Aug. 3.
We bring to a close to-day our series of articles on the famine surtaxes. A stronger indictment of the entirely shameless conduct, of Peking, not only in questions of honesty but of common humanity, could hardly be imagined. t a moderate estimate the surtax on railway: yielding the Government a million dollars, a month. From the Customs, it: is computed that the surtax had brought in between two and three million taels up to the end of last June. So that by now we may fairly assume that the whole of the $4,000,000 loan has been recovered, and possibly most of the interest due as well. Yet this surtax, together with others, is, Officially, to remain in force till next March. In Kiangsu, the Chinese merchants compounded for the proposed surtax on likin by a payment of $900,000. And what, it may be asked, has happened in other provinces? As for the receipts from the telegraph and postal surtaxes there is no available information, but everyday experience suggests that they must be very large. Meanwhile all the contribution traceable from the Government is $5,000,000. The so-called Chefoo-Weihsien Railway has been industriously boomed by the officially inspired press of Peking. But by the latest; accurate information we could get, nothing has beer made but a mud track and we are not sure that even that goes right through. Of other public works trustworthy information is of the meagre st. And the famine is over, while the} surtaxes go on. 3
Our contributor mentions the Famine Prevention Bureau, in which Peking proposes to camoufage the disposal of the surplus millions which it has already pouched and hopes yet to obtain from the surtaxes. This excuse has, we believe, given the Diplomatic Body opportunity in the shape of an intimation that the Bureau will be accepted if accompanied by foreign super-n: otherwise the Customs surtax will be cut off, so soon as loan and interest are paid up. But we venture to suggest that this is not enough. All famine relief associations have published itemized accounts of their takings and spendings and Peking ought:
[to be forced by every lever which public opinion can move to do the like. Tf it refuses, it stands before the world under accusation of having malverted money which was paid to save millions of Chinese from death by starvation and of being unable to clear itself. A' demand that Peking shall clear itself or punish the thieves may properly be made by foreign representatives, inasmuch as not only in China have foreigners given largely of their time, money and labour to save the famine-stricken but huge sums have been subscribed by the peoples of Great Britain, America and other countries for the same purpose.
But the whole situation needs to be reconsidered in the light of events that have but recently occurred, namely, the terrible floods on the. Han and Huai Rivers, of which our correspondents up country have been sending us such tragic accounts. It needs little imagination to guess how Peking will jump at these ters for retaining the surtaxes, extending their duration, amplifying them if it can. Now we urge in the most earnest manner that all Chinese associations, provincial assemblies and guilds will combine with the foreigner in saying, "This must not be." The story of the Tangwangmiao dyke on the Han River is ample justification for protest, This dyke was built but two years ago at @ supposed cost of a million dollars. But sand was put where earth should have been used and earth where stone, und at the first bad tod it melts away like sugar. It is unthinkable that further surtaxes should be permitted for dishonest work of this kind, Speaking generally, the whole principle of surtaxes is bad and tneconomic. We have found that even in England where every penny collected is accounted for. In respect of the victims of flood and famine in China it is safe w say ti if there were the remotes nee. of the money being really devoted to the relief of present, and prevention of future, disaster; both foreigners and se would' willingly acquiesce in the surtaxes. But the evidence of the past prevents any hope of such a possibility: There is but one. course to take. The fan tine is over; Peking, we may assume until it faces and refutes the charge, has feathered its nest; the surtaxes must stop.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.