The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21
Interesting News From Tutuila.

In all the changes ofwhat for more than
a troubled generation was the Samoan
Question the navy sat tight. When diple-
macy got into difficulties the navy was
called in and pacifed the turbulent is
lands. That task well done, the navy
withdrew and left the political officials a
free chance to get into yet another group
of difficulties. At last came the settle
ment of the affair in the war of the Tanu-
mafili succession, the partition Of 1899
and the transfer to the United States Of
the sovereignty over Tutuila, the Manu- a
group and the smaller outlying islands.
Then at last the navy entered upon full
fruition of that which had been naval
policy for sixty years, or since the day
when Lieutenant Commanding WILKES
entered into treaty with the Chief MAUoA
of that day, whereby exclusive rights
were given to the American navy in the
harbor Of Pagopago
What has happened in Tutuila during
the five years now fully elapsed is inter-
esting. but obscure. At the opening
Of the last session Of Congress the news
was published that petition of the most
important chiefs of Tutuila was to be
presented asking for something, yet no
one seemed to know just what evil it
was sought to remedy. The only names
mentioned were those of islanders to
whom it would be too elaborate polite
ness to dub them chiefs. Furthermore,
it has been learned that the naval adj
mnistration Of Tutuila has forced from
the islands the principal American bust
ness man in Samoa, a man who was for
years Vice-Consul and Vice-Consul-
General who CHANGED to be in control
of affairs in several periods when cool
and skilful administration was impera-
tive
IT may not be the design Of the General
Board of the Navy to keep the people
uniformed as to this important naval
Southern Cross. But, whether inten-
tional or not, there is little that can be
learned as to the present condition Of
Tutuila and American Samoa in general.
AS soon as the partition was made our
Samoa was handed over to the navy as
a place for the deposit of coal. 1t ap-
pears since that time in successive Naval
Registers as Naval Station, Samoa"
Under this designation there is nothing
to suggest that there il involved the
government of some 5000 people with in
tricate local political interests, with
need of education in everything that
should be known by those who are brought
beneath the American flag Such
population is an interesting annex to q
coal shed and wharf, Reference to
current legislation in Congress gives no
clue to what is being done in Samoa.
In the naval appropriation bill Tutuila
appears in but two items, public works
under the Bureau of Yards and Docks:
for lumber shed $780, for boathouse
$500. A thousand dollars is very
modest draft upon the national treasury
for possession having population Of
5000, but it is to be remembered that
Tutuila now is going concern and needs
perhaps less than when it first became
possession.
Yet we are not without information
from official sources. In connection
with it's administration of its coal pile
and the population thereto annexed
the navy publishes monthly sheet, in
about equal parts newspaper and Gov
eminent Gazette. 1t has the name
% lie Fd'atonu, which signifies literally
"the setter straight, possibly best to
be translated as the Corrector. Fore
most among the items which the Cor
rector supplies is the exact status of that
to which reference has been made as a
possession. A second line of the title
head contains the information 90 lie
Kolone o Unate Setete, Tutuila ma
Manu'a." For home consumption this
possession is labeled naval Station,
Samoa" But in Samoa, among the
population which surrounds the navy's
coal. pile, fffm the seat of government
ats tho Little town ofsFaea,Ng6 Sn ,tnst