Lung Chi-kuang's Troops Affair—The Besides the articles on subjects which we reproduce below in substance, the Chinese Press during the bygone week also discussed several other questions. The efforts made by the Government in raising funds for famine relief purposes and the generosity displayed by private institutions and individuals in donating handsome contributions to the same have elicited favourable comments. As regards the special levies to be imposed on travellers and users of the postal and telegraph services, so long as such levies be fixed at reasonable figures which will not prove a burden too heavy for the common people to bear, there ought to be no objection. With respect to the proposed increasing of the Customs duty by 10 per cent. and other taxes proportionately, a time limit, it is thought, should be fixed as a safeguard against legalizing these increments as permanent impositions. Who provision of capital punishment for those guilty of embezzling famine relief funds to any amount exceeding $500 is received with} general satisfaction, although in the performance of such work as is before us this time, involving an expenditure of millions and cov: ing a field of several provinces, it is considered to be problematical whether abuses of all kinds can be altogether prevented, and whether an appeal to the conscience of the workers would prove to be more effective than the severest penalty that could be invented.
The brave fight for the right of self-government shown by the Hunanese is much eulogized, and this is considered to be a worthy example that should be followed by other provincials, But in order to retain this right after acquiring it, a sustained effort is deemed necessary. The reported revision of the Sino-Japanese Military Pact has occasloned some sharp criticism at the expense of General Chin Yun-peng, the Premier. The income tax is not popular; already several provineial chambers of commerce have voted against its imposition from the next New Year. The creation of a Coast Defence Commissioner is-ridiculed, as what could he do with a navy in its present poor condition, even assuming there were any necessity for his appointment? Chen Kuang-yuan, uchun of Riangsi, has fallen out with Li Shun; and his protest against the latter being made Inspector-General over him, and his prayer to have his province incorporated under the Inspector-General Wang Chan-yuan of Hunan and Hupeh if the Government must put an overlord above him, have been noted in the Chinese Press, causing much amusement. The Tuchun of Kuangtung, Separate Peace, Hopeful Future, National Commemoration
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.