tude 1717 West of Greenwich, are hereby placed under the control of the Department of the Navy for a naval station. The Secretary of the Navy shall take such steps as may be necessary to establish the authority of the United States, and to give the islands the necessary protection." For the next fifty years naval officers, appointed by the Secretary of the Navy, served as the governors of American Samoa. Unto himself the Governor combined, in the earlier periods, final executive judicial and legislative powers. Beginning in the 1930's, judicial powers were vested in a civilian Chief Justice appointed by the Secretary of the Navy. From the beginning, the naval Governors permitted village, county, and district councils to meet as they had for ages to manage local affairs. Starting in 1905, an assembly, or fono, of chiefs from all over American Samoa was held every year. This convention, however, was presided over by the Governor himself, and the members constituted, in effect, mere advisors on social customs and problems. It was by no means a legislative body. In 1960, under American Samoa's first constitution, the legislature advanced considerably from its advisory role. The Governor's veto of bills and resolutions was no longer final. The revised Constitution, which went into effect on July 1, 1967, provided that repassage of a given measure would send it to the Department of the Interior for final decision. An impressive testimonial to the work and capability of the Samoan legislature came from Governor John M. Haydon when he first took office in 1969. He immediately introduced a joint budget review system, and asserted further that the "Legislature of American Samoa has shown itself to be dedicated to the principles of democracy and to be above personal gain in its search for what is better for all of American Samoa." Representative Julia B. Hansen, chairman of the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, has spoken in like vein: "We think government can be a showcase in Samoa because you have an exceptionally able and thoughtful legislature." In addition to the legislature, American Samoans have begun to exercise their political judgment in other ways. In 1970, they elected their first Delegate-atLarge, High Chief A. U. Fuimaono, who now unofficially represents American Samoan interests in Washington. Furthermore, political parties are taking on a viable character. Although I cannot speak for my friends and colleagues of the other party, I was privileged in 1968 to assist in the organization of the Democratic Party in American Samoa. The strength of the new-born party was demonstrated when it sent delegates to the 1965 Democratic National Convention to seek official recognition. All of these developments, Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, are evidence of the growing political sophistication of American Samoans, and of their ability to utilize rationally the machinery of the democratic process. By providing for popular choice of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, H.R. 12493 would recognize and encourage those trends. I urge swift approval of this legislation. Thank you. Mr. BURTON. We will next call Mr. Haydon and Mr. Loesch-Governor Haydon. STATEMENT OF HON. HARRISON LOESCH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ACCOMPANIED BY HON. JOHN M. HAYDON, GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA Mr. LOESCH. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Mr. BURTON. Welcome to the committee. Mr. LOESCH. I am happy to be here this morning in connection with the hearing on H.R. 11523 and H.R. 12493. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I want to present the position of the Department on those two bills, this morning relating to the election of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, Specifically, they would amend the statute of February 20, 1929, which provides generally for the governance of the territory by the United States, so as to provide for a popular election for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in 1972, with the provision that those persons selected by the voters shall thereafter be appointed by the President as Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. As you are aware, American Samoa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, for which the Secretary of the Interior has administrative responsibility. He exercises this authority through the chief executive officer, the Governor of American Samoa, who is presently appointed by the Secretary. The Governor is therefore a Federal official at the present time, with the duty of carrying out a primarily federally funded program for the benefit of the people of the territory. Just this past Monday, for example, Governor Haydon who, of course, is with me this morning, appeared before the Interior Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives to justify to its members a funding request for fiscal year 1973 of $15 million in direct appropriations and grant funds. This sum of $15 million constitutes over two-thirds of the proposed territorial budget for the fiscal year, the remainder being made up by local revenues collected in the territory, primarily by means of income tax. The Department of the Interior fully supports and is working toward a continual increase in the shouldering of the responsibilities of self-government by the people of American Samoa. We consider the popular election of the territorial Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be a necessary and desirable step in this regard, just as it was in the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands. We sincerely believe, however, that prior to the election of the Governor of American Samoa, there must be careful and extensive preparation for the financial and organizational changes which should