New-York tribune., 1899-07-31
THE REPORT ON ,SAWOA.
CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT ADVOCATED
BY COMMISSIONERS.

San Francisco July 30.-"The Call" publishes
the report of the Tripartite Commission sent TO
Samoa, making various recommendations re-
garding the new form of government decideo
upon by them as most suitable for the islanders
These resolutions arc based upon the best feat-
ures of the Berlin Treaty, and include the prfn-
cipal features of the proposed new treaty, as
amended and modified by the Commissioners
The official report of the Commissioners and the
draft of the proposed amended treaty are said
TO be now on the way to their respective Gov
ernments The resolutions of the Commission
ers is as follows:
We have the honor to submit herewith 70 the
consideration Of our three Governments the IN
closed draft of a modified and amended version
Of the Act Of Berlin. In preparing these modin-
cations and amendments. our method mas peeh
to consider first what are the eylls whicn nave
caused the recent troubles in samoa, ana tne
general conditions Of the islands and second.
which are the measures most likely TO remove or
minimize those evils. The chief evils may pe
grouped under four heads
First-Those which appear 10 inevitably attend
the election of a king of Samoa and his subsequent
efforts TO exert his authority.
Second-Those which are due TO the rivalry NJ tor-
elgn nationalties between themselves and to their
dsnositIon to take sides in the native politics and
,hs increase the importance and bitterness OF ois-
putes which arise.
Thrd-A third class of evils have their origin IN
the fact that for many years there has been ID"
or government in Samoa other than native custom
outside the limits of the municipality. Murder ana
other serious crimes have remained unpuhisheo
when committed by persons of rank, and the Su-
preme Court and the nominal Government al NUN
nuu have equally poweriess to exert any io'e-
Fourth-The insufficient enforcement OF the GUS
toms regulations has allowed unscrupuous tradets
TO distribute large numbers OF arms among native
by
fight both one another and Europeans
KINGsHIP A CAUSE OF HARM.
To meet the first OF these evils We have TEN,
! porarily abolished the kngship ana IecoHihehu
~ q, ha permanently abolished The action
! which we have taken in the matter uoes @ nos
appear to have aroused any hosthe leeii"'
! among the natives. . .p, ,hev
uuI no longer have an opportunity OF grauiy
! ing their ambitions and indulging that passion
| for rank and ceremony when Is Inmate !" '"e
| breast of every Samoan ,, l., ~.
! change. some of the most important haNs
! stated that they think II Is TOT the s1ato sv -
! Samoa and we believe tnat the p1pana,,o ppe''anoas
/ urless worked by eXtraneous ihhue"es'
! Iu.bich is unhappily not impossiDle), VIII as
sent TO the abolition without murmur anu
| without regret 1,o,isb and
| American alike who has given evidence pelo,o .
! Ito Commi,slo with the exception Oh one VI
two LAWYERS who had interest in the casel mas mas
recommended that the Commission w - 70
/ with the kingshp. and we nay also rvte' ,he
! tho oninion OF Sir f. Maet recorded III W
! rrotocols of the Conference OF Berlin anu VI
| Nj Bates in his report on samoa A., .,v
II seems impossible 10 say OF 'ile onl,. a I.
good whatever. 1t IL comparatNS's ,.ooss n In
an institution II served no useiuI PuipY, PS 30 au
recent years at any rate. the KING nau & u, 80.
thority or practical power TO even So", ia With
hayord tho limits OF the municipality anu VIZ VIZ.
! In those limits his authority was SUPER " Iii
I The greater part OF the population "aS uI,,on
intents and purposes IN per'',Sh ,,ha, orders were
AGAINST him. and the mere fact that oius S,so'
,ssmed through him was liable TO pro'oAe ", 80 "A
hodie,ce In many districts. Furthei, ~ % ~
: ,mnossible 10 devise any plan py wiz ha az
! Disputed or even peaceiuI ~, -. ,ha GRANT Of
,,rad The kingship depends on the graiI. a.. a..
cuiet ,ot lilies bv certain districts. Ihey are IN
tha gift not of the whole population ~ ou % 'hs,r
bodes Of electors who owe tneit po@.st'o rSncinIs
| rnnk Even among these eeotO us,e,rs @ tbe titIe
Sat ,ba majority OF the vote oestows .he tsr,S S
.'ae looted and the gist OF all the la"s a'.u
n,,s,o,re of Samoa" is tina, tnere 10 noe"'as "A
cuS s''on, ,xo candidates from being duly e'ec'eu
klng at the same tlme'
PLANS FOR NATIVE RULE
.,o.,, the claims OF such rivals were de'
| fo, n, Sorce OF arms but the trainers OF ,ne
Ac, ~ Berlin, who evidently thorous".y 80 ,sst !
/ ,ood samoan customs and practce III .ns no a. :
49, ia,d down that questions respecting tne
/ .eI;s 81 annointment OF king shall not lead 10
,er hut shall be presented for decision 10 tne
/ chief Justice OF Samoa. Recent eApei,enh,e IN,
has unhappily proved that an attempt 10 se,.is
,ns question in this way also leads 70 war ana
III III ere therefore strongly OF the opinion that
! ,ne oniy chance of preventing such dissensons
7 a. tra future Is TO abolish the once wnicn pro-
yokes them. In the place OF the kinssnip We