General Hsiong also has another source of strength in his large personal fortune, which he is said to be willing to, disburse liberally ce any Yang Sen generals who wish to change commanders. It is reported here that attempts Bere. been made. within the last few days to "reach'' tthe Suifu and Chiating leaders in an effort to forestall their possible alignment with General Yang.
It is hinted here that General Yang is himself in the market with no little silver and that he is prepared to_ meet all First Army offers. Local taxes now yield him a handsome return. Shipping taxes have been raised since General Yang's return here and are still being revamped on the model of the water-tight Wanhsien system. Military likin charges on imported raw cotton now amount to $4.50 per bale. an increase of 50 per cent. and some other imposts have been increased correspondingly. A. through-shipping tax is now collected from all steamers passing through the port, in spite of the protests of merchants and shipping agents. That one steamer paid $3,000 today as its toll is evidence of the quantity of revenue now derived from these sources.
Since reoccupying the city, General Yang has made a thorough-going clean-up similar to his renovation of Chungking. Inasmuch as it is his birth-place and home city, the General has a personal as well as professional interest in making it a "model town." He plans extensive street improvements, the installation of an up-to-date electric lighting system and other modern improvements.. For che present he has prohibited the use of opium within the city limits, although it is said to be obtainable and the seized drug is said to be shipped by the military to down-river ports and there marketed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.