New-York tribune., 1880-01-08
TURKISH RULE IN SYRIA.
THE Dream OF POLITICAL REFORM.


FOR JUDGES, GuVERNORs AND POLICEMEN
CONTEMPT FOR ENGLAND.
[FroN Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
JAIFA, Dee. 5.-Deslring to send an important
Dispatch | went in person to the 1elegrapnc
Bureau. which has been removed to the Government
House. While waiting foI the operator my atteh-
tion was attracted to the prisoners, who are con-
fined IN Il courtyard, which Is overlooked by the
upper rooms occupied by the Iclegraphic Bureau.
As ! gazed upon the miserable wretche'. one oi
them with a fragment Of coarse sacking covering
his nakedness and barely serving to hide bis
cmaciated body, held up both hands implor-
ingly, and made signs that he was hungry
went below to the entrance, and asked
the guard if he could admit me. lie
replied: "You must ask the chief OF
the guard" Mounting the narrow and hfhy
steps TO the room of the chief. l made my request
saving that no objection had been made TO my see
ing the prisons in Cairo. After little hesitation
and. asking whether | was a resident of Jaffa. he
remarked that the prisoners might ill-treat me- DuI
if | chose he would send policeman 10 show me
their ouarteIs thanked him for his courtesy ana
followed the policeman.
The prison Is merely q large paved court open 10
the skv and opening into il on all four sides are
vaulte2 rooms On the floors of these rooms are a
few dirty mats and on them. sQuatiing or lying
were grouped some of the prisoners. and nunoei
were akng about the court There were seventy
five in al-arrested upon charges of murder theit'
assault and debt. All were in one common deh'
No bed-clothiDg is provided them; all sleep III
their clothes, which are not changed during 'he
time spent in confinement. No food Is gwen 'hoH
by the authorities. They depend upon their reIa-
tivcs or friends or the charity OF those VINO ply
their condition The stencil of the court was awful.
e rer. .asla
whose business called them daily to this
"pesi-house," sufficiently attested its evl
sanitary condition. After sending my tee-
gram. asked the operator: Have the reforms
begun at Jafla2 The Constantnople papers say
orders have been given to execute them through
Out SYRIA" With cynical smile and an ORIENTAL
sllug of the shoulders, he replied, Not yet ana
looked as if he ultied my simplicity
On my wav home Imet Bechard Izrer who enter
tainej SIR Austen Layard, September II, when
lie visited Jafa. mentioned my visit to the PRISON
and asked him if he saw the truit of reforms
I'VE shall Sec" was his polite answer, and added
"If the Turks would only allow me to employ the
prisoners and conycts or if the state gave them reg
ular work for its benefit, instead OF detainlng them
IN ldeness, that, at least would he one reform
When Sir Austen LayaTd was my guest mentioned
many things TO him, and he was much Interested
lie took notes of the number OF orange ana TWt
orchards at .Jafa. the extent OF commerce, amount
of revenues and taxation, etc told His EXceliencN'
Also. of mountain of btumen on the shores of the
Dead Sea; how the Arabs steal fragments and
bring them TO the merchants here. who send all they
can ret TO Trieste where it is sold for several raS
the weight of 200 okcs. That mountain IS
worth a million pounds, and yet the Turks
won't allow it, expectation. There are many ways
Of increasing commerce, but what can bc done with
such Government? wish TO ask you something
about America. You have no doubt. heard of the
enormous quantity of wheat and four hich France
and England are importing from TINT country, also
sheep and cattle. without which they would have
suffered tins year. Well, il this business pro,prr
Palestine VIII be a ruined land - iar as ihe export
OF grain is concerned. Pray tell .nr ho" lal.c D.
America from north to S 'uth. an- east 20 Nr.i
IexDlaiued that the journey iiom N.W-l orh to
CqhToruip occupied about seven days bY railway.
and If made on horseback would rotulrc as mar
months. lie was startled, aud eAcidlhci' Al IS III
decd an immense country !. ana "a" s.chcu luI some
moments quite overwhelmed 70 the Thought 10 cl-
courage hlm l said: Though America already sends
petroleum TO Syria, aud may eventually supply corn
Iou must be aware that cNflah WOOL is Doug ll
LARGELY for American carpct-NcaVef>. ana no c"hpi
there are Of ler products Of this iaua which Wouid
find "a market, and tAu, FAR cXchaMfc couIa pc
made" "Irue. tmc! II can bee d0'c. he replied.
Ncc,iug an acquaintance IN the market i-p.arc.
who is a native of the couutIy. alluded L. HA
visit TO the prisoners IN tAe Hnd ana observing
several policemen near us IN ucN - l' uHli'I.i'N'
asked what they were paid. lie did not know, but
called one 10 bun who replied a3 loiloN' 20 ihc
QGesiioro about pay: " 1y salary is -clthN-hlt
piastres S3 - per month, Out have n"' oeen P"il
+. lh,s the case with all the police force'"
Yesp
"Wno gave YOU these clothes 2"
4 The Government"
At thiS moment Al Efcndi addressed ny friend.
and. after an ntroducion, was good tn2ueL ig Z y,
me the following nioImaton: mere W'rr, hc
sqId four members in the McJlis bou1 ia Court ami
be Cadl az pres ideut, but by recent zerl order
the members have been reduced 10 Two ana ihc
CadI-opc Christian and the others Moslcn. ILc
members are each paid 40 piasires lN0', ana TIE
! Cadi receives Si3 a month"; In the MtoliS ~
Teara Commercial COurI. there are now four iucn-
! bcis instead Of -lX, ana me LEES Iics'uehle No
| members only are paid SO. The Governor 81 } am
! receives f1OS month. 10 my question: 10 th''
actually get the pay now. : the fHeu"i ans" ct'
/ Ye,: Tie members of the courjs manage 70 by
writing off their house aud land taxes against the
salary. hut the Governor Is pald out ol i'c1i !e-
| On the Jerusalem road We were Joined by another
! TH-Ddl gong from town to bis country honse,
! where be has an orange orchard. Decmug tbs a
! favorable OpportuuIt TO Obtain an ihS,sht INTO
| their political views, they were D0th Ma4oMei-
/ ansl. / SAID: Eve hear the Sultan has proclaimed
| new laws for reform. What Is lie result al Jana!
" All the upright members of the courts have been
! dismissed and ignorant and unworthy persons
selected IN their stead replied the Iast-comer ana
elder Enendi, and as TO reforms we shall see what
lis not England the friend of Turkey. and ready
! to assist her" / rci0ned.
| Yes" the other Eaendi answered; England Is
our friend, and was the first to take our land,
| meaning Cyprus. $50 n
| sbonld have been seen by Earl Beaconsicd
The Effcnd added: "Yes; and England wants 4
road to Bagdad to keep off the Russians from the
! way 10 India It's Russia and not Turkey that
| EnS,and is making a stir about. and we hear that
| Russia is allied with China" Such u the fecline
fiat las been awakened here by recent events, fol
| these Efends are representative men, and they
TOO regard the talk Of reforms" as farce, played
| for political ends.