Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-30
SENFTS SOFT SNAP.
He Was Adviser to the King
of Samoa.
Aspired to Be Dictator and
Was Forced to Resign.
A Memorial Sent to the Treaty Pow
ers for His Recall.
Unhappy Condition OF Affairs In the
Islands = Mataafa Proclaimed
Rebel = Natives Becoming
Hostile to Whites.
ssnciatsd Press dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches
AprA, Samoa, Oct. 15, (via San Fran
cisco), Oct. 29.-Baron SENT Won Pill
sach, president of the municipal
council and adviser to King Malietoa.
has resigned. The reason he assigns is
that certain white residents OF Samoa
have been writing letters to the king
about German currency and other mat
ters, and that the kidg wrote direct to
them in reply. Pilsach claims that no
one should either write or speak to King
Malietoa before first securing the presi-
dents permission, thereby actually
assuming the position of dictator of the
islands.
Before he resigned memorial to the
three powers had already been prepared
by the consuls of the three treaty pow
ers, and will be forwarded. The memo
rial petitions the three governments for
the recall of Baron Pisach on account
of ''inex perience and reckless behavior
in Office"
The memorial is also signed by Robert
Louis Stevenson and by nearly all the
residents of Apia, with the exception of
some Germans.
The baron intimated to the consuls
that he would hand over the funds here
and in Sydney to them, but afterward
wrote saying that in looking over the
treaty he could not see that he had the
power TO do SO, although he had drawn
$500 from them in the form of duties
collected by them before the arrival of
the president.
Two days before he resigned Baron
Won Pilsach stated that he intended to
hand over the archives OF the munich
pality and the funds to Mr.. Weber, man
ager of German trading firm, who had
been appointed president pro tenn. The
consuls, however, contended that he was
exceeding his powers, and that while he
remained in the country he could not
relegate his powers to others, as the
treaty does not make provision for case
OF that.
He afterward requested permission to
withdraw his resignation, but the king
told him it was out of his power and
must 90 to the treaty powers.
1t is contended that he is incapable of
the position, and it is further contended
that the position should not be filed at
all, and that the taxpayers should be al
lowed to elect mayor and allow him a
small salary for expenses.
The papers are full of discussions as
to the expenses Of the government, and
it was shown in one communication
that while the total revenue collected
was but $4,000, the expenditures to
October 1st, amounted to over $22 900,
| for salaries for officials under the Berlin
treaty, with many items for which no
provision has been made.
Mataafa has at last been proclaimed
rebel, and all the chiefs who are sup
porting him, have had their lands con-
tiscated, and everybody is forbidden to
assist them in any way. The American
consul has been instructed by his gov
ernment, to inform Mataafa that the
government was annoyed at the
latter's attitude, and that he should
at once break up his party at
Male. There are only about 5000 in
his party, but it is stated that fully half
the population are against the treaty
government, chiefly because of it's mac
ton.
The attitude of the natives in the Sa
moan group has changed toward the
whites in the last few months, much of
the former friendliness having died out.
This some of the prominent chiefs as
cribe to the impression which has got
abroad that the whites are responsible
for all the trouble in Samoa, and they
express the opinion that if another war
broke out, the whites in some of the
outlying stations would not be as safe as
formerly.
The chief justice is still away on his
vacation, and large number of cases
are awaiting his return, for trial, the
land commissioners having commenced
hearing claims. There are thirty-seven
hundred claims now on hand. The
commissioners are passing upon one
claim of Macarthur & Co., who had pos
session of piece of land for six years,
and have erected buildings on it.
They claimed quit-claim some years
ago from Chief Sevmavatafa, who now
disputes the claim on the ground that
! he did not know what he was signing.
If the native chiefs pursue this line Of
action, the titles acquired from other
natives will cause much more trouble
before finally adjusted.
| The United States government has
perfected its title to important and COM
manding points at Pago-Pago, and the
coaling station is regarded as one of the
strongest positions in the South Pacific.
She matter was adjusted before Consul
General Sewell left here for the United
States.