necessarily result from the election. Furthermore, we believe any such major step requires the full involvement and support of the American Samoan public through at least their normal constitutional processes. Because the two bills before you, H.R. 11523 and H.R. 12493, make provisions only for the immediate election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor without provision for these necessary first steps, we oppose their enactment. It is worthwhile at this point to recount some aspects of recent political development in American Samoa, where democratic institutions modeled after the American system have been added to a traditional Samoan economy and policy based upon the extended family, or "matai" system, and which has changed but little over the years. The first Constitution of American Samoa was adopted in 1960, and provides for review and revision by a constitutional convention every 5 years, so that the next revision process is to begin in June of this year. The Legislature of American Samoa, known as the Fono, only last year became a full-time legislative body, and has staff support to assist it in its deliberations. It works closely with the Governor in preparation of the annual territorial budget. The Fono consists of the House tude 1717 West of Greenwich, are hereby placed under the control of the Department of the Navy for a naval station. The Secretary of the Navy shall take such steps as may be necessary to establish the authority of the United States, and to give the islands the necessary protection." For the next fifty years naval officers, appointed by the Secretary of the Navy, served as the governors of American Samoa. Unto himself the Governor combined, in the earlier periods, final executive judicial and legislative powers. Beginning in the 1930's, judicial powers were vested in a civilian Chief Justice appointed by the Secretary of the Navy. From the beginning, the naval Governors permitted village, county, and district councils to meet as they had for ages to manage local affairs. Starting in 1905, an assembly, or fono, of chiefs from all over American Samoa was held every year. This convention, however, was presided over by the Governor himself, and the members constituted, in effect, mere advisors on social customs and problems. It was by no means a legislative body. In 1960, under American Samoa's first constitution, the legislature advanced considerably from its advisory role. The Governor's veto of bills and resolutions was no longer final. The revised Constitution, which went into effect on July 1, 1967, provided that repassage of a given measure would send it to the Department of the Interior for final decision. An impressive testimonial to the work and capability of the Samoan legislature came from Governor John M. Haydon when he first took office in 1969. He immediately introduced a joint budget review system, and asserted further that the "Legislature of American Samoa has shown itself to be dedicated to the principles of democracy and to be above personal gain in its search for what is better for all of American Samoa." Representative Julia B. Hansen, chairman of the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, has spoken in like vein: "We think government can be a showcase in Samoa because you have an exceptionally able and thoughtful legislature." In addition to the legislature, American Samoans have begun to exercise their political judgment in other ways. In 1970, they elected their first Delegate-atLarge, High Chief A. U. Fuimaono, who now unofficially represents American Samoan interests in Washington. Furthermore, political parties are taking on a viable character. Although I cannot speak for my friends and colleagues of the other party, I was privileged in 1968 to assist in the organization of the Democratic Party in American Samoa. The strength of the new-born party was demonstrated when it sent delegates to the 1965 Democratic National Convention to seek official recognition. All of these developments, Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, are evidence of the growing political sophistication of American Samoans, and of their ability to utilize rationally the machinery of the democratic process. By providing for popular choice of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, H.R. 12493 would recognize and encourage those trends. I urge swift approval of this legislation. Thank you. Mr. BURTON. We will next call Mr. Haydon and Mr. Loesch-Governor Haydon. STATEMENT OF HON. HARRISON LOESCH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ACCOMPANIED BY HON. JOHN M. HAYDON, GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA Mr. LOESCH. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Mr. BURTON. Welcome to the committee. Mr. LOESCH. I am happy to be here this morning in connection with the hearing on H.R. 11523 and H.R. 12493. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I want to present the position of the Department on those two bills, this morning relating to the election of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa. Specifically, they would amend the statute of February 20, 1929, which provides generally for the governance of the territory by the United States, so as to provide for a popular election for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in 1972, with the provision that those persons selected by the voters shall thereafter be appointed by the President as Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. As you are aware, American Samoa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, for which the Secretary of the Interior has administrative responsibility. He exercises this authority through the chief executive officer, the Governor of American Samoa, who is presently appointed by the Secretary. The Governor is therefore a Federal official at