Mr. Warxewnronr called attention to ide XIX, in regard -to the Budget Doing submitted to the annual meeting.
Mr. Forbes repented his contention that at a lawfully constituted meeting, with one-third of the Municipal Body everything necessary could be the only ing that can do anything for the purpose of working this constitution the annual meeting lies at the bottom of everything.
Me, Lirzie—I think we are only wasting time just now, There is no likelihood of our Treaty Consuls; nnd although the Consuls jetting the foreign Ministers to discard the
did not call the annual meeting, the al Body could cull a meet to the Ministers a" Pel ing. that were at a standstill. chose to adopt it or not, we show recommend that the Consuls should have the powers which these Regulations propose to give them,
call the annual Mie. Foxnts—Who would you have to ug Mr. Rosinsox—The Municipal Body,—the Executive for the hour. 1 don't think the Trexty Covsula should have the matter. I propose to exclude them Wo are asself-governing community, and can govern ourselves a precious "sight better than the Consuls can Mr, Lrrrie—Suppose we put the Conaula cout of the hero, and the Municipal Body imposes taxes, we cmnot yot x single tax paid without the assistance of the Consuls.
Mr. Rostysox—Yea, we can, by these rules.
Mr, Fornes—We mast go to the Consuls to assist us, Mr. Rosinson—But they have nothing to do with our meeting. We can bring a man before hia Consul without the Consul having anything to do with our meeting. If the Consuls won't agree that people who ailtora shall be ordered to. pay in their own Court, there's an end to the whole thing.
Mr. Lirrz—Well, so there is, We would throw away the power by putting them out, Mr, Rostyson—There is no reason why we should give them the control of calling the runual meeting; they have nothing "to do with it. Tf I did not pay taxes, and were sued before the British Court, it is right that T should be compelled to pay the taxes, that reason why the British Consul should he asked to convene the annual meeting of Ratepayers.
Mr. Lrrrzz—The Consuls are practically our Senate.
Mr Ronrxsox—I simply wish to deprive Consuls of any power except as judges. We are more capable of governing our solves than the Consuls are of governing us. That is the idea I want to express, and that idea is not inconsistent with the Regulations as drawn. I propose to withdraw from the Consuls all nnuccessary authority which there Regulations give them. They ought to be our servants.
Mr. Lirrtr—But they are our masters Mr. Rozrsson—I say they ought to be our servants, people at Peking will agree with you.
Mr. Rosixsox—We may never get the people at Peking to adopt these rules at all; but we should not recommend their adoption as they stand at present.
Mr. Forses—'The Regulations have worked satisfactorily for many years, and there is no reason to suppose they will not work satisfactorily for many yenrs to corns.
Mr. Ropixson—How can you say they have worked satisfactorily Mr. Fomes ave worked factorily.
Mr. Rostssox—' at a time when factory; the Chinese and foreign authorities are disagreeing about everything. We must not pass over anything under the iden that it has worked satisfactorily in the past.
Me. Lirtiz—We have only to write to the Senior Consul and ask him to call the meeting.
Mr, Ropryson—What if he declines?
Mr. Foxses—He would have to justify his declination, Mr, Rosrxson—TE the Consul refuses to call the meeting, what would you do?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.