The San Francisco call., 1906-12-26
COLONIAL SCANDAL
STIRS GERMANY

S1tbtuttttb
German colonial matters are receiv-
Ing much attention in the press of the
world lately. especially since the Kali
ser has seen fit to appoint a banker
to head the Colonial ONCE. but it is
not generally known in America that
II is due in large measure to the worl
OF journalist that some of the pe-
cuiiar German colonial methods were
revealed
several months ago Matthias Erzber-
ger journalist. and the youngest mem
Der OF the Reichstag. created a sensa-
tion IN the German Parliament by stat
Ing that one firm. Tippelskirch & Co
enjoyed an exclusive monopoly for ire
furnishing of uniforms and other
things needed by the soldiers in the
German colonies. To make matters
worse, he added that one of the lead
Ing Prussian ministers. Herr Won Pod
bielski, head of the Agricultural De-
partment, was partner in the con-
cern.
GETS STORM OF ABUSE
storm Of abuse was poured on
Erzberger's head. He was accused 81
being sensationalist, whose only aim
was TO foster the interests of his no.
litical party, the Centrum. Others who
dared to speak equally fearless were
also condemned. The Berliner Tage-
blatt, which printed the information
that DR.. Stuebel the head of the CO.
ilonial Office. and the late Baron Won
Richthofen, the secretary of the For
eign Office, knew of the intimate con-
nection Of the Colonial Office with the
firm Of Tippelskirch & Co. was con-
oemned TO pay g fine of 1000 marks
Recent raVal2 ffnnc
proved all the charges made by Err
berger to be true. but worse things
have been brought to light It has
been shown that some of the high off,
cials OF the Colonial Office have re-
ceived favors from Tippelskirch & Co..
One, Major Fisher, for example, who
had the complete say about colonial
supplies, admits that he accepted a
large loan from his friend Tippels-
'-irch.
RETREATS FROM MUD BATTER
An amusing feature of this trans
action was that Tippelskirch, not wish
ing Fisher 10 feel that he was under
too great obligations. made him believe
that the loan was made by Herr Won
Podbielski Fisher then wrote to the
Minister and thanked him for his kind
ness in the matter. Podbielski, how
ever, with HIS usual Independence and
that he did nothing wrong. although il
IS now known that his wife represented
him and shared in the profits of the
iTippelskirch concern.
Moved. however. by public opinion.
the Imperial Chancellor Prince Won
Buiow. had it made known through the
official newspaper the Nordd ertsche
IAlgemeine Zeitung, that Herr Won Pod
bielski had presented his resignation to
the Kaiser. Podbielski then gave out
that he had asked for his retirement
not because he felt himself guilty, but
that he was too old to be thrown with
mud.
Since then PodbfeIski was allowed to
lbask IN the royal sunshine by attend
ing the christening OF the youngest
Hohenzollern prince, and moreover was
received in special audience by
the Kaiser. PodbieIski' is said to
,have reported TO his Majesty that his
wife had retired from Tippelskirch &
Co, which news the ruler is said 70
have received with great satisfaction.
LOSES RESPECT OF GERMANS
Still. IT is believed here that after the
lmaneuvers. and after Major Fisher has
been tried. PodbieIski's resignation will
be accepted and he viii be awarded the
order Of the Black Eagle, the highest
decoration which the Kaiser can be-
l.
spite any outward honors which may
be conferred on Podbielski, he has lost
his standing IN the eyes of the critical
German public This fact is to be re-
GREETED. for Herr Won Podbie1ski served
with great distinction in the Franco
lGefman war, as head OF the imperial
postal system made an excellent ex-
,ecutfre officer, and last, but not least,
won the esteem of the Kaiser by his
excellent slkat playing. an accomplish
ment appreciated not only by the hum
biest German citizen, but by nonarchs
as well
BIG PROFITS BY DOODLE
Something useful. after all, has come
ont of Erzberger's revelations. for the
Colonial ONCE now announces that it
VIII dissolve the contract that 1t made
with Tippelskirch & Co German tax
payers will profit by this change, for
as Erzberger has shown, the firm has
made enormous profits For example,
t,4 Reichstag was told that while the
Military Department of the German
. rrnT paid but f.si a meter for cloth.
fhe Colonial once allowed Tippelskirch
:. .s5 marks per meter, or IL per cent
more.
Other German firms making bids
were turned down and told, II you
want 70 do any business with the Colo
NAL once, you must 90 IL through
e. great. indeed, has been the power
~ this firm that even military men
--ho complained OF the excessive
ote-ree were ignored by the Colonial
ra~t.uent Erzberger has also shown
,bsr not only Tippelskirch & Co.. but
a1so 4he Hamburg firm, Woermanr, has
: r,onopoly for the carrying Of freight
: .+-veer Hamburg and Swakepemund.
- trim lasting twenty-five days this
.o,cern charges 4s marks per cubic
,.eter. while the Hamburg line for
6fty days trip 70 Isingtsu' Cnlna'
s.--a,,nt As result the Woermann
s.ne makes a profit of 100000 marks
..- = ar.uallv from the Government con-
go e..,, ~ Milwaukee Sentinel
uuraTFzTNG PLACES