Wilhelm's Wealth

A legislative fluke last week made it legally possible for Wilhelm of Doorn to re-enter Germany. The means by which Wilhelm's exile has been maintained is the famed "Kaiser Clause" in the Law for the Defense of the Republic, which expires July 21, making residence in Germany of the onetime ruler dependent on the will of the Reichstag. Since the bill involves a change in the German Constitution, a two-thirds majority is always necessary to renew it. Bickering between Communists and Nationalists last week brought a final vote of 268 in favor of the law to 166 against, enought to defeat it. The Reichstag is almost sure to pass the law when it reassembles a fortnight hence. At Doorn a gentleman characterized by U. S. correspondents as "the ex-Kaiser's court marshal" said that there was no likelihood that Wilhelm would take advantage of his temporary freedom.

More interesting was the statement in economist Rudolf Martin's financial compendium, just published in Berlin, that Wilhelm of Doorn is still the richest of all Germans, credited with $152,000,000 in capital holdings. This does not mean that he has much money to spend. Wilhelm Hohenzollern's wealth consists of: A million and a half acres of land (entailed) worth $120,000,000 Castles, palaces, gardens, worth 20,000,000 Furniture, jewels, works of art, worth 4,000,000 Cash settlement from the German government for confiscated property 8,000,000 $152,000,000

All this money produces an income of only $500,000 a year. The estates are entailed, they cannot be sold. The palaces and jewels produce no income. When income taxes on the cash fund and land taxes on the million acres are paid, a half-million dollars is all that is left. Most important of all this half-million belongs to the ex-Kaiser only as head of the House of Hohenzollern. There are 49 members dependent on the fund, none of whom is willing to give up his share. That leaves some $10,000 per annum for each of them, with a double helping of $20,000 for Wilhelm as administrator.