Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-26
HOME RULE IN CHINA
Preparing to Establish Local
SeIf-Government.
TIENTSIN TAKEN AS MODEL
Circular Order Issued to the Provincial
Authorities.
EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE
Upon the Success Of the Experiment
Largely Depends the Cause of Rep
resentative Government.
OF THE PEOPLE

In a dispatch from Picking. China. dated
the 9th uitimo, Minister Rockhill reports
to the Department Of State as follows
regarding the establishment of local self
government in China:
The president of the board Of home af-
fairs (of China) issued a circular order to
the various high provincial authorities ad-
bureaus for the study of local self-govern-
bureaus for the study of local self admin
1stration in their respective Jurisdictions at
once, with view to preparation for the
adoption of parliamentary representation.
The Tientsin regulations are recommended
as a model. The first municipal council
(of Tientsin) was elected July "a last The
experiment will be watched with great in
terest as upon Its success depends in large
degree the cause of representative govern
ment in China"
Government of Tientsin
With his dispatch Mr.. Rockhill sends a
synopsis. prepared in the legation. Of the
regulations for the municipal self-govern-
ment OF Tientsin, reading as follows:
The governing body will consist of a
municipal council Of thirty members elected
July "A by an electoral college of 1876 men,
DerS, which was chosen at primary cleo
ton held July 5, 1907.
The regulations divide the city into eight
wards or voting precincts and fix the suf-
frage qualifications. The voter must be a
male citizen of Tientsin, twenty-five years
or age. property owner and must be able
TO write MS name. age. occupation and
are: Conviction of crime, following an
occupation which is not respectable, bank
ruptcy and mental incapacity Habitual
opium smokers, yamen runners Official
hangers-on), priests of the Buddhist and
laOlSt religions and all leaders nf
ligious order are also denied the suffrage
member of the council must have in
addition to those of voter, the following
qualifications: He must be a graduate of
district or other high school, or the
author Of a treatise which has been Of
hciaIly approved, or the owner of property
worth 5000. or trustee Of funds amounting
10 $o,Uo, or a school director, or who has
mad the management of other public af-
fairs. or an official, or one who has official
rank or literary degree of Haiu Ts'ai.
Members of the council serve without
pay and are elected for two years.
Selection Of the City Council.
THE electoral college which selects the
city council is chosen by ballot as follows:
The four highest names in each Of the
eight wards are declared elected, and to
these thirty-two names are added the JOB
names having the highest number of votes
among all the rest of the ballots Each
member of the electoral college thus chosen
votes for thirty names. and the thirty high
est names are declared elected city fathers
Duties and functions of the city council
are the usual ones of assessment and col
lection of taxes, finance public works san.
itation. fire department, police, markets
ETC. 1t is also charged with the establish
ment OF subordinate self-governTng bodies,
such as town and village councils
THE council will hold two regular annual
meetings of thirty days each and may hold
extraordinary sessions. 1t may be dissolved
by the viceroy In which a new council
must be elected and convened within three
months.
The minutes of the meetings of the coun-
Gil shall be published except when the local
magistrate, the president and vice presi-
dent and at least ten members request
otherwise.
"a member of council is debarred from
discussing or voting upon any matter in
which he or a near relative Of his is per-
sonally interested. The local magistrate
may attend the meetings of the council and
express his views. but may not vote. His
retnue may not enter the council chamber
Visitors are not allowed. Officers and mem
bers of the council shall not be held re-
sponsible for views expressed In debate and
are free from arrest without permission of
the council. except for crime committed
during meeting Of the council.
Municipal Executive Officers.
THE executive functions of the city gov
eminent will be performed by a committee
or cabinet consisting of president, vice
president and eight members. The district
magistrate will be ex off1cio president the
others will be chosen by and from the coun-
Gil, but must resign as councillors upon
election to the cabinet The members of
the executive committee serve four years,
one-half to be elected every two years; they
are salaried and select their own staff and
employees. Members of the gentry or ma
tives Of Tientsin who have directed educa-
tional or other public affars-not members
Of or employed by the committee-may be
honorary members of the cabinet and may
offer suggestions. but have no vote.
The regulations prescribe in detail the
various duties to be performed by the ex-
ecutive committee, such as the preparation
Of annual budgets, the management Of trust
funds and public charities. etc. 1t is pro-
vided that in case of injury or illness in
Cured by municipal employees in the dis
charge Of duty free medical attendance
shall be furnished and equitable compensa-
ton made to the sufferer In case Of loss
of life a pension may be voted for the
family.
Amendments to these regulations may
be proposed to the viceroy in writing by six
teen councillors and If afterward passed by
two-thIrds vote OF the council and ap-
proved by the viceroy become operative
thirtJ days after publication by him"