Peking, Dec. 4.
In order to place its depleted revenues upon a better footing the Chinese Government is now paying particular attention to the Land Tax. The reforms proposed by the Into Sir Robert Hart are being dug out of the dust, and they have been placed before the Government for earnest considers tion.
That an increase in the tax will be made is certain. In fact it will first be tried upon the comparative ly rich provinces of Chekiang and Kiangsu. If it is found workable there it will be applied in Chihli, Shantung and Honan, and later on in the other provinces.
One thing the Government is insisting upon is that the tax shall be paid in dollars instead of in rice, copper, and the different cur-rendes of the different provinces as in previous times. Regulations are now being enforced to this end, and the Land Tax Department re. ports that increases in the tax oe. lected have been noted. Ip Shantung, it is officially reported, there was an increase of 1,50. 000, in Kiangsi and Kiangsu 81,30, 000 and in other provinces from between $500,000 and $300,000, If the Government would apply to land tax collections an sccounting system such as has bern adopted in, connexion with the Balt Administration it would no doubt be found that the money stringency would goon disappear. The land tax should be one of China's chief sources of revenue, and if properly handled and counted for should be sufficient to meet most of the Government's needs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.