the present time, with the duty of carrying out a primarily federally funded program for the benefit of the people of the territory. Just this past Monday, for example, Governor Haydon who, of course, is with me this morning, appeared before the Interior Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives to justify to its members a funding request for fiscal year 1973 of $15 million in direct appropriations and grant funds. This sum of $15 million constitutes over two-thirds of the proposed territorial budget for the fiscal year, the remainder being made up by local revenues collected in the territory, primarily by means of income tax. The Department of the Interior fully supports and is working toward a continual increase in the shouldering of the responsibilities of self-government by the people of American Samoa. We consider the popular election of the territorial Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be a necessary and desirable step in this regard, just as it was in the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands. We sincerely believe, however, that prior to the election of the Governor of American Samoa, there must be careful and extensive preparation for the financial and organizational changes which should necessarily result from the election. Furthermore, we believe any such major step requires the full involvement and support of the American Samoan public through at least their normal constitutional processes. Because the two bills before you, H.R. 11523 and H.R. 12493, make provisions only for the immediate election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor without provision for these necessary first steps, we oppose their enactment. It is worthwhile at this point to recount some aspects of recent political development in American Samoa, where democratic institutions modeled after the American system have been added to a traditional Samoan economy and policy based upon the extended family, or "matai" system, and which has changed but little over the years. The first Constitution of American Samoa was adopted in 1960, and provides for review and revision by a constitutional convention every 5 years, so that the next revision process is to begin in June of this year. The Legislature of American Samoa, known as the Fono, only last year became a full-time legislative body, and has staff support to assist it in its deliberations. It works closely with the Governor in preparation of the annual territorial budget. The Fono consists of the House of Representatives, which is popularly elected by secret ballot, and the Senate, which at this time is appointed in accordance with Samoan tradition and consists of the heads of the extended families. As Congressman Mink has stated the Future Political Status Study Commission of American Samoa submitted in February of 1970 its report to the legislature. This important study recommended first that American Samoa maintain its present political status as an unorganized territory, and then proceeded to endorse two major constitutional changes in the nature of the territorial government. With respect to the Fono, it recognized the need to popularly elect the Senate as well as the House of Representatives in order to prepare for greater selfgovernment, and also recommended that the legislature become a fulltime body. The Commission went on to recommend that the U.S. Congress grant official status to an American Samoan Delegate in Washington, a post which was established in 1971. Next, the Commission recommended the popular election of the Governor of American Samoa, but made clear the need for strong public support for such an election, as well as the need for careful preparation for this important step. The 1970 Commission report stated: The people of American Samoa must elect their own Governor. The question is not whether the people are "ready" to elect their own Governor, but whether they desire to elect their own Governor. The report goes on: Even if the idea of an elected governor is accepted immediately, the earliest it can possibly be put into effort [sic] is 1974 or 1976. If the territory continues to change at the present rate, it will be a different place by then. Samoans will be increasingly well educated and politically sophisticated. Although the Department has no firm timetable at present, the election of a Governor in 4 to 6 years appears realistic. The interim period would provide an opportunity for the people of American Samoa to organize and express their views on this matter, as well as for the study and implementation of the necessary political, organizational, and financial changes which should result from the election. Certainly, the fact of an elected Governor would require clarification of the relationship between that official and the Federal Government. This is particularly so with respect to the Department of the Interior, which now has administrative responsibility, and the U.S. Congress, which presumably will be called upon then, as now, for funding and inclusion of the territory in Federal programs and legislation. Similarly, consideration would have to be given to relationships within the territorial government itself, where a number of officials are Federal employees, with responsibilities of their own to the Interior Department. With respect to financial matters, we believe procedures should be established to insure local accountability for Federal funds under the proposed new structure. Specifically and looking at the Comptroller precedent in Guam and the Virgin Islands, consideration should be given to establishing a Federal office with financial management responsibilities in American Samoa to supplant the federally appointed Governor in this area. Refinement of accounting and oversight procedures can also help in this regard, but should logically be geared 76-478-72-2 |