The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-09
CHINA IN NEED or MONEY
Something About Mr. Bpitzo, Who is Re-
ported 10 lie on His Way 20 Egeort
n Hung Chang.


New York. June rho special cofre-
hp0ndont Of the Herald. writing from
Shanghai HuyH. China n In the dlreet
straits for money, Tho diversion Of tho
steady ANA always Increasing revenues
OF the imperial maritime customs, which
IN now mOrtgnRnd 10 tho fun 10 French,
Russian. English nnd German bordhOld-
ors. from the imperial cHchequer 20 pAy
the interest on the various foreign loans,
has crippled the revenues Of Pokin. until
this imperial nnnhclrrH do not know which
way 20 turn for money
Tho government IN therefore cHatipg
about for another lonn.nnd m there IN no
hope Of raising Il from the chinese capt
taliHts or people who have no confidence
whatever IN the government. the lgtter
IN forced once more 10 turn ita eyes 20
foreign fields, with Hhanai ana Kansu
oyorrun by tho MahommedanH. .Manohuria
reduced TO poverty by the war. which
Doccsnltatod the abfogation OF all uxcs
for year when the japanese left Il;
with the rich island OF FormOAa annnex-
cd by the yictOrs and the wealthy prev
inceA OF Kwangtung and kwangBo IN
moro or less open rebellion. there has
been a most serious drop In the imperial
rcyenuc,
A. means OF Increasing the declining
revenue the emperor has lately sanction.
cd the establishment OF n regular postal
system upon the English model. all over
the empire which he has placed under
the control Of Robert Hart, the Inspector
general OF customs. This N nothing
new. but simply the revival OF very
old and much discussed scheme In China.
ana IT. adoption h said 10 DO due 20 the
recent translation Of tho British post
master generals annual report. showing
that Great Britain last year earned n net
profit OF more than b.VO0OO out OF posts
aud tecgrnphH. and the chineses In the
TSung.li Yamen fondly imnglne that
they have only 10 establish a postal Eys-
TEN under Sir Robert Hart'B manage
mcnt 20 accomplish equally profitable re-
suits. There are many circumstances,
however. which render II exceedingly Inn
probable that any pront Will be roaped.
II ~ not proposed To commence tho
work at once, ~ there are many grave
dificulticH peculiar TO Chinese conditions
Of life that must be- overcome first. ana
II viii probably be- many years before
rational postal system shall be estab-
iishcd throughout the empire Under
these circumstances Il IL not to be won
dcred At that many Chinese believe
China will have 10 make up the def-
cicncles IN her revenue In some CHER
way
A great scheme OF national banking is
expected 90 develop Ia the near future.
and the Chinese turn curiously enough
to America and England to help them.
ii Hung Chang's particular foreign
guide. philosopher and friend. a Mr. Louis
Spt1cl. who has In couple OF years
won extraordinary confidence from Ii
and other high Chinese officials. TO whom
he sold many carRocs OF guns and am
munltlon during the war. II on TO the
United States TO consult with persons
there who know China ana the details OF
the scheme and 10 open negotiations with
American and British capitalists Spit
sci II a nhrvwd business man and II back
ed by an Influential group OF Hebrew
iinancieru IN England and on the con-
tinent, and I do not think he would be
foolish enough. like several previous
American fnanciera who have almost had
the plum In their mouths. 10 let IL fall
out again BY attempting 20 blow too
hard spitEsl has hosts OF enemies In
| China, who are Jealous OF bis extraordi-
nary Influence with tho Chinese. partlcu-
lnTly with II. and he no doubt viii be
attacked from all sides as soon as Il is
known that he Is moving In any scheme
promising profits. but he has the ear OF
the Chinese. and though he denies II, Is
believed to be secretly commissioned by
IL 10 exploit America and England for
financial aid for China.