The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-22
a NEW RDICT IN CHINA.
II Aims Mt the Abolition Of the Grain
Transport Service.

Transport Service.
Edwin II. Couger, the United States
Minister TO China has transmitted 20 the
State Department from Pekiug a transla-
ton Of an imperial edict which aims at
theh abolition of the grain transport serv-
ice and the communication Of taxes in kind
paid by certain provinces for a money
payment. He says:
This is a reform which has several
times in recent years been urged upon the
Chinese Government. The matter has
been under consideration for some months
past. and the straitened condition of the
Imperial treasury has given additional
weight to the arguments I'm favor Of the
change 1t is an economical measure
that. II properly carried out. will. it is
estimated. effect saving 10 the treasury
of some 100000 taeIs per annum-that r..
more than 100000. The provinces wlBch
have been accustomed to paying part Of
their land tax i'm kind are the graiu-pro-
ducinS particularly rice-producinE) PROV
inces in the Yangtze Valley. with Honan
and Shantung, which border the Yellow
River
The tax is really never paid in kind by
the farmer, however. but commutCd ut
the Yamen for a cash payment, and the
money thus obtained is used TO purchase
grain In the market which is forwarded
At stated seasons to the capital Origi-
ually most of it was sent by the Grand
Canal, but since the introduction Of
steamships more and more of il each year
has been SHIPPED by sea. At the close of
the TAPPING rebellion some portions Of
tho provinces ON the Upper Yangtze and
Of Honan were permitted TO commute
their tax I'm grain for money payment
and the largest amount sent in recent
years is said To- be no more than 100000
piculs labout $4,000 tons. This method OF
collecting taxes is, of course, most cost
ly one. but the number OF persons con-
nectcd with the grain transport and de-
penang upon it for a living is so large
that every effort heretofore made to ef-
feet the change has met with bitter op-
position"
The edict reads:
The following edict was received on the
ID day Of the seventh moon august t.
lg0p:
The srain transport service having
been in existence "a long time a great
many abuses have grown up. EubezzIe-
meHts have occurred without end. which
have wasted the imperial stores and con-
sumed the life OF the people. The present
Is a time Of great difficulty. the revenues
Of the State are deficient and every ex-
ertion should be made to get rid Of ex-
travagance and put things in order
Beginning with the present year. let
the collections Of grain from the various
provinces-both the shipments by sea and
by canal-be commuted for money pay
meut in silver and let the vfceroys and
governors charged with this responsibility
carefully calculate the amounts to be
paid. and set aside these funds. together
with the savings that VIII DO effected in
office expenditure and cost OF transport
and hold both these sums in reserve sub
ject 20 the orders Of the board Of revenue
Let them also carefully estimate the
oVarcharges made hitherto 10y the vari-
Gus departments and districts. and direct
the local magistrate 70 make a detailed
account Of the same and refund the
whole to the Government II is hoped
that considerable amount may be re-
covered Then let tn said vicerovs and
governors report 10 the throne the total
amounts Of the sums held IN reserve. as
above directed, and Of these sums re-
AS to the aranaries they win To NJ
important service The transport OF grain
from the south having thus been ex-
changed Tor cash payment On silver
careful rC ulatiOns ought to be made for
the future supply. that IS for the sslac-
uou. purchase. shipment recef0t stor-
age, ana prepare ZION OF the grain for the
corrupt practices after II has been placed
IN the Rrauaries. Let the director gen
eral Of the grain transport and the grain
supervisors Of the beard Of rc,-ars5a r1v,
SUIT together and decide upon eatisfac-
tory regulations for these various mat
tiers. and report back 20 us within two
:r"nths. On n" account let there b. the
least delay Let this edict be made known
10 all. RtSuCgt this 90