The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-30
CHINA STARTS AN
OPIUM CAMP PA|Ck
EMPRESS DOWAGER PUTS HER
FOOT DOWN UPON THE
"PlPE HABIT"
STRONG HOLD ON NATION
is Believed to Be Running the FloWery
ingdom--Embareo on importa-
ton and Registration of
"Fends" Are Adopted.

Wash ngton, Dec 29-Amocg the
many important reforms that have
been undertaken by the imperial gov
ernment of China is the suppression
deal of task. If the government Of
the United States should attempt 10
suppress the liquor habit it would be
no more difficult for, as ex-Secretary
fore the National Geographic Society,
nearly every family in China has
felt the clutch Of this monster vice
and it is known to have impoverish-
ed whole communities 1t is, how
ever, denied that the drug is largely
used by the official class. A promin
ent mandarin Of Pekng speaking
from Intimate knowledge of the
matter, has stated that very small
percentage of high officials in Peking
moke opium, and that Of all the
viceroys and governors only one is
addicted to the habit.
This fact. Mr. Foster says, gives
greater hope for the enforcement Jf
the edict of the empress dowager
issued On the goth of last September
for the gradual suppression OF the
cultivation of the poppy and the use
of opium in ten years. Farmers are
forbidden to plant new ground .
popics and the area now used for that
purpose must be diminished 10 per
cent each year. and cease entirely at
the end of the tenth year.
Must Register.
All persons-it is estimated that
they number 100000 000-who use
opium are required to register their
names with the police aud obtain
permits which will allow them tn
purchase a given quantity of the
drug at certain periods, which will
be noted in the permit, and all deal
ers are forbidden to give or sell the
drug to nay one in greater quantity
or at more frequent periods than are
allowed in the permit. All persons
over 60 years of age may continue
its use as at present, but all persons
under that age will he required to
reduce their consumption by 20 per
cent yearly and .cea:e to use 1t en-
tirely at the end of five years. The
permits are to he renewed annually,
and tho allowance indicated upon
them will be reduced 90 per cent in
time and in quantity. These permits
are sold for fees which increase in
the inverse ratio of age, A person or
60 years pays the minimum fee
person of 80 pays twice as much as
one of 80, and so on which makes
the fee for young men almost prohib-
tive.
At the end Of the five years per.
sons under G5 years of age who con.
tinue to use opium will be compelled
to wear a distinctive badge which
will advertise them publicly as opium
fends.
All government officials, even
princes. dukes. viceroys aud gener-
ais less than GO years Of age must
give up the habit within six months
or tender their designations All
teachers aud students must abandon
the habit within one year All Off
GERS of the army and navy must
abandon the habit al once. and ca
blegram to the newspapers recently
published states that several officers
of the old Manchu Banner Corps. the
Imperial Guard. who protest the per
son Of the emperor and empress dow
ager. have already been court-mar-
tiaied and casiiteried foF fai!GFe tel
obey the edict