New-York tribune., 1901-05-26
TROUBLES IN TUTUILA.
THE NAVAL ADMINISTRATION HAM
PERED BY THE MEDDLING OF
IGNORANT PEOPLE HERE
AT HOME
United States Naval Station.
Paga-Parn TutuiIa Samoa AnriI L.

When the partition of Samoa brought Tutula
and Manua under tfe sway of the United States Ii
was felt that the difficulties with which Samoa had
Vexed the world for many uncomfortable years
were at last In the way OF being settled. The reign
or law began when the chiefs of all Tutuila ('the
island of Saaia. ITS five houses of the and its
hVe houses of the east, it is called in the exag-
serate1 language of Samoan policies. the whole
oeing no longer than Staten Island in dimen-
sion' and nowhere near as large in the otner) to-
sether with the chiefs of three islets Manua.
met IN solemn "fono." ate much underdone baked
pig drank much 'kava' with loud calling of chief
~ uties and muttered ascrpton of the libatiOn to
the gen1uses OF the place. After the feasting
the business of organizing the American do
MAN, thing that was successfully accomplished
py enactng as the law of the land the Ten Com
inahunlents which were gravely approved by the
naval officer In command of the station
III this brief code extended to include a few
provisions to meet emergencies that have since
arisen 1t would he abundant legislation far
concerns the Samoan element of the population.
American citizens, however. who have endured all
the hardshi2s of years of political and commercial
struggle in Samoa find themselves in a worse
plight than when they We're dependent on the nomi-
nal monarchy of Maetoa Samoans all over the
group are eager to cross the straits and enjoy the
advantages of residence in Tutuila under Amer
lean rule Americans who have been in business
tn Tutuia for many yeas would welcome the
opportunity to move bag and baggage into Upolu
and German Samoa in general
The Germans. in their half of the archipelago.
have not set out on any rosewater policy. They
are crowdlng their Samoa for all the traffic
possible. They willing 10 sell goods to all
samoan corners on mere memorandum of credit
bat In the short time that has elapsed since
this vicious system went into effect these credit
memoranda have been grouped in grasping hands
ana the lands of Samoan families have passed to
German hands, from the beach TO the highest back
bone OF the island. just in the days of Theodore
Weber. SamOans who commit breach of law are
set TO work with ball and chain and if their hard
labor is not diligently pursued the lash is ready
io- oacks that have never felt harsher touch
than the tickle of the fly happer UIpoIu and
Savah and their islets are for the German and
me Samoan must get of the way. and must
reconcile himself to work for his master. Whether
that is the better policy is longer debatable 1t
exists and 1t Is nobody-s business
THE MISTAKEN AMERICAN POLICY
Across the strait the American administration
Hf the Tutuila colony has adopted policy OF cos
setting the native, which the tiiametric opposite
of the administration of German Samoa In all
the years OF Samoan trouble the native has been
allowed 10 swagger through the policies OF great
halohs as considerable Parsonage. Dispatches
and public documents filled with his high
sounding titles the aim has been all along 10 save
the Samoan from work and from the consequences
or his own fOOlishness and laZiness Life in Samoa
ialrly sputters with high sounding appellations.
your Excellences" Your Highnesses" Alton
SaS' ouSuEBdS, ana not a of them with a
shirt 10 his back Mentally. morally. civilIy the
average hand a cotton field in Mississippi or in
carolina rice swamp Is far and away ahead OF
these Sarnoans This is not the way in which
Samoa is brought to the knowledge OF the world
outside by novelists and hurried Observers but IT
is the real idea OF Samoa known administrators
This mistake in Samoa has been at the bottom of
all the trouble about these islands II is this
mistaken idea that seems have been the founda-
tion on which the administration of American
Samoa has been grounded. this and the Decalogue.
AT the time of the annexation great things were
expected of Tutuila or rather the expectations of
the Americans in Tutuila ran high Much was
said about the sums OF money voted for the sta
uoh and 10 be expended on roads. the first and
most crying need on all these islands There was
reason 10 expect that the country would be opened
up and It's resources developed Now II appears
that settlers not wanted nor are business peo-
pie welcomed The laws which the commandant
has issued are all copied from those of British
crown colonies. and harsh upon all such as
have any property or thrift, but mild upon the
native and the beachcomber. 1Acenses almost
prohibitory, are imposed on all classes OF labor
business or professional employment The navy
needs Tutuila. but all that it needs Is the single
harbor Of Pago-Pago for it's coaling station II
this he left under the control IF the navy there
seems no good reason why the rest OF TutuiIa and
Manua should not be put under ordinary civil ad-
mnistraton. AT least there seems no valid reason
why the rights of the white people there should be
uSItSdIutu III tne settlement or the samoan dltt-
Guilty ii was scarcely intended that they should be
worse off than when they were under the pro-
tected native kingdom.
conspicuous case OF hardship worked by the
in the affairs of Tutua is the case OF
the newly established Oceanic Hotel in Paco-
Pago. When the partition OF Samoa had been
consummated the Oceanic Steamship Companv of
San Francisco which runs the only line of SIAN n
ers between the United States and Australia mad.
change In its port OF call in Samoa. For several
years IL had arranged its route through the South
erh racine So as 10 touch AT Apia for six hours
or so. long enough TO let the passengers have a
run ashore and little of the native life
When Apia passed under German rule the steamers
made thei~ stop at Pago-Pago. in order TO faci-
time there were no accommodations in that mort
sufficient TO handle this monthly traffic. An Amer
ican who had been many years in business in these
islands was induced (in fact received official en-
combine with II general trading commercial
TstanshmSnt f co. M Io this hotel repTesentng in
South Seas. was given the name Oceanic
AN EXAMPLE OF THE MEDDLINC.
The American who engaged In this business was
not only man of unimpeachable character but he
had earned enviable record as the diplomats
representative of the United States under a lonr
succession OF consus and consuls- general 1t had
been his weary fortune be left in sole charge at
before the Berlin Treaty and under it's operation
That he had made enemies is certain IL is a
characteristic fact that no man has ever had any
affairs in the islands without suffering in mind
had been preferred against him from time to time:
they had been carefully Investigated by the author
proved to be without foundation other than maiiSe
and envy. There therefore. no reason why
hotel After receiving great encouragement from
Captain TiIley. Naval Governor of Tutuila. to en-
Pago-Pago. No license for such business had
9r5ipapc uuem Iut ne WAS informed that an
being drafted, that probably only one license would
be allowed under this ordinance. and that he would
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