Vi 
GOVERNMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE INTERIOR 
For administrative purposes the hinterland of Liberia has been divided by the 
government of Monrovia into five districts, placed in charge of an Americo- 
Liberian known as a Commissioner-General, responsible to the Minister of the 
Interior, and appointed by the President. Under the Commissioner-General, a 
Liberian District Commissioner administers each interior district. There are 
also several Assistant Commissioners and Station Agents under his direction. 
At present there are said to be seventeen Liberian District Commissioners. 
According to the Liberian regulations, ‘‘it shall be the duty of the District Com- 
missioners to protect the Chiefs of the tribes and their people from any exploita- 
tion or infringement of their rights by traders, travellers, or any other strangers 
in the interior, and to assist and protect the Chiefs and their people in marketing 
their products and making their purchases, seeing that they get fair prices in 
both buying and selling.”’ It is expected that the District Commissioner will 
respect the Chief and head men, and that they on their part will act as far as 
possible in harmony with the Commissioner. If, however, any Chief fails to 
respect the Commissioner, he is liable to punishment. “The District Commis- 
sioners shall encourage the people to commence farming and to see to it that no 
public or private work interferes with farm operations. No officer or soldier of 
the frontier force or court messenger shall menace or impede any native who may 
wish to make a complaint to the Secretary of the Interior, or take any woman to 
any barracks or station without first paying the proper dowry.” This catalogue 
of prohibitions suggests that these practices were current. The frontier force 
stationed in the district is under the control of the District Commissioner, and 
cannot engage in expeditions except under his orders. Furthermore, according 
to the Liberian regulations, “the Paramount Chiefs who are elected by the 
natives concerned without any interference from the Government’? and com- 
missioned by the President, are responsible for maintaining peace, undertaking 
public work, and collecting taxes. 
Each district has three courts, — the court of Chiefs, the court of Paramount 
Chiefs, and the court of the District Commissioner. The first court adjusts only 
minor disputes within the town, and appeals from it may be taken to the court 
of the Paramount Chief. The latter court tries cases of non-performance of 
government obligations or all ‘“woman palaver’’ cases ( as to who owns a woman 
or wife, etc.) and cases of witchcraft. It also has authority over cases between 
residents of different towns under the Paramount Chief, but not over serious 
criminal cases. Appeals may be taken from this court to the District Commis- 
sioner who has authority to impose fines not exceeding one hundred dollars and 
imprisonment not exceeding one year. It is said that few hinterland cases ever 
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