Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-21
REFORM EDICTS IN CHINA
Indications That Modern and Progress
sive Government is Intended.
POISON THEORY IS ABANDONED
Death Of Emperor Due 60 N~eurssthe-
mia rnd Heart Trouble, ana OF
DowaEer Empress 70
Apoplexy.

PEkISd Nov. 0.-An official OF the
Foreign board OF the government in reply
70 a direct request today. gave formal as
surance that the new administration would
promote with vigor the reforms inaugurated
by the late Emperor Kuang-Hsu. A mum.
Der OF edicts with a political bearing have
been promulgated since November Is and
they ell show that a progressive and mod
ern government for the Chinese empire IL
intended. Several specific reforms already
have been entailed for fulfillment upon tho
regency OF Prince Chun.
An edict ordering p~osthumous honors
for the late dowager empress was issued
today, and II enumerates a fourth time
since the death OF her majesty the program
OF reforms to which the new regime Is com.
mitted.
These political edicts first began appear
ing four days ago. when. in the name Of
the emperor and the srand council. two
DEGREES entsiling upon the infant emperor,
Pu HI, the carrying out Of the reforms
already inaugurated by his predecessor
were published.
These edicts, taken together, are con-
sidered to commit the new regime conclu-
sively to a program Of reform and progress.
Prince Ching was present at the palace
both yesterday and today.
The forbidden city Is crowded all day long
with officials Of various degree and thronss
OF mourners, and notable in the gathering
is the Galai Lama Of Tibet and all his
disciples. Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
there will be a service of Tibetan prayers
before the collins Of the late majesties. The
Tibetsns will officiate,
Poison Theory Abandoned.
Accurate information concerning the last
days of the emperor and the dowager en-
press was obtained today from officials OF
the palace. The various foreign legations
in attempting to determine the causes Of
death OF the emperor and dowager empress,
have abandoned the poison theory and have
concluded that the symptoms OF the en-
peror indicate that the death resulted from
neurasthenia and cardiac weaknesses, to-
gether with other complications.
The Foreign board denies emphatically
and without qualification the rumors that
either OF their majesties was poisoned.
TIL Emperor made a speech less than
one hour before his death. He passed
away during a period of the greatest
excitement and confusion. His native
physicians had been temporarily dis
missed under the impression that there
was no change OF the condition of his
majesty and that he might live for some
time. There was a sudden turn for the
worse, however, and they were quickly
recalled. They ut once gave orders In
accordance with a custom OF the i'm
perial family. observed for centuries
passed. that the emperor be dressed for
death and that the imperial yellow clay
be spread over the road leading from the
winter palace to the forbidden city.
At the same time an imperial convey
ance was made ready to convey the
dowager empress to the death
Last Illness Of Dowaser.
The last illness of the dowager am
press dated from November 1. On this
day the court was terrified by an out
burst OF uncontrolled temper from her
majesty. On November IL she suffered
a paralytic stroke upon being informed
OF the precarious condition OF the en-
peror. Or November 10 Prince Ching re-
turned from her mausoleum in the east
ern hills. whittier she had sent MIN to
make a religious offering in the hope OF
propitiating the ghost that in her dreams
had beokoned her to follow him out to
the hills. An official of high standing
said today that the empress had died OF
apoplexy and that she was able TO talk,
and did talk. UP to within a few hours
OF passing away.
Both their majesties waited the COM
ing of the grim reaper clad in their full
official robes and surrounded by hum