The San Francisco call., 1901-12-17
SAMOAN5 AGREE
To BUILD ROADS
Will Look to Uncle Sam
for Reward for the
improvements.
Many Natives Favor Adopt
ing the Constitution of
the United States.

TUTUILA, Samoa, Dec. 3.-At a general
meeting of the people of Tutuila, held on
November 21 at Nuuili, which was pre-
sided over by Lieutenant J. l.. Jayne, U. 5.
N, then commanding the station, one d1-
vision strongly urged the adoption of the
constitution of the United States in it's en-
tirety, and at the same time asked that
all other South Sea Islanders and Sa-
means from German Samoa be sent back
to their homes. This was srenuously op-
posed by the stronger eastern district, one
of whose talking men stood up and SAID,
''You are foolish; you do not know what
you are doing. Are we not all related?
Do you want to build wall around your
own district and then shut yourselves
up? You read the Bible and do not un-
derstand it. You hear about the constitu-
ton of the United States and do not un-
derStand it. 1t is better to wait and let
the people grow in enlightment first
At the same meeting the commanding
officer stated that ne wanted the natives
of the towns to build their roads, and he
ordered the county chiefs to see that his
wishes in the matter were carried out.
The orators who wanted the United States
constitution adopted objected, and told
the meeting that they would not build the
roads unless the United States Govern
ment paid for the labor-that they pre-
ferred going to Jail rather than work on
the roads.
The sum of $4,000 has been appropriated
by the Government for grading, and the
dissenters claimed that this money should
be paid to them for roadmaking. The op-
position said that this country paid no
road taxes, and it was wrong to expect
the United States to send money for the
construction of roads; that in their dis
tricts they were going ahead in road
making and did not expect any pay. This
argument finally prevailed, and it was ar
ranged for the people to build their own
roads and trust to getting aid from the
Government for the construction of the
main roads, which, by the way, are bad
ly needed for facilitating the work of the
station and the Government.
The spirit of roadmaking has taken
hold of the people, and to commemorate
the death of President Mckinley the ma
tives of one county decided to build Il
road instead of indulging in feasting and
carrying out their old heathenish customs
attending the death of a great liking"
The road is to be called Mckinley road,
and at the request of the people Mrs. Til
ley the wife of Governor Tilley, turned
the first sod for the road November 25,
and since then the natives have been
working with might and vigor to complete
the work as soon possible. The road
is an important one.
A farewell feast was given in honor of
Captain Tilley in Pago Pago November 30,
and at the same time one of welcome to
many strong expressions of regret at the
action of the Government in relieving
Captain Tilley, and an address to the
President of the United States has been
numerously signed by the chiefs embody-
ing the feelings of the Samoans in the
matter.
Mrs. Luther w. Osborne and her son
with the remains of Consul General Os-
borne