The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-25
EMPRESS WANTS ABLE MEN.
The DowaEer issues Edicts Concern
ing Conduct of High officials.


The State Department has received from
II. G. Squiers, Secretary of the Unite
States Legation in Pekin. copies of tn
TRANSACTIONS of three edicts of the DOW
aser Empress of China touching upon III
selection Of competent men for official pc
sitions under the Government and de
handing the correction of certain abuses
These edicts have been published in tn
official gazette The most important o
the ediCts says:
THE most important principle of
government is the selection of men.
The present time is one Of difficulty
and danger We should be the more
willing therefore, to break through all
traditions liz seeking for talent to be
employed in the service of the Govern
ment. We ought to respectfully OBJ
serve the statute to establish examina--
lions for the selection of the learned
and talented by opening an examine
ton in political economy, which should
be put in operation at the forthcoming
metropolitan examination.
1t cannot be possible that in all this
great Empire there are no talented
men. If there be those OF earnest pur-
pose and pure loyalty of broad mold
and extensive learning. verSed in for
eign and domestic affairs, let the presi-
dents and vice presidents of the
boards. the Viceroys and Governors.
and provincial directors of education
prepare a statement of their qualiilca-
tons and recommend them. and let the
Board of Reforms devise Il system OF
examinations and submit the same Tor
the imperial approval
The Court is eager for all sorts of
suggestions to promote the prosperity
OF the Empire. Mother and son are
one in the purpose to correct the mis-
takes of the past. and long TO obtain
talent to assist in the Government.
nj G4n ORC rrprht tn a
out men of such ability, and each one
introduce those known to himself. and
thus together aid in relieving the pres
ent difficulties that the State may be
strengthened and that men of ability
may rise up from the midst of the
people. and be seen again in the pres
cnt time to flourish before your eyes.
This is what the Court prayerfuliy
seeks.
Let this edict be published abroad
for the information OF all.
The edict in relation to the abuses in
the offices of the Six Boards says:
MANY abuses have gradually grown
up in all the offices of the Six Boards,
in the practice CT which rapacious
clerks have become very crafty. We
have already frequently issued edictS
to correct these abuses, and recently.
on account of the loss of many of the
records of the boards. consequent upon
the military occupation of Pekin. we
again ordered thorough cleaning out
and a destruction of the whole. For
merly there was a large number or
recorded cases of ambiguous charac-
ter which could be used as prece
dents on either side of disputed
question. and the clerks seized the OPP
portunity to Use them to forward or
to oppose any interest at their pleas
ure. 1t is more important that encr-
Getic measures be taken to get rid
of these accumulated abuses But, lest
there may be among these records
some important investigation or deci-
sion upon points not covered by an
cient law, or recently gathered prece-
dents, the presidents and vice presi-
dents of the various boards ought to
appoint secretaries to carefully eX-
anime them in detail and prepare a
classified list, which shall be sub
mitted to the Board of Reforms for
their inspection. Those that ought to be
retained should be collected together
for a supplementary code of rules,
that there may be uniform procedure
and all ambiguity be removed"
The third edict treats of the imperial
:lansmen and states:
From the time our dynasty ascended
the throne to the present our impe-
rial clansmen have shown great tai
ents, surprising those of ancient times.
How ought all members of the clan
to carefully observe the family regu-
genealogical records
Now, however, the customs have
become light and trifiing. and those
who have already taken office are all
greatly affected by these habits. and
do not consider how to improve them
selves. Let the Chief of the Imperial
Clan Court transmit this edict to all
imperial clansmen, commanding them
to exert themselves to abandon these
old faults and vie with one another to
improve themselves, that they may
make an earnest effort to make them
selves useful. These ciansmen, who
go about idle, not attending to their
duties. day by day pursuing worth
less aims, even to the extent of be-
coming bandits and deluded followers
Of evil societies, bent on gratifying
their evil desires. are certainly a dis
grace to tie clan. and deserving OF all
contempt Further, let the said Chief
of the Imperial Clan Court increase
the severity of the restrictions. and, as
occasion may require. administer pun
ishment. Should any show such pleas
ure i'll violence and deprayity as to be-
come bandits and put faith in evil
teachings. let them be severely pun
ished without leniency."