The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-16
Question Of Finance Is Greatest
Difficulty Facing New
Ruler
ny La MAnoUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

INF all the difficulties that confront
the new ruler of Albania, tho
chief Is undoubtedly that OF
finance. For the people ovor whom he
has now begun to reign are unaltcr-
ably opposed to the payment OF any
| taxes. For hundreds of years past
they have refused to submit to imposts
of any kind. and whenever the Sub
lime Porte endeavorcd to secure pay
rnent thereof. sanguinary insurrec-
tons ensGed. The only Albanians from
whom IT was possible, by means Of
costly military operations. to collect
any revenue ut all were those in the
relatively fiat portion of the country.
lSut the mountain tribes. in their in
accessible businesses. were virtually
beyond reach. anu tho Turkish gov
ernmenl finally abandoned the attempt.
and 1t must be borne In mind that the
greater part or Albania Is extremely
mountainous.
Perhaps the most powerful and nu-
fnerous group of all tho tribes is that
Iof tho Mirdites, dominating all North
| rn Albania, whose chief is Prince
Bibdoda. head Of tho ancient Albanian
house OF Gjor Markut, nm elderly man,
with wonderful past. who held the
rank of general and OF Paaha in the
turkish army A perfect giant. he
ears marked resemblance to the
7
good Will towards King William Of
albania. and promises to support him,
especially In his projects Tor the es-
Establishment OF schools, OF defenses, in
the organization of national army, Of
courts OF justice, In the construction OF
I railways, highroads. etc. But nc declares
! that II is absolutely useless ror the new
King to expect to obtain all the money
needed for this and for the payment
OF the interest on the Albanian loan,
! through direct taxation, since the Al
hanianS, he declares have no money
and cannot and will not pay any taxes
| The King, he declares. can obtain all
the money he wants by tho sale OF
mining and other industrial conccs-
sions in Albania TO foreign capitalists
In one word, the Albanians are firmly
resolved not to contribute a cent to-
wards the new order OF things, or to
the development of their country but
to rely entirely upon foreign nations
for the purpose
| Nor will they contribute the labor
even IL paid for II. For the Albanian
man is far too proud. and. II may DO
added, also too lazy TO work He has
never been accustomed to In Dor OF any
kind. He leaves that wholly to the
women, who are more or less the beasts
OF burden OF the country. SO tina; II
any foreign capitalists purchase con-
Albania they VIII have to import their
labor from abroad.
may add that the views OF Prince
Bibdoda are those of all the other
chieftains of Albania They are one
and all hrmly determined to pay no
taxes. Just in the same way that their
I tribcsmen are resolved to do no work
The court of the new King OF Al
bania Is composed as follows: H..
grand master is Captain Barcs Thiio
Won Trotha, of the Pruss;an army
The military secretary Is Captain Cas-
taldi. of the Italian army. The politi-
cal secretary Of King William is the
former Austrian Vice-Consul Buch-
In the Austrian consular service in AL
| bania. The physician of the court Is
the German DIR. Bcrghausen. OF Cologne
The private secretary is Captain Heat
on Armstrong. formerly of the Cold
stream Guards in the English army.
The ladies in waiting of the Queen
are Baronesses Won Pull and Won Alt
man. The steward Of the royal house
hold Is an Englishman of tho name OF
Clark. The accountant is former Pay
master Jarstnich. OF the Alexander
Regiment or the Prussian Guards.
Miss Wharton, an Engli shwoman. is
the govcrness of the little boy and
girl OF the royal couple and 1t H..
intended TO appoint the wives OF sew
eral of the principal Albanian chief
tains and OF the heads OF the Leading
families to the honorary Office OF dame
du palais of the Queen.
| The King abandoned his project of
bringing to Albania a bodyguard com
posed Of privatcs and noncommi ssion-
ed officers of the cavalry regiment in