Show SAMPAN SAMOAN TREATY AT length the treat treaty y agreed upon by the berlin conference in regard to samoa has been made public the following dispatch dated new york january 18 is contained in the special service of the standard and gives its main points many alleged synopses of the samoan treaty have been published but today for the first time the true treaty is made public the herald prints it in extensor ex tenso and following is a full outline of its provisions in article one it is declared that the islands of samoa are neutral territory in which the citizens and subjects of the three signatory powers have an equal right of residence trade and personal protection 1 I he three powers recognize the dence of the samoan government and the free right ot the natives to elect their king or chief and to choose their own form of government according to their thel own rown laws and custom neither of the powers shall exercise a separate control over the islands or the government itself it is further declared with a view to the prompt restoration of peace and good order in these islands and in view of the difficulties which would surround an election in the present disordered condition of their government that malietha Malie toa who was formerly made and deo declared lared king on the day of july 1881 and was so lecog L nihed by the three powers shall again be so s recognized hereafter in the exercise of such authority unless the three powers shall by common accord otherwise declare and his successors shall be duty duly elected according to the laws and customs of sam oa article 2 provides that this act shall super supersede supercede cede all now existing treaties between the powers and samoa but that samoa shall give consent to all provisions pro visions before going into effect artile arti ie three provides for the establishment of a supreme court in samoa consisting of one judge who shall be appointed by the three signatory powers in common ac cordor these failing he is to be maimed by the king of norway and sweden his decisions shall be final and his bis salary shall be a year payable the first year by the three powers lo in equal proportion and afterwards by the samoan government he is made removable at the request of the three treaty powers on his jurisdiction the treat treaty says the supreme court shall have jurisdiction of all questions arising under the provisions of this general act the court shall also have appellate jurisdiction over all municipal magistrates and officers provision is made for the appointment of all assistants the question of the right to the throne shall be settled by the chief justice but he shall have no power to settle disputes dispute between the treaty powers any such differences not being considered a cause for war the chief justice shall have the right to suggest the passage of laws to the cue agoan which he thinks advisable to his hia court shaft be transferred all civil suits concerning real property in samoa and all rights affecting the same civil suits between natives and foreigners and crimes committed by samoans against foreigners or foreigners against samoans where the consuls have not jurisdiction the practice and procedure of the english courts shall guide article 4 respecting titles to lands in samoa and restraining the disposition thereof by the natives provides that all future alienation of lands in the islands of samoa to citizens or subjects of any foreign country shall be prohibited subject to the following conditions town lots or nr lands may be sold or leased by the owner for a just consideration when approved in writing by the chief justice agricultural lands leased for a term not exceeding for ty years when the lease is approved in writing by the chief executive authority of samoa and by the chief justice A court of claims to settle on the validity of existing laud titles is provided for with three commissioners at a month each during the necessary term of service the court cou rt shall make provision for the complete lete registry of valid titles in aamna samoa owner owned by foreigners all lands acquired before the day of august 1879 being the date of the anglo samoan treaty shall be held as a valid prescriptive title by ten years continuous holding Art article lele 6 5 describes the municipal district of apia abia and provides for a local administration which shall consist of six members of the municipal council and a president with a vote this council shall enforce the treaty as far as necessary over A abia apia la and shall regulate port charges we the councilmen are to be property holders and elected by popular vote the president of the council shall be agreed upon by the three powers he may act under joint instructions of th the three ethree powers but shall shail receive no separate instructions from either and his bis salary shall be he shall be the receiver eiver and custodian of the revenues accruing under this act and shall render quarterly reports to the king and municipal council the chief justice shall make the proper order for the election of the local govern ment of the municipal district article 6 treats of the regulations for the levying of import dues duea and taxes the port of apia abia shall beabe be the port of entry for all dutiable goods arriving in the samoan islands it is provided that heavy dues shall be levied for revenue purposes on oil wine per gallon 1 on spirits the statistic it il dut duty y on goods in general is two per cent ad valorem valoree va lorem export duties on coffee copper or cotton is provided for the other taxes shall be a yearly capitation tax on all the pacific islanders of loo for colored not islanders also taxes on dwelling houses boats and firearms license taxes on lawyers doctors and all ciao classes oses of tradesmen and carriers varying from 60 on lawyers to 50 on b blacksmiths ack smiths 3 on locksmiths lock smiths and 1 on copper smiths the importation of ahre fire arms is hedged about in many re restriction sand their sale by foreigners to the samoans is strictly prohibited ro nib hibi ted prohibition is established by the following section no spirituous vinous or fermented liquors or intoxicating drinks whatever shall he be sold given or offered to any native samoan or south sea islander resident in samoa to betoken betaken be taken as a beverage adequate penalties including cl imprisonment for the violation of the provisions of this article shall be established by the municipal council for application within its jurisdiction and by the Samo angov government for all the islands |