The evening times., 1901-10-28
IMPROVEMENT OF CHINA.
A Translation of the Report Of the
Board Of Reforms.
Advantages to he Promoted and
Evils to BE RcmOVed-Men of Pure
Hearts Wanted for High Public
Omccs-An Outline of the Plans.


| made public a translation forwarded by
| Edwin r. CouEcr. the United States Min
! lister at Picking. of series of preliminary
| regulations which naye been adopted by
| the recently organized Board of National
1 Administration. better known as the
! Board of Reforms These regulations. the
American Minister says, are interesting as
showing the real purpose of the board to
De the reorganization of the Government
on more modern and more efficient lines
! The sentiments expressed are -ouserva-
! tive. Mr. Conger adds. but no Goubt wise
| ly so under the circumstance which pre-
/ vail. and it is plain that there is no in
teEtion To initiate the pace set by the re-
formers of 1895 Their, is an evident de-
! sire TO study the methods of the West.
and. without adopting Western civiIiza-
/ uon as "a whole. TO adapt % Chinese con-
/ diuons those institutions which may seem
/ likely 10 add strength To- the State. The
/ regulations read in part as follows
/ The following rules Were sent from
! sian TO the various nigh provincial au-
I tnnriti-S-
J Formerly the Graad Couaci. had charge
! of general affairs OF state. Iut there has
! now been established a separate dep. TT
/ meut. the Board of National Administra-
! ton, whose leaders are drawn from the
Grand council To these are added other
! nigh princes and high ministers. The
] duties of this board are of the greatest
/ Importance, and the whole Empire is an
/ ucpating great beuet; from its action.
I II Will be necessary for the officials
/ charged with these duties 10 exert them
| selves To cope with difficulties and not to
] SRlTk trouble nor fly from any ill-fceliug
! that may be eEgendered. Authority for
I the changes projected is found in the i'm
! VeTld edlct OF the 10th of the twelfth
! moon OF last year JanUdTy - 191D.
II metropolitan and provincial officials
/ are really able 10 be- of one mind and by
/ TerliICdtOu Of facts seek 20 know the
truth, Is not the conversion Of poverty
into wealth and Of weakness into strength
[ all involved in thiS2 But. If those charged
with the management Of affairs do not
uule rStand. and il those dis, larEinE the
J duties are not dlliE"ut. and do not abaD-
I don their s'f-seekiug and correct abuses.
] although the methods adopted may be
/ excellent there can Doe no real gain.
/ "I here is the -uCItut example OF Hsi-
I llllg Tor a warning beacon and the recent
! events of l,S, to induce caution. These
| should be- deeply poudertd and carefully
/ considered In managiug these affairs we
/ ought not 10 fear difficulty. but we may
! not be ignorant or the difficulties. Tn eS-
I ithilSNnS "a plan, although We ought not
: e. follow the crowd. we may not refuse
/ To- consult with the crowd To collect the
/ opinions Of many has great advantage.
TO promote public and forget private
/ aims. this is the very foundation. To
! combine Chinese and Western ideas and
I harmonic them viii be- very proper. This
/ Is important. Legislation must not be-
rash else u cannot be- carried uEt. This
! indicates how We should proceed. To
/ know your men and suit the offices 20
{ them. and then see that they complete
I their duties. this is getting home Now.
/ certain re2ulatious have been proposed for
I the commencement Of this work, as fol-
! lows.
Some of the Regulations.
/ "In our board. under the prince and tho
ministers. there should be appointed two
/ proctors and eight or ten chiefs " depart
] UcUts. who should be- selected il accord
I ance with the imperial eGiCJ. which re-
/ Quires them 20 De men Of pure heart and
/ acquainted with affairs. or metropolitan
/ omciaIS, all under the rank Of directors
I and suh-direCtOrs. and Of pr1viuciaIs. ali
I under the rank Of taotai down t. and in
I Guiding commoucrs. are eligible C0r ssIe
( tl"n. In selecting men for leading posi-
{ tions. We must consider their disposition
4 character, abilities. and reputation. that
/ tAe purpose of the court may De made
manifest TO employ men Of worth without
/ gard 20 seniority. thus getting rid en-
/ urel} OF the old abuses Df favUritisu and
/ lhs o'etinE Of vain reputation
] As 10 the ceremonies iu the iDrcr-
! course between tho higher and lower
/ Hem. sTs ~ the board. there shouII boz =.
/ more strict Observance Of stisl.tta thar.
/ is employed in the various boards ana
! yamtTs- The affairs Of state with which
our board iS concerned are most weight
/ ana without worthy men The duties can
/ not be properly discharged and having
/ employed them. they ougat 10 be treated
! with extra respect.
The Thousand and ten thousand mat
/ teIs connected with government may al DE
J summed up I'm mis- one phrase Promote
/ prosperity and remove abuses Pr0srsr-
] lty ought To- Doe promoted. that il fS not
! promoted ls due 90 the fact that at the
! Introduction of any unusual method the
! black haired race is frightened. because
they like the accustomed. and with IiF-
| Guilty reconcile IhUmss Ives 10 the new
| abuses ought 20 be- removed that fHrv
| practice them find in them refuge. de-
/ pend upon them for food and clothing.
/ and il one Of their number De removed
! from Office. All make trouble
! Now having received an imperial edict
| commanding MS 20 deal with these mat
/ tors, we ought first n an t' g.t rid Of the
! abuses Of shily-shallying and holding
( back for fear Of giving offence
/ In establishing this board ~ admins
/ tration, we follow for the most part the
( IDEA Of the San SsU th-ee IsarlI Uf the
/ Sung dynasty ia their institution of th.
/ office Of regulations. but We make some
notifications The charge PROPOSED Iv
/ wang Ans-shih. a minister OF that ueri-
! OF, consisted lu collecting taxes ON the
/ unripened grain. the drafting or ON, sol
/ der from every ten families the TAX Oh
/ land areas. and the construction ,f wa
/ ter ways lie took counsel privately with
/ his guests and companions. and arranged
| a series Of regulations FOR enforcement
J throughout the Empire. thus abandoning
/ the custom Of consulting with tho r-u-
/ pile and adopting what is generally app
! proved so that high and low alike re-
| Earusd his method ass unsuitable.
| But we have now Tsrrr.EtIy received
/ the clear orders of The Throne that On.
| high officials. metropolitan and Urrgiu-
! cial should give the Government th.
/ benefit ~ their yNU,-ienc- and wisdom.
/ tiou Of their adEic,-that is. there i- %
/ desire 10 learn public opinion Admirable