Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-26
COMMISSION USES WHITEWAsH
Congo Government hoard Finds Much
TO Commend and Little
to Criticize.


BRUSSELS, Nov. s5.--Cspecial Cablegram
20 The Bee.)-The commission charged by
the Congo government to inquire into the
atrocities which have taken place in the
Congo Free State has Just presented
long-deferred report.
1t deals with investiga tions lasting five
months, during which several hundred wit
nesses were examined. A glowing account
is given Of the results secured by the ad-
ministraton. The commissioners state that
in territories which twenty-five years ago
were plunged into a state OF barbarity.
decimated by raids of Arab traders, be-
strewn with slave markets. security reigns
at the present time, the slave trade his
disappeared, cannibalism is concealed, hu-
man sacrifices become rare, towns are
founded. railways are constructed to the
very heart OF the equatorial forest and
eighty steamers run up and down the
Congo.
Examining the question Of forced labor,
the commissioners say that native labor Is
indispensable for the development of the
country, and that, moreover the natives
having few needs, have no inclination for
work. 1t is, therefore. only by making an
obligation of labor that ii is possible to
bring the native TO give regular labor.
and the state can only compel the popula-
tion to work by making a tax on labor.
The obligation to work is one of the most
effective agents for the transformation Of
the native population, who otherwise
would continue to live in a primitive state.
1t is admitted that certain taxes are
onerous and reforms are suggested. While
the india rubber tax has not in itself any
thing onerous. it is rendered heavy by the
,N,I
Of the forest, which is sometimes very far
distant. where the india rubber trees are
found. The commission suggests that the
india rubber tax should be made collective
and that the times for the payment should
be at longer intervals
Blame is attached to the detention of
women hostages, a practice forbidden a
long time by the state. The long period
Of detention is criticized.
| Native foremen used by the trading COM
panies have abused the authority which
has been conferred on them Their assist
ants have provoked numerous sanguinary
| conflicts with the natives and the com.
| mission demands that the state which has
| already prohibited the placing in the vii.
! lagos of soldiers belonging to the public
| forces, should put an end to the system
| of sentinels which it has found to exist
replace them, as far as possible, by the
chief of the village himself, and withdraw
the permits for carrying arms.
! 1t is demanded that a law should desig
nate clearly what authorities can order
punitive operations and determine in wha
conditions such measures shall be taker
and in what form 1t should take place. /
is pointed out that notwithstanding forma
prohibition on the part of the adminstra
tion, commercial agents have sent milltar,
expeditions into the villages.
Several cases of mutilation have beer
pointed out by ths sNcommission. 1t 'ha
been found that ls9' ulutiiation of dea,
hodiea u ,iEr,ss fisfs fAt.to ctstotn. Ph
claim is made that the mutilation, such a
| is alleged to exist. was not performed b!
the whites and was not performed at tn
instigation of the whites, The stories ar
alleged to have had their origin in Incl
dents connected with the native custom
OF mutilating dead bodies and practicin
mutilation as punishment, all of tn
offenses, however, being laid to the black
by the report.