Jun presents memorial with regard to the extraordinary number of expectant otlicinls attached to the provincial establishment of Shantung and points out that although under ordinary circumstances the number of vacancies in the province is by ho means large, since the extension of the purchase and recommendation system the number of applicants is ton times greater than the number of posts. Tt is on record that in the 7th year of Kuang Hsii the then Governor suggested that fora period of two yeats riv more appointments should be issued for the province of Shantung and that measure for the time proved effactual. Now, however some ten years have elapsed and the extension of the purchase system that took place after the Chengchow disaster and in consequence of the necessity of finding funds for Adiniral-'Thkvughout Shantung there are only ten ty purposes has again Hooded the province.
circuits and prefectures, the great majority of them being posts tilled by special decree, whereas the number of expectant taotais and prefects is no less than thirty seven. Of sub-prefectures and district magistracies there are one hundred and twenty; of numer otticial posts one hundred and ninety-two and thirteen vacancies in the salt offices, Waiting for an opportunity to fill these posts there are over three hundred and sixty sub-prefects and district magis~ trates; of unclassed officials about five hundred and fifty, and of salt, officers over sixty. These figures do not include those absent on leave or temporarily retired into mourning, so that it will be seen that it is almost hopeless for them ever to expect to obtain as much as even an acting appointment. They have the name of expectants of office, but when they will even be called on to fill any ofice is extremely uncertain. This applies more especially at the present juncture when the funds in the provincial treasury are at such a low ebb that every endeavour must be made to effect a cutting down of expenditure. Of late too the board has greatly curtailed the power of making appointments vested in the provincial government. A great many posts that used to be-filled up locally have now to be referred to Peking. The pressure is becoming greater day by day and it is feared that Should a further influx of candidates be permitted, it will become unbearable. Individuals who are scrambling and fight ing for their daily bread are not the from which it is desirable to draw public servants, as they are reduced by necessity to employ every artifice to advance their own interests. "Memorialist would accordingly request that in accordance with the precedent furnished ten years ago the Board be directed to cease makin; further appointments to shantung, by which means it is hoped that the congestion will be somewhat relieved.—Let the Board of Cieil Office consider aul report.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.