Evening star., 1901-08-31
Hollands Rich Colony and How 1t
is Governed.
THE DUTCH And THE NATIVES
Civil Service Methods the Finest
in the World.
A ROSPEROUS PEOPLE E
Copyright. 1901. by Frank C. Carpenter)

Copyright 1901 by Frank G. Carpenter.)
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
BUITENZORG, Java.
I spent an hour here this morning with
Gen. w RooseboOm, the ruler of the Dutch
East Indies. He has been soldier of high
distinction in the Dutch army, and 1t is
only a wear or so ago that he was sent
here to be governor general of the vast
possessions which Holland owns in this
part of the world. The words governor
general give but a small idea the
extent of his power He is in reality
a king. and he has more power over
his subjects than any ruler of Europe. He
rules more than "a 100000 people, scattered
over d territory more than three times as
great as Germany or France and greater
than any country in Europe except Russia.
He has thousands of officials under him;
his standing army is more than half as
large as our own, and he has for years been
carrying on a war with some of the tribes
of Sumatra as serious as our war with the
Filfpinos.
Chat With the Governor General.
The governor general lives in great state
here in Java. He is allowed 100000 year
for entertaining and his annual salary is
larger than that of our President. His
palace is as big as the White House, and
it is situated in great park. a part Of
which contain the botanical gardens, said
to he by far the finest in the whole world.
1t was in the palace that met his excel
lency. The audience was held in the morn
ing, but notwithstanding this | had to go
in full dress and in as much state as
though to visit king. | was met at the
palace door by soldiers and officials in uni
form. and his eXCellenCy's secretaries pass
ed me from one to another until ] was at
l1,-+ 10 Iylfn 10 4
governor.
His excellency addressed me in English
and we chatted together for some time
about the Dutch colonial empire and how
matters are handled in Java. The question
of the Philippines came up and he inti-
mated that had a big job on our hands,
but suggested that we might learn some
thing from Hollands experience in hand
ling the people. He approved of the Dutch
methods of treating the natives. and he
says il is the only one by which they can
be made cOntented and happy. Upon leav-
ing he gave me notes to some of his Off
cials. and since then has had forwarded me
a general letter to the resident governors
of the various provinces. the officers of the
military and others in all parts of the is
lands. directing them to aid me in my in
vesugatiCns in every possible way.
The Civil Service of Java.
The civil service of the Dutch East Indies
Is the most remarkable of the world. There
IS no colony where the officials are so we'll
educated and of such high standing in
every respect. The system is based upon
the native government, the native mobiles
and chiefs ruling the people by their own
laws with the Dutch advisers behind
them. The native rulers are merely the
tools III the hands of the Dutch: they are
the strings which the latter pull to influ-
ence the people. In Java there are twenty
two provinces or residences. Each of these
has its native governor, assisted by q
Dutch resident. who is known as his elder
brother. The elder brother lives in fine
state. He has a magnificent house and a
fund for entertaining, and his salary is
$1,000 year. The native chief is also paid
a salary and an allowance Under these
residents there are assistant residents con-
troleurs and clerks. all of whom have their
native SUbOrdinates or younger brothers.
The native rulers are of the nobility and
the officials all come from the best fam
lilies. The common people, therefore, feel