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Samoans luke-warm on referendum

The special referendum which was planned in American Samoa for June 18, on the issue whether or not to have a popularly elected governor and lieutenant-governor, failed to create much interest. It marked the third time in recent years that the people of American Samoa have been asked to vote on the issue. The previous elections were both clouded by side issues.

Salanoa Aumoeualogo, President of the Senate of the Legislature of American Samoa said in a local inter view that the decision to support a proposal for a “popularly elected” governor was brought about by the recent remarks made by members of the House of Representatives’ Com mittee on Insular Affairs.

A resolution calling for the popular election of a governor and lieutenant governor was passed by both houses of the legislature.

Members of that committee stated that they would not support an ap pointed or selected governor, but would favour a popularly elected governor. The local legislature had previously seemed to be in favour of a governor selected by either the Samoan chiefs or selected by the members of the legislature.

Meanwhile, Congressman Phillip Burton, chairman of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee in the United States House of Represen tatives, has reaffirmed continued United States support if a Samoan governor is elected.

One of the fears concerning a popularly elected governor has been that he would not be able to get the large amounts of federal monies that American Samoa now receives.