The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-01
WAY 70 PAY INDEMNITY
SIR ROBERT HART SUGGESTS
CERTAIN TAXEs BE DOUBLED.
America is very Much Opposed to At
tempt of Other Nations to Deliberate
ly Rule China.

WASHINGTON, April 16-The Secre-
tary of State has instructed Mr.. Rock
hill our special commissioner in China
to protest against the enormous de-
mands for indemnity that are being
made by the European powers, because
it is apparent that China cannot pos
siby pay them Mr.. Rockhill has been
advised that in the judgment of this
government 5000 000, 900 is sufficient to
cover all the losses sustained by for
eigners and the entire cost of the mill
tary operations.
Germany has put in a bill for $50, 000,-
600 for the services of her soldiers and
the losses sustained by her subjects in
China. Great Britain, which has suf-
fereu great deal more than Germany,
and has furnished nearly as many
troops, will naturally claim a similar
amount and Russia, France and japan
will demand as much as may be allot-
ted to Germany and England, anu are
equally entitled to it. This makes a
total of $500, 900, 900 to start with with
out counting the modest claims of Bel
GUM, Italy and other countries which
are really not entitled to anything. The
actual losses suffered by American citi-
zens were greater than those suffered
by the subjects of any other nation, but
their claims foot up only a few millions,
and the President will ask China to
sending to Picking the military detach-
ment under General Chaffee. The Ger
mans will find it difficult to furnish
items for their $S0,000,000, and it is I'M
derstood that they will not attempt to
do so. They will simply put in a claim
and fight for it.
The United States had already made
representations on this subject, and had
suggested to the powers the folly Of
making exorbitant demands. The re.
venue of China cannot pay the interest
upon half the amount that will be
necessary If Germany adheres to her
demands. 1t will be impossible for her
to borrow the money without qua
ranty from the other powers. At pre-
sent the customs duties are 5 per cent
ad valorem upon all imported merchan-
disc, and it is proposed to double them
and make them 10 per cent, which will
be a burden upon the foreign popula-
ton, particularly the English and Ger
mans, rather than upon the natives of
the country, who use comparatively few
imported goods. The foreign merchants
naturally demonstrate against any in
crease of customs duties, and whenever
it has been proposed hitherto both Ger
many and England have demonstrated.
II is rather questionable policy for the
European powers to inflict burdens up
on their own subjects in China for the
sake of collecting an exorbitant indem-
nifty.
Sir Robert Hart, who has been in
charge of the customs houses of China
for many years, thinks that the tax on
salt, which pays from SIS, 000,0 900 to $780,
000,0 900 year, the license fees for tunks,
which pays from S1,000,000 to $4,000, 900
and the tax on grain which pays about
$2,0O0000 can be doubled without OPP
pressing the people. The tax on opium
which produces $10,000,000 can be dou-
bled also and tax upon real estate
can be imposed that will bring in
revenue of $2O,OOO,00 He also suggests
stamps for commercial paper, which
might produce a revenue of $5.000,000
Taking all these together, the present
revenues of China may be increased
about 80 per cent without disturbing
the present per cent tariff on imported
goods, and that will be sufficient to pay
the interest upon a loan of $3.50, 900, 900
which Secretary Hay has advised the
powers ought to be sufficient to cover
all just indemnity.