Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-07-27
LENIENT
FOR A TIME, Is
MORE STRICT
Yuan Shi kai's Government Has Become
So Severe That Summary Executions Of
Sentences 10 Death or Exile for Political
0ffenses Are Numerous.
insurgents Are Still Striving TO Turn
China's Army Against the President,
Who Issues Mandate Providing Execu-
ton in Case of Bribery.

Pcking. China, Jni, Yuan Shi
kai'S government. lcnient for a while has
become - severe that the summary exc
cntionS Of sentences To death or exile
for political offcnSeS are again numer-
Gus. Ii iS not only those who violate the
law but also those who but passively
support il and who will not work for re-
forms. on whom the hand Of the law j.
set
Yuan Shi has found that drastic
regulations are necessary for improv-
ing the provincial administrations and
purging the country Of rebels. who are
still striving 10 turn the army against
the president. A recent presidential man.
date preScrbcS execution for officials
who receive bribes for perverting the
law. Life Imprisonment j. prescribed
for those who arcept brihcs for neglect
ing 10 put the law ia force. II appears
from the mandate the punishment by
death may take the form of shooting in
stead of the old time decapitation. aud
penal Seryitnde may take the form of
baniShment Ia remote and unhealthy
provinces"
Besides rebels and corrupt officials.
persistent gamblers and secret service
men of vicious practices are also able
"a bc pu "a death. If the presidential
orders can be- enforced Such lists aS
the following are appearing daily. indi
eating those whose life may BE- the fer
felt of their crime.
Tong chong. acting magistrate Of llSi
40 Kan IIsien. failed 10 perform his duty
aud practiced Squeezes giving great
trouble to the people.
-"rn ChOng YIN acting magistrate ~
Ching Shan IISirn. allowed his relatives
and servants Ia receive brbcs and a.
frequent evil houses.
-Tung I.ai Nu. magistrate Of CHA Nu
HSicn misappropratcd government fund
and has the habit Of smoking opium and
gambling.
Femg .Iui-Sung. active magistrate Of
Chung Yang llSien. refused 10 hand over
his office when instructed ~ attend the
examination of magistrates
One regretahle phase Of the drastic
program which the government has un-
dertaken il the fact that many innocent
persons have "a 90 10 the execution
grounds. II has long been the practice
of trade rivals or any person who holds
"A grievance against another to bring
the authorities down upon that person
and perhaps bring about his execution.
one ~ the most familiar methods has
been for one 10 send through the mail
letters which would seem To connect his
business enemy with rebel operations.
The government authorities. carefully
watching the mails. detect these letters
and believing them genuine. run down
the person 10 whom they are addressed.
nay take summary action. Perhaps hun
drcd> ~ guiltle~S persons. have al
ready hecn executed a. result of such
fraud. II would seem that the admins
tration could easily detect su'h fradu
lent letters bmt the Chinese authorities
are still naive and life l. held very cheap
because il H. - wretchcsl and miserable.
A serious evil continues 90 eyist in
the secret service branch ~ the govern
mrnt. The detectives have long made ID a
practice 10 cxtori -Spueexc>" bN threats
~ ,lenunriaiinn and tu obtain rewards
u, accusing innocent mcn ~ complirit,
with sun Vat Sen and his party.
An account comes from Chengtu. I'm
s'z,rhwan province. of m opium smoker
being executed publicly a. warning 70
others who persist il dcfNing the pro.
hibition against the use of this drug.
Ii j. not clear from the report. hni y
seems. a. be the cause. that the execution
was performed III one of the burningS Of
confiScated opium. which take place from
time L. time and are made occasions of
public rejoicing.