samoa to the Colonies I
look over the country, and now goes t
Washington whore he will meet MI
Tripp and Baron Won Sternberg. MI
Eliot declined to discuss the Samoan
matter, further than to say that he be
lieVed peace had been permanently es
tablished. He denied emphatically tina
there was any personal differences be
tween himself and his colleagues. Man
of the Malietoa partisans had remaine
in Apia on the pretense that they Wer
afraid to go home, and assuming
staggering air, and a presumption o
superiority had created more or les
petty trouble. On the protest of som
of the Mataafan chiefs the provisions
government was to issue a proclama
ton the day after the Alameda sailed
calling on them to go to their home
and observe the peace.