The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-04-03

NIllidm Jefffli19S Bryan.
intrusted with the revision and codify-
ing of the laws of China. They have
established a bureau with a staff Of
secretaries and translators and have
spent two years in the examination of
the civil and criminal codes of the
different countries in order to select
laws which are applicable to the con
ditions existing in China. Ex-Minister
Wa has taken a deep interest in the
subject and kindly furnished me With
the following list of reforms to which
the imperial sanction has been Sc
cured:
/. Ling Chi, slow death by slicing to
pieces, has been abolished. 1t was the
punishment formerly prescribed for
one oun guilty Of paracide. high
treason, Wilful murder Of husband (the
murder of husband by wife was ac-
coVding to Chinese law a much grayer
offense than the murder Of wife by
husband).
>. The heads of criminals were for
me"ly exposed to the public after exc
cution. This has also been abolished.
,. The b~eheading of q corpse of Il
criminal who died before execution is
no longer permitted.
4. According to the old law, parents.
relatives and friends of those convicted
Of serious crimes were subject to pun
lShment; now the punishment is on
| fined to the guilty party. CWhiIe the
practice of including innocent relatives
in the sentence seems barbarous in the
extreme it was, after all. not so differ
ent in principle from the practice OF
the western nations which, i'll times Of
war, infict punishment indiscrininatc-
Iy upon innocent and guilty alike).
5. The branding of criminals has
been abandoned.
6. Corporal punishment of criminals
is also abolished.
:. The tocturing of accused persons
during trial, except where the ccuse
is charged with murder, and where
the evidence of guilt is clear. has
also been abolished. According to the
Chinese law, a person convicted of
murder cannot be put to death until
he confesses and torture. has been
retained in Il case of this kind as n
means of compelling confession when
the guilt has bee" otherwise cstab-
lished. but Mir. WI expresses the hope
that torture in such cases will be
abolished in the near future.
The revision commission has also
succeeded in obtaining an imperial
decree ordering the construction Of
more modern prisons, requiring the
inspection of prisoners and compelling
human treatment. Formerly relief
from cruel treatment could only be
secured by paying the Official charge.
The commission is now working
upon a code of procedure and intend,
among other things. the recommended
ton of 1t system of trial by jury, the
admission of lawyers 10 practice in the
courts and tho relieving of prisoners
and witnesses from the humiliating
practice of kneelinG in court.
In order to secure competent judges
and lawyers for the carrying out of
the new code. the commission have OBJ
tanned the sanction of the government
for the establishment of a law school
at Picking (the site has already been
purchased), and the high schools INC
colleges of the various provinces have
been Instructed to add law to the cur
riculum of their studies.
Minister Wa called attention to
other reforms that have been intro
duced into China within the last few
years. among which may be mentioned
the construction of railways. the ee-
Enlistment of Il government board of
commerce., the formation of a police
force. municipal and provincial, HE
PRONUNCIATION of incorporation laws
and the establishment of mints.
.At first the railroads were built by
concessions issued to foreign compa-
MES, but because of the constant diff
culties which grew out Of such con-
cessiOnS, there is q w sentiment
in favor of government railroads.. 1t
WAS in the pursuance OF this polcy
that the government acquired the
rights of the American company which
was projecting q road from HankoW
to Canton. Some. Of the Americans re-
siding in China have expressed regret
that this road should have passed out
of American hands, but am satisfied
that it is better for the United States
- 81 l. ~ $1,000 J4 -~nI +I,n =,
that it should be in the hands of for
eigners or ever in he hands Of Aneri-
cans. II would be impossible to OPP
crate the road without more or less
friction, which would involve the
countries in diplomatic controversies.
If China operates the ROAD herself. We
will have equal rights with foreigners
without the risks involved in private
ownership. And. speaking of roads,
the city of Picking is passing through
an era of street improvements some
II miles of pavement has bcen lald
within three years, and concrete side
walks are making their appearance.
The finances Of china have been in
q miserable condition. Cash is the
money in common use. and these brass
coins. running about 700 to the dol
lar are too heavy for any excepting
the smallest tra nsactIons. 1hlnk OF
doing business with money 50 hedNE
that you must carr 100 POUNDS OF
money to make a SO purchase. Some
complained of silver in the united
States because of its weight. but the
silver certificate completely answered
this argument. for a silver certlflcate IS
as convenient as Il gold certificate, ana
more convenient than gold cam: put
more convenient than gold coIn. but
The monetary unit is called & taei anu.
il coined would weigh about one aili
times the Mexican doltaf' |