We have on several occasions pointed out the false position in which the Municipal Council permit their relations with the Chinese Authorities, "in the matter of Municipal finance, to remain, We have always deprecated the applications of the Council to the local mandarins for funds to carry on Municipal affairs; their inadvisability has been so frequently pointed out, that there seems to be no reason that can be adduced for their continuance, save and except that, at some former period, the Council put itself in the false position of becoming the recipient of subsidy from the Taotai. The amount of money received in commutation of Wharfage Dues from Chinese, is an instance not only of the evil consequences that may arise from a mistake formerly commit. ted, but also of that peculiar idea of separating individuals from their trade, which in an evil moment has been allowed to creep into our general relations with China. It would be amusing, were it not hurtful to our interests, to hear the Chinese and the Municipal Council both complaining of the natural consequences of a false system, and holding forth on the depravity of human nature as exemplified in the working of the Transit. and Wharfage Dues collections. The Chinese Government complains to the Ministers at Peking of the iniquity of its subjects actually employing Foreigners to act as their agents, when by so doing they can readily escape severe exactions on their trade. The Municipal Council, with equal wisdom, groans under the sins of Foreigners who, in order to escape the levy of Municipal dues, make out that their business is being carried out for Chinese. It is strange that neither side can see the plain state of the case, that in both instances it is the articles of commerce, not the factors, which are liable to taxation, and that no system which confounds the two, and draws distinctions between individuals, can ever be got to work without opening the door for grave abuses. What should we think of @ railway which should sort out its passengers on such a system? which should charge one man, or class of men, at a tariff differing from that of other men, or other classes? Who in effect can be the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.