The San Francisco call., 1898-07-29
GERMAN CRAB
 IN SAMOA Emperor William Defies Treaty Powers. CHIEF JUSTICE POWERLESS. AMERICAN AND ENGLISH CON- SULS UNITE IN PROTEST. President of the Municipal Council Detains Royal Letter-Ger-
 man Officials Encourage
 Native Warfare.
CHIEF JUSTICE P0WERLESS.
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH CON-
 SULS UNITE IN PROTEST.

It is not only in, the Philippines that Emperor William Is trying to play his fa- Vorfte Teutonic game of brag He is making very strong bluff in Samoa, and In consequence the friction between the representatives of the three treaty pow CTS at Apia has become excessive. Both the English and American Con- suls are up in arms against Dr. Raffel. the president of the municipal Council, who is German. Though appointed by the three treaty powers Dr. Raffel seems to consider that he represents Germany only, and uses every means available to lrritate and annoy the English and Amer fcan residents Fortunately the Chief Justice, who is an American, holds a su- perior position, so that it is out of Dr. Raffels power to do any serious harm.
 Advices from Apia, received by the Mariposa on Wednesday, indicate the latest phases of the difficulty. The Presi- dent has come violently into contact with MT. Gurr, prominent English lawyer. MT. Gurr was for many years native at- torney for the Samoans, and is one of the highest authorities on islano affairs. King Malietoa, who has great confidence in Gurr, wrote him letter on public af- 1a1rs. Gurr lent the letter to the presi- dent and to his intense surprise. that gentleman refused to return it.
 In vain the lawyer stormed and pro- tested. The German official had got the letter; he wanted it for state purposes and, rightly or wrongly, he was going to hang on to it. Then Gurr took his case to the Consuls and the representatives Of both England and America remon- strated with their German colleague. It was in vain; the president was deaf to all appeals. He even refused to yield to the authority of the Chief Justice. Conse- quently there is an open breach between these officials, and strong reports have been sent to Washington and London condemning the Germans behavior
 To further their own ends the Germans for some time past have been making every effort to undermine the authority of the Supreme Court. Judge Chambers, who is at its head. is a highly respected American lawyer and the Germans know that as long as he occupies this position their underhand work will not be allowed to pass unnouced.
 In two actions lately brought against the president that official has denied the authority of the Supreme Court, and has refused to come into court. This in the face of the Berlin treaty, which express ly gives the Chief Justice power to try matters of the kind. Judge Chambers has declared that If the president will not yield one or the other must leave the country.
 Thus there is every prospect of the live Hest kind of row breaking out in Apia. Worst of all the Germans have been try ing to stir up a native war. The rebels held a meeting recently and the majority of the chiefs were found to be in favor of peace and reunion with the Govern ment; but a small section, urged on by German agents, insisted on war. The Germans hope that native disturbance will give them a pretext for intervention and possibly for the occupation of the islands. They tried the same tactics in 1SS9 but the presence of an American fleet in Apia checked them. Evidently the Emperor thinks that America, being busy with Spain, will have no time to at tend to his little freebooting scheme.