The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-07-10

very. very far less than the great adj
Vantages.
Since Mr.. Dharmapala's structures re-
fer principally to the amunt Of taxation
taken by government and to the ar
engagements for the present famine, l
will give some facts on these two
points.
The East India company, and later
the British crown, necessarily took In
Ola, province by province, with its in
digenous system of taxation. 1t would
not have been wise or right to substi-
stute an entirely different system for
securing revenue. In the United States
we get most of the revenue indirectly,
and therefore people do not feel 1t. The
substitution OF an entirely different
system would make great trouble. In
India for ages most of the government
revenue has been secured by a direct
tax on the land. In large parts Of the
country the government share was
called the chauth, |. e., the quarter. So
twenty-five per cent. of the crop regu-
larly Went as the proper share of the
imperial government. Besides this
there were various payments to pretty
| chiefs, to the town, etc, and in some
parts of the country the imperial share
was more than quarter of the crops.
A Lessening Tax Demand.
When the British rule displaced the
Indian no one questioned that the
rulers had such ownership Of the soil as
to secure from those who titled it the
usual share. Gradually the govern
ment has replaced a given portion Of
the crop, to be paid in kind, by a fixed
ayS ", oh u,lio te,
satisfactory system. But the per cent.
Of the crop is now very much less than
twenty-five. l believe 1t Is said to be
only seven per cent. on an average
And in 1895 the average amount taken
in taxation for all purposes from every
one in India was a shilling and half,
l. e., about thirty-six cents. This Is a
considerable sum for poor people, but
believe it is less than any Indian gov
eminent would take for anything like
what the British government gives in
return.
Now, in reference to the management
Of the present famine. I do not believe
there is a government anywhere which
would so wisely and resolutely grapple
with the difficulty as the present gov
eminent of India is doing. When Rev.
DR.. J. H. Barrows of Chicago was re-
Gently in India showed him the official
famine relief code, and told him I
thought it might properly be called
"the Bible according to the government
of India in the year 1896" ! will men
ton its principal contents and quote
little from 1t, and leave you TO judge
from this.
Contents Of the Relief Code.
1t is large folio, with very full in
dex of twenty-four pages, sixty pages
of directions and thirteen pages of ap-
pendixes, giving forms, etc. Part I, is
entitled Previous to Famine" 1t
states the duties of officials in ordinary
times. with a view to being prepared
for famine whenever it may come.
Chapter I, section II, says:
When the market prices of the staple
food grain or grains show a rise of
twenty per cent above the normal
prices the collector shall submit to the
commissioner Of the division for the in
formation of government, an immedi-
ate explanation of the rise in prices,
with a brief report as to It's effect on
the condition of the people.
Section II. Immediately pro-
gramme of relief works shall be pre-
appendix /.
In chapter II. rules are given for the
prompt dispatch of information and for
strengthening the staff in all necessary
departments. Part 2 IS entitled Dur
ing Famine" The duties of all depart
ments, revenue, engineer, medical, po-
lice, railway, etc, with details as to
subordination, are carefully stated
There Is arrangement for the most
careful inspection of the district, of cit
les and villages, and even of out of the
way places.
Chapter w, section So, says:
The village officers must never be alb
sent without leave. They shall, as far
as practicable, daily visit every house
in the village to inquire into fresh cases
of sickness or restitution They shall
seek out distressed wanderers within
the village boundaries, and such wan
derers shall, If able to CO. be provided
with ticket Of admission to the near
est poorhouse; or, if unable to go, they
, shall be placed temporarily on the dole
register.
I Subjects for Free Relief.
In chapter V. 1t is stated who are
} eligible for gratutous relief, viz: QD
the aSeQ ana lI1ifIl, w llle Dilllu, emp
pied and insane; (3) young children
, whose relatives will not or cannot sup
| port them, and the like; az those whose
attendance on incapable adults or
young children, in their own homes, is
absolutely necessary.
Chapter vi. first describes different
! kinds of relief works:
Section 60. All persons, whether
British subjects or not, applying for
/ employment or drafted on to the works
shall be received.
Section Il. Children under seven
years Of age will not, under any cir
cumstances, be permitted to work
Rules for their relief are prescribed in
chapter 9.
Section ~. Children of both sexes
from seven up to twelve years of age
. may be classed as working children
and they may receive the higher chill
dren's wages or rations fixed by section
106 below.
Section "a Nursing mothers, If not
3 required to work, may receive the al
. lowances for adult males of class A
(tha highest CLASH