The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-12
AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.
Natives DOciIe and COntented
With United States Rule.

San Francisco. June 12.-Commander
B. F. Tilley, u. S. N, governor of the
United States possessions in Samoa, who
has just arrived here on leave Of alb
sence. discussing the conditions there,
said:
THE natives are now docile and con-
tented. When I was boarding the
Ventura they gave me 'siewa,' or
Samoan charivari to show their good
VIII. Ten girls and ten men followed the
boat, singing and making music by
beating mats with sticks A great many
farewell tokens were pressed upon me,
but the customs officers demand duty
on them and the presents are hardly
worth the expense.
We have permitted the natives to
follow their own customs when they
were not pernicious. It was necessary
to reform their customs regulating mar
r1age and divorce. The influences of
the conditions and the remoteness of the
higher authority compelled me to act
the part OF a supreme law giver, as well
as that of an executive officer. issued
ordinances forbidding the transfer Of
real property to whites by natives and
regulating contracts between natives
and whites The ordinances were neceS-
sary for the protection Of the natives,
and the general laws of the United
States do not tit the conditions IN the
islands.
THE possessions are divided into coun-
ties. each governed by native officer
appointed by the American commander.
This system has pleased the Samoans-
Recently the chiefs at Faga Togo offer
ed the water front land to the govern
ment at reasonable price and an
nounced that they would build a Pres
byterian church with the money. The
London mission works among them. All
the natives are Christians and extreme
ly religious, although their morals are
not quite up to the standard They go
to church every day and always say
grace before meals.
WI "a he fcic f7n1-eN 7Cd
They had been warning perpetually and
the warfare interfered with production.
The soil voluntarily yields bread fruit,
cocoanut, and everything the SamOans
require to eat, and there is really no rea-
son why they should work. 1t is not sur
prising, therefore, that they are inclined
to fdleneSs-
Under the American stimulus the
product of our possessions ought to dou-
bic within a year or two. The area of
plantation is increasing. Copra is the
principal production, although the cocoa
and tobacco crops are worth notice The
white population of American Samoa is
about 10 all told
Evidence of the docility of the natives
is the fact that recently they raised a,
tax levy of 81 800, paid in eOpra, to de-
fray the cost of the native part of the
government
1.-THE Samoans are not permitted to
have whisky, but they do not like it any
way, and there IS no trouble to keep
them sober. He makes a good soldier,
fighting being the Samoan speciality.
Il do not think the commerce of the
islands ever will amount to a great deal.
The chief value of the islands TO this
country is the great harbor, which is
protected against hurricanes and can
easily be made secure against an enemy.
Congress has passed an appropria ton
to enable US to enlarge the coal storage
capacity of the harbor to ten thousand
tons, enough to coal a feet. The har-
Dor is 1000 miles from Honolulu, 1, 200
from Auckland and about 1000 from
Sydney. German Samoa is doing well
under Governor Solf. a broad-minded
man. Lieutenant Commander DORM is
now in command at Samoa"