Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-08-27
Sir Robert Hart. Who Controls the Tween
ty-Four Treaty Ports.

SIR honefL Ai1rts " no I ohtfolH ilit tNtu
ty-Four Treaty Ports
When the first Chinese loan for the
indemnify of Japan was offered it
was noticed that the loan was guaran-
teed by Hart, I. G. c." As the entire
amount was $4,000. 0G0. and S75,000000
is q very big sum for any man TO be able
% guarantee. there has been some
curiosity as to the guarantor's person
atty
"Fart. l. G. c." means Belfast
freshman known all over the earth as
the most influential man in the Orient
He is iu charge Of the Chinese customs.
with the title OF inspector general OF
customs. which he economically cuts
down 20 IL G.. c." This position he
has held since 1859 Before that year
the customs system of China was just
one bic steal Ostensibly it was under
the supervision Of a great noble, who
was supposed to turn into the Chinese
treasury the entire receipts. Like most
Chinese OfIice-hOlders. he kept three
f0urths of the receipts for himself
About 1855 there was a war between
England and China. IN which China got
the worst OF &C. In the treaty that fol-
lowed China agreed 10 pay the cost Of
England's war
The imperial customs. China's chief
source of revenue. were pledged to Sc
cure the debt A young Irishman
named Hart was England's representa-
tive and was placed in charge of the
Chinese customs bureau, charged with
seeing that an the duties collected were
turned into the Hong Kong bank. The
entire amount OF the indemnity was
collected so much quicker than either
nation had expected that Mr.. Hart was
called upon TO explain. His terse eX-
PLANTATION was: "One-third of the du-
ties collected never reach the imperial
treasury. They are the spells Of the
officials who have been in charge OF the
customs.
Somewhat naturally this answer Gre
ated gloom in the mind Of the Chinese
emperor. and just as Hart was return
ing 20 his own country he sent for him
and asked him TO take charge Of the
Chinese customs and DO for China what
he had lust been doing for England.
Harris answer was as terse as his for
mer explanation. He said: 81 will
undertake this work upon three condi-
tions. The first is that l shall have alb
solute authority of the entire system.
and the second is that no one, not even
the viceroy. shall interfere with me or
give me any orders. I must also have
the right 20 employ my own subordin,
qtps and 10 hire and discharge whoever
I please.
This was rather a large order but
the emperor OF China agreed to IL. and
Hart was placed i'm control. The very
first years work with the old stan gave
an increase Of % per cent. IN the en-
perOr's revenues. The succeeding year
almost doubled the receipts, and now.
after thirty-five years Of benevolent
despotism. the most powerful man IN
China is the little Belfast lrishman,
who is absolute lord and ruler Of TWEEN
tv-fOur treaty ports and 5000 officials.
Probably no man living knows the Chi
nese character and the Chinese ways
as well as Sir Robert Hart, /. G. c.
When the great Chinese council OF
state gets stuck. as IL frequently does.
Hart is called i'm. and il Is his pride that
he has always pulled the council out OF
these troubles
Absolute honor has been the keynote
of Harris success. An official who
would not steal and would not lie was a
man unknown in China before Hart
went there. For years after Sir Robert
entered the Chinese service the viceroy
kept tab on him, but it was soon found
that he needed no watching; his ac-
counts were correct TO penny, and
now he is absolutely trusted. Thirty
five years experience has taught the
Chinese officials that there is one man
i'm ,ae world Who Will not steal and can
neither Doe frightened nor bribed.-Chi-
cagO Chronicle.