New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-22
TOPICS IN TURKEY.
CIVIL EFORMS-ARMENIAN DISQU1ET-
SOCIAL INCIDENTS.

week 8 time FROM that date 1uH-neuged plan lor
reforming the internal administration of the En-
pre- was elaborated by the Ministry. This plan
has ever since been undergoing microscopic exam
ination at the Palace. Several large councils OF
eminent Moslem gentlemen have been called to ex-
anime the matter. Now the learned Doctors OF
Divinity have pronounced upon the thing as being
entirely in harmony with the duties imposed upon
man by the Koran.
All these preliminary steps having been gone
through. the public waits with breathless interest
the formal PRONUNCIATION of the new Iegulations
The actual points to be included In the reforms
seem so Insignificant as to be hardly worth all TINS
discussion. Governors of provinces are TO Dc al
lowed discretion for deciding matters Oh local al
ministraton the police Is to be set on the track OF
the brigands; the courts are to become pure ana
independent of control These are the results aimed
at. Reform that will let the Governor of prov
ince decide whether man may build mill instead
of referring the matter to the Grand Vizier that
will put the travelling public, instead of the brig
ands under the protection of the police; that VIII
place suits at law beyond the influence of money or
of rank will 90 far to commence the ameioration
of the condition of the people. But the very fact
that so much Is made Of the preparation to attempt
these little reforms takes away from enthusiasm
over the fact that minds exist In Turkey capable Oh
devising Item. 1t is even suggested that the au-
thorties will have to send up acquisitions as dlfl-
cult to fill as General Gillmores request for men
eighteen feet long to plant his batteries in tue
Charleston swanps Men honest enough 10 carry
ont any reform are not readily to be found among
the Turks now in Office But the Russians are
looking hungrily into Armenia and the possibility
that they may reform its administration, II the
Turks do not, is potent force. Perhaps some
thing may be done.
Turkey does make some progress, in spite OF all
grumbling to the contrary. During five years the
Government has very much improve It's hnancial
position Its revenues are more honestly collected
and more strictly accounted for in at least some
departments Changes in the more important oil
the provincial administrations are less frequent
than ten years ago. Ot1cials thus have more time
20 become ACQUAINTED with the details of Office
routine Public works are beng pushed very con-
sideraby. In Asia Minor number OF carriage
roads have been added to the thin list of SUCH fscl
tiles The Government has bound itself TO connect
within couple of years time. its railroad system
with the Austrian railroads, 30 as to admit OF
lightning express from Constantinople to Paris.
All these matters are clear gain, with which may
also be reckoned the slaughter of certain number
of brgands who have too hardly tried the patience
of the provincial authorities
Yet the people still groan under burden OF in
creasing poverty. Trade does not revive. In
creased vigilance in finance means further grinding
down of the peasants the interior, and too often
involves absurd hindrances to lawful trade. Some
of the peasants have shown desire to emigrate 10
America But this device has been checked by the
local authorities who have refused to allow a man
to stir unless he give bonds for the payment OF
all the taxes which may be expected to fall on
him in the future for he cannot escape taxation by
emigration
The roads built in Asia Minor are built by forced
abor. Every man has to work certain length OF
time on the roads of his neignborhood. This seems
reasonable enough as regulation. AS interpreted
by the authorities. however, il SEXES men within
fifty or in some cases. seventyhve miles OF gwen
road and forces them to work for such time as may
seem desirable. OF course the wretches thus i'm
pressed have to furnish their transportation to
the scens of their labors anc their own food. The
three days' road duty thus involves loss of some
two weeks time, and amount of physical hard
ship which no Saxon would submit to for moment.
The worst of it is that through the Incompetence
of the overseers the labor often goes for nothing
These men stake out the road, have the stona
brought and broken. and smooth over the surface
In laudable manner. But II there is ditch 10 DC
crossed they leave it for future effort III they
beach marshy region they skip IL and begin again
on the other side. Or if they strike mountain
slope they build the road square up to Its foot and
commend the traveller to Providence for the means
of getting over the mountain top. Then they pro-
claim the road to be finished and leave it to its fate
few rains cut it all up, the caravans avoid 1t as
snare and a delusiop, and in due time complaint
reaches the Governor to the state of the road.
That functionary proceeds to the spot calls Imrre-
cations on tie heads OF the who did such work,
and summons the unhappy populace to new efforts
IN the line o. road-making. I lie roads which are
m ade under competent superintendence are Begin
ming to be blessing TO the people. But many are
the bittor experiences that the people have had to
endure before gaining so much Of Improvement
Tho brieands have attracted unusual attention
OF late through increased boldness In the Smyrna
district the Zeibeks made raid few weeks ago
and carried Oft dozen or two of local magnates
Mt one swoop. The victims were hold for ransom.
The Sultan instantly removed the Governor nj
Smyrna, aud sent q commissioner to the spot with
orders TO exterminate the robbers. But this COM
missioner no sooner arrived at Smyrna than he was
beset by the wives and relatives of the people
whom the Zeibeks had captured, and was forced TO
DELAY operations at their entreatv until. the nego-
tiations for ransom being concluded. the prisoners
had been released. BY that time most of the lei
beks had carefully selected less dangerous regions
for their abode.
The Government is anxious as to the future OF
Armenia Russia is evidently planning serious mis-
chief in that direction. The occupation of Ere
roum and the Armenian highlands isprc badly only
question of time. Meanwhile the authorities here
are doing much to facilitate any future action Of
Russia by wounding the Armenian national sense
in every possible way. 1t getting to bs danger
GUS for man TO speak of Armenia School text
books that allude to such geographical subdi-
vision suppressed and no study OF Armenian his
tory is allowed on any pretence. In Armenia itself
every book Is regarded as q danger to the State,
and the owner of one Ms nearly AS bad as con-
victed traitor.