It is reported from Tientsin that Viceroy Yuan has in hand a scheme to levy a poll tax on the population of Chibli and to abolish certain other taxes under which the people have suffering for generations. While ing the burden on them lighter the viceroy expects to get more revenue by his scheme; it being estimated that ho will be able to get twenty-five million taels out of the tax, the only sufferers by the reform being the officials connect-with miscellaneous tax offices in the province. As there are many vested interests to attack and the new scheme may also tempt dishonest officials to tamper with the census that will have to be taken and so cause dissatisfaction and insurrection, the Viceroy with his usual shrewdness recognises the necessity of proceeding slowly and carefully in the matter and the question will be thoroughly threshed and discussed in its pros and cons before any active steps are taken. It is stated that the main object of the Viceroy in wishing to inaugurate the poll tax is first, of course, the increased revenues it promises, and next, and just as important, that it will enable the authorities to know just how many able-bodied men the province of Chibli can furnish in case of hostilities occurring.
The Provincial Judge-elect of Shansi-
In one of the Imperial decrees (No. 4) appearing in these columns yesterday morning it was stated that Ying K'uang had been appointed Provincial Judge of Shansi. We have now been informed that this was a clerical error and that instead of Ying K'uang, the decree should have read Wu K'aang.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.