The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-30
A Decree Deprives Him Of His Salary
and Official Servants.
A COMPLETE CHANGE OF HEART
The Reactionary Influences Have
Been Upset and the Punishment Oh
Those Responsible for Out
break Now Seems Assured.
Negotiations Can Not
br Long Delayed.
Dr Associated Prcss.3

WASHINGTON, September 29--lnipor-
tant news came from China at the end
of the day, which in itself tends TO ad-
vance materially the efforts for naai
settlement. China has accepted the sus
gestioias OF the United States coii1aitiSu col
in the answer to the German ptopostt'ott
and has begun voluntarily the puii7iiniSiAe
of the reactionary Chinese !eaustS' WIZ
were Responsible for the Peltin oui1a2es'
The Department of State Tas INFORMED
,,v Cousul-Gcneral Goodnow, at Shahshal,
that Sherg. Chinese director OF railways
and telegrai,lls has handed him a decree
Of the Emperor and Empress, Gated q
Taicnan. September 9th, blaming thelr
ministers for encouraging the Boxers. 1tle
etiict orders the degradation OF four princes
and deprives Prince Iuan OF MS saiai
and Official servants. He is TO he pFouShl
Tor trial before the Imperial Clan Court
1t will be recalled that in our answer
the State Department was careful to
state that while ii did not believe III de-
handing the surrender of the Chinese
ringleaders as condition precedent 10
negotiations, 1t was resolved firmly, as
Secretary Hay had said in his note OF
July 3d. that in the end the guilty parties
should be held 10 the utternost accounts
bflity The Chinese Government has taken
fastened in its action by the resent mani
festations OF dissatisfaction by the United
States Government at the rep6Ied promo
1ion OF Prince Tuan, already has begun
the punishment of him and the other
Chinese leaders who are held guilty.
CHANGE OF HEART.
The decree reci:szi by Sheng is felt TO be
of the utI,iaSt Importance as indica ting
ce1alplete change of heart on the part OF
IL,
rcac:ioaa1y influenees which have been
dominating in Pelsin throug9aout the up
rising ana have even continued of late
IA vs. have suffered a complete nvertilrcW,
and that their most conspicuous figures
are degraded and on trial. It is believed
here that if this action is genuine, it will
be hard Tor any of the Powers to find a
reasonable llcetext longer To refusing
10 heed the appeals of the Chinese gov
eminent fo., the opsning of negotiations
looking To a settlement.
The Importance of the action is shown by
the determination to try Prince Tuan be-
fore the Imperial Clan Court. This is the
supreme Judicial tribunal OF China and is
the only ore having jurisdiction over the
members OF the Imperial family.
1t Is presided oEer by Prince Ii. with the
well-knuwn Prince Ching as first vice
president Prince L; is the first Of The
eight prlncely families OF China and is
regarded as friendly to the progressive
clement The attitude Of Prince Ching
has been notable throughout the trouble
as friendly to foreign interests.
4 HIGH COURT.
There are FIVE other members OF The
ccurt all Of ther4 high r3ersenages. They
occupy a building at Pekin and are in
regular session for the 1Gtal OF cases af-
fccting members Of the mobility and ths
his,lest persona geS. Chinese officials here
say that the reference CT the case TO this
high court Is cf itsef the fullest assurance
OF the gravity with Which the Throne re-
CARDS the matter.
II is noted also that even before the
trial Prince Tran IS stripped. of his salary
and official Servants. Being man of large
and independent means, the loss of salary
would not amount TO much If II were not
for this and the loss of servants and
special means of humiliation. The names
of The four Princes who have been de-
graded are not known here. either by the
state Department or the Chinese Legation.
The action of the Chinese Government in
ove1thraRiug the re2ctanar.es is likely
to give the most intense qualification to
the friendly Eiceroys of the south of China
and TO the ministers here, infT.ondon and
in Europe. who have 50 strenuousiy re-
sisted the Boxer movement. It may be
specially noted that only to-day Minister
Wu received Information that these Vice
roys including l. Hung Chang, had me-
rnorialized the throne to punish the very
element which has now been overcome.