New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10
BRIBERY CASES IN CHINA
OFFICES BOUGHT FROM PALACE EU-
NUCHS.

THE NEW TAoTAI OF SHANGHAI. APPOINTED IL
LIGHTLY. NOW HUNG Up" BY THE NAN
KING vIcERoy-scANDAL OVER
LITERARY EXAMINER WHO HAD
CURIOUS "PULI."
Shanghai. May &
The corruption in Chinese public .ife is %
general that It has ceased to excite any COM
ment among those who are familiar with the work.
ings OF that bureaucratic system. so perfect IN
theory so lamentably deficient in practice II ID
generally believed by foreigners, however that the
Emperor and the highest officials ike the Vice
roy Ii Hung Chang, are not to be Included among
the class OF corrupt office holders; but recent
incident serves to show that the young Emperor
has escaped this decment that taints all parts
OF the Chinese public service. This inccent Is the
appointment Of a Taotai Of Shanghai For
months there have been rumors of a change in this
important official place. but no one knew exactly
the facts Recently THE Picking Gazette came OUT
with the notice that on January II last 'Lu Peh-
Yang is appointed Taotsl OF the Soo-Sung Tai Cir
cult" 1t may be necessary TO state that though
this Gazette appeared few days ago, 1t really
represented the official acts the Emperor and the
heads OF the different boards for January II. There
are no reporters in China eager to SEND out ap-
pontments by telegraph the day they are made.
Three four months IL the usual time consumed In
getting any official action before the public in the
pages OF the court organ.
The circuit mentioned includes Shanghai, which.
by of the large foreign settlement and the
great increase OF foreign trade, has become q
very important place. Usually such an Office u
alled from a number OF minor officials who are
designated as "expectant Taotais.' Those who
know the pull OF each candidate can determine
pretty accurately who VIII be the lucky one TO win
a coveted office But in this case all the calcula-
lions of experts were upset by the naming OF
man who not only not included among the
expecant officials, but who unknown TO any
mandarins The Gazette" throws light on the
secret Of this outsiders appointment, but dip.o-
matte gossip declares that he secured the place
by briblng one Of the Emperor's favorte eunuchs.
These men. by their constant association with the
Lonely boy who masquerades as mead Of the great
Chinese Empire acquire great influence over him.
and II Is notorious that they his influence for
corrupt ends in order TO enrich themselves before
some freak of royal disfavor may throw them out
Of the service. In this the Emperor acted IN
defiance Of al precedent. usurpng the functions OK
the Civil Office. and appointing to very respon-
slbe post q man who will probably have TO Do
transferred to another because OF his incon-
potency.
one may imagine the rage of the old Viceroy Liu
Of Marking, IN whose province Shanghai Is iocateo,
when he heard that the man he had recommended
had been turned down 10 make way for the
protege Of a palace eunuch. But Llu is d diplomat
to his fingertps He received the new Taotai with
great ceremony and suggested In MS courtiless
way that the post which required great
experience, because OF the necessity OF constant
association with foreigners. The proper thing for
the new official 70 have done TO reply that he
WAS sensible OF this and. therefore. relied on the
Viceroy aid him. and also 20 suggest an expert
enced deputy. Instead OF this polite reply, the new
Taotai answered that he was aware OF the DIM
cutles but ne fanciel he could meet and over
come them without asking any ones aid The old
Viceroy would have enjoyed ordering the upsart to
receive q hundred blows of the bamboo, but no
dared make no manifestation Of anger. He simply
dismissed the fellow with freezing pohteness'
Then he So, about a characteristic way OF punish
ing his presumption. The new Taotai cannot take
his seat ana draw hts pay until the Viceroy makes
out his official papers. known as the "Chih Cnh.
Although he reported the Viceroy In January ne
s stil waiting for tire documents that invest MIN
with authority. and the old Taotai. Nch is stu
holding the place. ready to vaca;e and assume his
new Office CT Provincial Judge Of Chekeang. tho
neighbor,ng province. The cunning Eiceroy gives
no intimatlon that anger had anything TO do with
this delay. He ascrfbes It 10 persistent Illness
ness 1T a Mas then that Shanghai would
ia Taotai In a few days. but nothing mas
ye s SGen aoh n ra na Cbnse government is the
that the new Taota represents the Antui party
ton which hate foreigners and which controls so
many high offices under thu Goyernmen ., omo,,,
posts = shown by case in the same issue of the
"Peklng Gazette" which records the appointments
ton by an imperial censor OF the charge OF secur-
ing the place OF literary special examiner by 3
precisely the same method az that or the Iaota-
ina, he bribel palace eunuch me latter
agreed 70 use his influence as well that of sew
eral Of his companions. but he stpuated tnat notes
must be given for certain amounts 70 eacn, ana
that these notes must be cashed at certain book
when the applicant TSSeed ms m bs en-
anincr had his ambition only partly graatned' as
he secured only small cXamlnershlp AT Shei;s IN
stead OF the important pos; az Szechuen, when ne
applied for. So he refused to pay the paace
ennnchs When they came with their notes TO the
book-storc they were CURLY told by the proprietor
that Ting had left no money and that ne had sad
he dd no; propose TO be ieT u rms ae
motion that the police were called IN Inc po0k..
seller fearing publicity shut up MS SHOP ana trieo
10 hurry himself until the storm should dow over,
but a censor who witnessed the affair began an IN
vcstigation thai resulted in many damaging facts'
Then he called upon the lhrohe 10 appoinI d @oi"-
mission Of inquiry. -, ,.
OF their work shows the peculiar meinods oy Wmlcn
the ear OF great personages is reached ring II was
found ustcd after the post OF specal examiner OF
Szechuen during the examinations held IN honor OF
the Empress DOwagers SIXTEEN Dirtnday ne Stw
two friends who recommended him 10 the bookseller
The latter agreed to move the machinery lie knew
p schoolmaster whose friend was tailor. ana this
taiIor was on terms OF intimacy with barber In
the palace. and the barber knew euhucn; whose
duties were 10 examine the emperor 5 Io9l oel t,
The eunuch was reached by this crcuitous chain OF
people but he failed to accomplish what he prom
men which is one OF the most lucrative in the En-
Mrs. he obtained only the post NJ Shensi. which
Hence his refusal TO pay and the resulting scandal
4 SrrNBLIyG BLOCK TO POSTN4 STEERS
From The Boston Advertiser
the important position OF chief OF the salary and