It is unfortunate that graft has always been a feature of this business in Chefoo and that effort has never been made to suppress the activities of the women and men engaged in the traffic. Criticisms have always ne, n levelled upon the Police but until now they have paid no attention to the representations made by foreign residents interested. in welfare work.
If it is true that the authorities are now, sincerely considering the, provement of the conditions next all we can say, with a Sigh of relief, that "it's about time."
'According "to inside information secured from an informant, this decision of the police to reduce the number of cabarets, bars, etc., to a minimum is not so much' the result: of foreign representations but on count of pressure brought to bear: by operators of native houses who. seem to have a very strong held upon the authorities. If this is s0, and my informant assures me that is, we may sce an increase in the number of these native houses of ill repute next year.
The American' naval auth have always had to maintain a sharp look-out over the unserupolcus activities of that class of people who make a living generosities and liberalities of the men of the Asiatic Squadron, Not rly must the patrols keep a sharp watch upon the conduct Gach establishment, they must like: wise trace the activities of dope Tellers. Tt is. always possible in Chefoo to get a pinch of cocaine for a few coppers. One establishnent was closed this season—that to say put out of bounds—by the American naval authorities because men were found in hiding therein well past the liberty period Doped Liquor Then there are those who sell fake whisky and other liquor who must watched "and whose activities rmiust be curbed. The Chinese police have never shown any anxiety to Put'an end or at least to suppress Jas much as possible these nefarious festivities. All they have cared for ie how to raise money for_then-
Inspectors would go round, from time to time, visiting these establishments for the purpose of di covering something taxable. For instance, last week, rather late in the season, they found eatd and dice ments, Now, under the provisions of the Laws of the Republic of China, gambling is not permissible, but these establishments were not ordered to be closed; the police wanted them to pay $500 for a gambling permit
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.