The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-21
RAFFEL AND HIS
SOURCE OF POWER
Something About the Man Who Rep
resents Germany in Samoa,
BY VIRTUE OF THE BERLIN ACT
Everything in the Island Is Constituted
by that Document Except the
Three Consuls and the Rebels.
Position OF the King.

The New York sun has the following
interesting account Of conditions 10 ga
mOa. which is just now the centre ol
interest.
once uDon n time there was IN Wash
ington r. most minor official VINO as
fcribcd himself as "a bigger man toah
Old Grant" Making the necessary ALLOW
anccs for the tropical and mOE1ichical
surroundings. that phrase describes the
position OF the President CT the Munlc-
paluy OF Ap.a. the present holder 81
which Office. Dr. Rahel, IS asserting Ger
manys power in Samoa. The King lived
I'm "a three-ro0med cottage which tho
United States gave him. The President
lives iu ID handsome house. When the
President orders tin Of biscuits tho
traders are glad TO charge It, end present
the account at the end OF the quarter.
There is law Of the Kingdom that no
store may extend credit TO the King eH-
cept on an order countelsigned ny 'he
President or the Collector OF customs
The Kings wages are $3.50 d month.
The Presidents salary OF 5000 a wear IS
a fixed charge upon the government as
sets, and must be pad before the pittance
IS set aside for royalty.
The President exists by virtue Of me
Berlin act. In fact. everything IN Samoa
is constituted by that document with the
exception Of the three consuls and me
rebels. Three Presidents. all Germans.
have held office. The courtly Premier
SeuGt Won Pilsach. tine bumptous Schmidt
and tho learned and scholarly Dr. jtaiel
have consistently made the samoan hiag
and the Samoan Government feel the
force Of Gcrmanys hand. The Berlin act
does not provide for any such thing IS
that 10 is expressly designed 10 sccurs
the autonomy OF Samoa. but lu practice
there is far less concern as 10 what tne
treaty provides than as 20 what IL can
be made 20 mean. I'm general. it hae
been easy TO warp the treaty by local IN
corporations, because Great Britain has
not cared much for Samoa and the tniiec
states less Ever since Samoa has FOUND
a place in history there has always been
some one there 10 remind SamOans Ok
the might OF Germany. II began with
Theodore Weber. that truly wonderful
organizer. who not only created mo
nopoly OF the South Sea Island trade FOR
the Firma Godehroy. but also found time
Pro- create an empire which has always
fuss eiuded the German grasp. the mar
who is really responsible for the Ger
man colonial policy. lie and his successors
many The treaty changed am that on
The face OF &c. Nevertheless. German IN
auence is maintained al top notch. That
s The real duty OF the President. His
hrI. bearing always heavy on the native
government. must teach the unvarying
lesson that Germany means power.
THE BERLIN ACT
The Berlin act which constituted the
presidency has defined also the duties OF
The President As there IS a double sys-
ZEN of administration IN Samoa-one for
The white residents and another for tho
native pOpuiatiOn-so is there a division
ia the presidential duties Upon the
white residents OF Apia he bears as pre-
siding officer Of the Municipal Council
elected by the white people % an ma
tonalities who have qualified by resi-
dence of six months ia the municipality.
He is In effect sort of mayor. The
municipality has been geyrymandered
into two wards in such a manner as TO
secure me election OF never fewer than
.hree German councillors out Of the six
provided by law. With the President a
German the Municipal Council has al
ways a majority of representation against
an other nati0nalities, no mean advantage
ia itself Upon the Royal Government
" the Samoans he exercises dominant
sway through being receiver and cusio-
dian OF the revenues. But the Presidents
have not rested content with what the
Jaw has given. There Is peculiarly
about the Berlin act Alongside OF ths
most positive definition OF powers and
functions il includes a parallel series or
vague and general statements which
might bear almost any meaning. It has
been within the power OF a German policy
working steadily and consistently IN Sa-
moan affairs TO place upon these vague
ana general statements a construction
ever favorable to the tightening Of the
German grasp upon the kingdom. II was
on account of the possibilities Of power
presented by the office that Germany
obtained from the other two powers the
privilege Of naming the President.
See what manner of men Germany has
nut into the presidency The hrst was
Freiherr Senmt Won Pilsach, gentleman
every inch of him. promoted from small
German civil magistracy. lie haa IN.
task of opening the routine OF presldentlai
work and OF establishing many OF ITS
,recedents. When ne had done the duty
for which he had been instructed I'm Ger
many the Samoans We're in FURY OF
discontent with the treaty There was
also Indignation among the While resi-
dents of Apia other Than the German
community Of Matafele. Public meet
lnes were held. greatly 10 the disgust
~ German oficialdom. which was lmpo-
t.nt "a oueu the storm. The public hah
some questions to ask IL wanted ~
know by what right President Senht Won
Pusach interpreted the treaty as ne Wa
doing: IL wanted TO know by VIVA. "u
thority the public funds we're sent mo-
sands OF miles away from Apla 10 "
posited in bank in Sidney. Il w@hteu -
h. assured that the funds OF the soNe'
ment were not used I'm the purcnase
the Apia newspaper, which from -s-
~ wholesome criticism had 6one -.
10 the most abject adulauon. 10 -
way out OF the mess was ausp -, pr.
many withdrew Frelherr Sennt No"
sach l.,-o1fAN
l. Schridt-Dareitz seemed 10 Pio''''.
- fo,. German. when he was "p
LEA president. IL was hopelui ~
! al,, mia Of appointing an ohcial W." ~
80, o,oerienced in samoan matters ''i
- -, PRECEDENT had been Ger Il
| t,,co-Coneul Al Apia. knew the peVp.o
"a u,as an excellent Samoan scHo''.
- ,''s,,,,ation died out. the pubic meet
/ -. ,,,s.,,d "a he held. citizens no lohse'
Iiss 80, ,uhlic house TO public mousse
/ 49,, az beach with drafts or ne"
N'0"S -, ,.bich was 20 bring peace 70
! -...., %, common. yet unspoken' con-
s hoth samoans and white people
"a tns ulrn OF the event, all dis
- 20 Give their old Acquaintance Il
| -. sbow Yet Schmidt proved imprac-
.,aanie German officials are no where
fan,ous for suavty or manner nho
schmidt had q few personal traits when
I ..H