Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-27
JUSTICE IN CHINA.
Pooh-Hahs Who are Able to Save
$4,000 Out cf $500 Year.

NOBODY dreams OIL going 10 law III
China for the purpose of obtaining JUS
tice," writes the Rev. w. H. Sears Of
Pingtu, Baptist missionary, in letter
to friend. mo Chinaman is safe
from the ENHANCEMENT Of a lawsuit no
matter how high degree of rectitude
characterizes his life.
"The local magistrate is at once the
civil and criminal Judge; also the sher-
iff, the commissioner for large and
populous districts. Manifold as his
dignities are he gets less than $500
per year for his work.
This is scarcely sufficient for one
days expense with his large follow
ing of secretaries and other subordi-
mates. But he don't worry. He even
saves money out of his job.
THE Pingtu official handles yearly
about 100000 that he receives from
land taxes alone. 1t is very unthrifty
official that does not clear $4,000 a
year out of his office.
His secretaries and higher subor-
dinates receive salaries. His consta-
bles, deputies and runners Of this class
get no salary. yet such positions never
go begging. The chief revenues come
from lawsuits.
when a man is arrested the first
thing he has to do is to pay the con-
stables nice little sum for the trou-
BILE they have put themselves to in
coming after him. If he does not put
up the tribute at once he is bound and
duty
"The prisoner is brought into the
city where he is handed over to a
grade higher set of underlings and the
money-eXtorting process is repeated
on a very extended scale. He finds
that money is the only salve that will
help his condition and make life en-
durable. Remember, during all this
he may be as innocent as an angel.
There are three sets of these small
fry officials whose clutches are fast
ened on the victim. He is passed from
one to the other. each sucking blood
from him at every stage of the game.
The magistrate is expected to know
nothing of the arrest until the under
lings have squeezed every possible cent
out of the prisoner, who is then
brought before the chief dignitary for
trial. Reversing the American maxim,
every man is supposed to be guilty
until proven innocent. A man may be
falsely accused; he will be treated as
though guilty just the same and his
road to liberty will be laid with thorns.
"If man has the money to spend
and will fee the constables liberally
they will return to their chief and re-
port that he has run away and cannot
be found. 1t is a part of their busi-
ness to be secretive on such occasions.
The district magistrate like all Chi
nese officials is supposed to have a
thorough acquaintance with everything
On earth. underneath the sea and in
the heavens above. Hence it would be
q violent insult to his Excellency to
suggest jury to aid in deciding a
case.
witnesses by the score are pro-
iuced, but none of them is expected to
tell the truth OF course, with such
wholesale lying going on it is impos-
sible for the judge to decide as to the
true merits of the case. When the
controversy is finally closed ana pass
ed up to him for decision he will
smother his decree in lot Of high
sounding, meaningless worda and it
costs so much to get new hearing
that there is seldom an appeal from
the most absurd decision.
Some days the magistrate will set
tie a dozen or more knotty cases. At
other times, when it suits his pleas
ure, he will permit suits to drag along
for years. even thought it may mean
ruin to the litigants.
at is nothing uncommon for law.
suit to start over a quarrel among
children and continue until both par
ties to the controversy have got along
in years and made paupers of them
selves. New York Sun.