The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-30
TROUBLE BREWING IN SAMOA.
hing Malietoa's Adviser Resigns Owing
to Popular PRESSURE.

to Popular Pressure.
APIA, Samoa, Oct ll-Baron Senft Won Pill
sach, president of the municipal council and
adviser to King Malietoa, has resigned The
reason he Resigns is that certain white residents
OF samoa have been writing letters TO the king
about German currency and other matters. and
that the king wrote direct to them in reply
flisach claimed that no one should
neither write or speak to King Male
toa before first securing the presidents
permission, thereby actually assuming the
position OF dictator of the islands Before he
resigned, memorial TO the powers had already
been prepared by the consus of the three treaty
powers, and will be forwarded. The memorial
petitions the three governments for the recall of
baron Pilsach on account of "inexperience and
reckless behavior in Office" The memorial is
also signed by Robert Louis Stevenson, and by
nearly all the residents OF Apia, with the excep-
ton of some Germans
The baron intimated 10 the consuls that he
would hand over the funds here and at Sidney
to them, but afterward wrote saying that in
looking over the treaty he could not see that he
mad the power to do so, although he had drawn
10000 from them in the form of duty collected
by them before the arrival of the president. Two
days before he had resigned, Baron Won Pilsach
stated that he intended to hand over the ar
cnlves OF the municipality and funds to Mr.
weber, the manager of German trading firm,
who had been appointed president pro tem
AllS CoHsuib, however, COltenQeQ that ne
was exceeding his power, and that while
he remained in the country he could not dele
gate his powers to others as the treaty does not
make provision for case OF this kind. He after
ward requested permission to withdraw his
resignation, but the king told him it was out OF
his power and that it must go to the powers. 1t
Is commended that he is incapable OF filling his
position, and it is further contended that the
position should not be filed at ell and that the
Taxpayers should be allowed to elect a mayor,
and allow him small salary for expenses. The
papers are full of discussion as to the expenses
of the government, and it was shown in one
communication that while the total revenue col
lected was but 200o0, the expenditure TO October
1amounted TO over $50 900 for salaries for officials,
under the Berlin treaty, with many items for
which no provision has been made.
Mataafa has at last been proclaimed a rebel,
and all the chiefs who are supporting him have
had their lands confiscated, and everybody is
forbidden to assist them in any way.
The American consul has been instructed by
his government to inform Mataafa that the gov
eminent was annoyed at the latter's attitude,
and that he should at once break up the party
at Male. There are only about 8 0 in the party,
but 1t is stated that fully half of the population
are against the Mulinuu government, chiefly
because OF its inaction. The attitude of
the natives in the Samoan group has
changed toward the whites in the
last few months, much of the former frendi-
ness having died out. This some of the promi-
nent chiefs ascribe to the impression which has
got abroad that the whites were responsible for
all the trouble in Samoa, aud they express the
opinion that if another war broke out the whites
in some OF the outlying stations would not be
as safe formerly.
The chief justice is still away on his vacation
and large number OF cases awaiting his
return for trial
The land commissioners have commenced the
hearing of claims. There are 300 claims now
on hand. The commissioners are passing upon
one claim of Macarthur & Co, who have had
possession of piece of land for six years.
and have erected buildings on il. They claimed
a quit-claim some years ago from Chief SEN
maustafa, who now disputes the claim on the
ground that he did not know what he was sign
ing If the native chiefs pursue this line OF sc-
ton the titles acquired from other natives will
cause much more trouble before finally adj
iusted
The United States government has perfected
its title 10 important and commanding points at
Pago-Pago. and this coaling station is regarded
one OF the strongest positions in the south
Pacific. The matter was adjusted before Con-
sui General Scwel lett here for the United
states.