File No. 882.00/567
Minister Curtis to the Secretary of State
Monrovia, August 13, 1917.
Sir: I have the honor to report for the information of Department that the special session of the Liberian Legislature which convened here on July 16, has for the most part followed the recommendations of the Chief Executive in connection with the program of administrative reform heretofore suggested to the Liberian Government by Department.
The exceptions noted to the above, are the defeat or the emasculation of bills in consonance with said recommendations touching the adjustment of the liquor traffic to the provisions of the Brussels Act, the consolidation of the Departments of War and Interior and the [Page 885] equalization of the salaries of the executive and legislative branches of the Government.
Laws have been enacted as follows:
- 1.
- Creating the office of Auditor and providing for the salary of the incumbent.
- 2.
- Consolidating all revenues, other than assigned.
- 3.
- Defining two zones in connection with the liquor traffic, one zone comprising the territory forty miles from the coast interiorward (civilized centers), in which the traffic in liquor is permissible and the other comprising the entire hinterland in which said traffic is prohibited.
- 4.
- Providing for the registration of the floating debt of the Republic.
- 5.
- Consolidating the Departments of the Interior and Education.
- 6.
- Suspending the offices of Superintendent of Montserrado County (Monrovia) and the Monthly Court (probate) of said County.
- 7.
- Regulation respecting arms and ammunition.
- 8.
- Quarantine regulations.
The views of the lawyers of the Legislature, pertinent to the liquor traffic and the applicability thereto of the provisions of the Brussels Act, which they urged successfully on the members generally, were, first, that Liberia being a signatory Power to said act, became for the purpose of the act, a European State, equally interested with the other Powers in protecting from the ill effects of alcohol, the African indigenes whose self-mastery is inadequate protection therefrom and second, that the provisions of said act, touching the African Provinces or Colonies of European States whereby in said area, the creation of certain zones are authorized in which alcohol may be manufactured and sold under proper regulations, apply to the Americo-Liberian element governing Liberia and justify the Government in enacting the zones legislation without transgressing or evading the letter or spirit of the Brussels Act.
The views of the lawyers in the Legislature with respect to the consolidation of the Departments of War and Interior, which were adopted by the Legislature generally, were that the War Department, being authorized and created by the Constitution, cannot be abolished except by Constitutional amendment and that any statute seeking to do so is void ab initio.
Perhaps the leading lawyer in the House, who I think is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said to me that as the obvious desire and intent of Department was to promote retrenchment, the consolidation of the Department of Education with that of the Interior substantially meets the ends sought by Department, to which I replied by the query, would the addition of the duties of the Interior Department (not a constitutional office) to those of Secretary of War in any way run counter to constitutional provisions?
The bill presented, designed to equalize the salaries of the members of the executive and legislative branches of the Government, provided for the reduction of the salaries of the members of the Legislature, who actively serve two months per year, from $1,000.00 per annum, to $500.00 per annum, and by the same token for the increase of the salaries of the Cabinet members who actively serve twelve months per year from $1,200.00 and $2,000.00 per annum to $3,000.00 per annum, The bill failed of passage and the Legislature adjourned, [Page 886] however, the President is determined to exert every proper influence to effect its passage and with that end in view has again called the Legislature together in special session to meet Monday, August 13, 10 a.m., at which session it is quite likely that the desires of the President will prevail.
I submit that, as an earnest of the intention of the Liberian Government to adopt the suggestions of the Department relative to designated administrative reforms, the action already taken and that portending are very significant as showing a realization on the part of the Liberian Government that performance must supersede promise in all things relating to the evolution and development of its laws, its customs and its domain.
As indicating the punctilio with which the Liberian Government is endeavoring to adopt the suggestions of Department, it might be added that Mr. Massaquoi has been removed from any participation in the affairs of the Department of the Interior and that the Liberian militia has been taken under the active supervision of the War Department and subject to the orders of Major J. H. Anderson, in consequence of which a wonderful transformation in its bearing and esprit de corps is apparent to the most casual observer.
I am convinced that an honest effort is being made by Liberia to prove worthy of the interest heretofore and now taken in her welfare y the Government of the United States.
I have [etc.]