Atlanta Georgian., 1914-03-01
President Yuan, in Mandate, Puts
His Tax Collectors on One
Per Cent Basis.
$4,000 FOR $5,OOO,OOO
Decorations Are Proportionate to
Industry of Governments Ser
wants, in Three Glasses.
Special Cable to The American.

PEKIN, Feb. 2S.-America has
much to learn from the Republic of
China in the way of the treatment of
the lazy ofiaial and the recalcitrant
taxpayer.
In America the taxpayer who de-
faults is fined or sent to prison; and
the Tax Collector who fails TO round
IN the requisite number of dollars
receives either the order of the sack
or has to explain lots of things to
inquisitive superiors.
How crude all this is in comparison
with what happens in China! In a
mandate just issued President Yuan
Shih-kai, after mentioning that rev
enue collected in the provinces had
been "presumptuously squandered,' -
set it down that the only way to get
revenue was "to lay special emphasis
upon responsibility which could only
be effected by a system of substantial
rewards"
The Stork Rewards.
The financial rewards for the EN-
couragement of officials directing,
managing and actually doing the tax
collecting work, who have RENTED
certain sums to the central govern
ment" are upon 1 per cent basis.
The official who can remit to the
Government $5.000,0 600 CMex) in a
wear is to receive $4,000 and the
frst class order of the Silver Double
Stork Decoration. and the one who
can double that amount is to get the
first class of the Gold Double Stork
Decoration ard IAN annual merl-
torious allowance" of $4,000.
The one who collects only S4,000,000
has to be content with the second
class Silver Double Stork Decoration
and a paltry $4,000, and for $4,000,
600 he receives only the second class
Gold Double Stcrk Decoration and
$4,000 And It runs down proper
tionately until the unhappy man who
is able to gather in only 100000 re-
Ceives only $1,000 and the fifth class
of the Silver Single Stork Decoration
Single stork for 100000.
IN fact the Single Stork Decorator
interiects itself at the 100000 mark,
and is in evidence at the lowest men
toned, $4,000, when the "meritorious
allowance" is proportionate. less
two-thirds." If there is any head Of
any provincial tax collection estab-
lishment who fails to gather in less
than $50 00O there is no Stork deCOra
ton for him at all.
Those who do show they are col
lectors of merit and thereby gain the
St1rk decorations may "adorn their
hats and dresses" with them, says ar
ticle No. of the regulations, but still
IN this mandate there is no mention
of any Jail or hard labor or tempo
rsry incarceration for those who will
not pay up or those who loaf on their
jobs.
When Magistrates Fail.
In so far as punishment is CON
cerned the Magistrate is the only
gentleman who has so far been sig
nailed out for special mention.
He may lose his rank and post II
he has acted meanly." "eXtorts ille-
gal contributions or fines makes no
report. or a false one.
He may be degraded In rank or
have his salary reduced if his ser1 :
ants have received bribes. if he has
failed to collect taxes. thus causing
shortage of 20 to 80 per cent; if two
or moro prisoners have escaped from
his prison, if he has "presumptuously
made use of money collected from
lis to report the great Of
omitted by his subordi-
a If he does not give med
prisoners, thus causing their
N has ill-treated them"