Nanking, July 11, Many vital changes, including the Introduction of a presidential system of government, are embodied in the revised draft of the Chinese Constitution.
Although the suggestion for a President is radical, no. explanation has thus far been given by the drafting committee as to the reasons actuating the proposal or why its opinion has swung from one extreme to the other.
Tu the first draft no attempt was made to conceal the fact that the President was intended to be more or less a political figurehead. as all administrative power was to be centred on the Executive Yuan, while no power was given him other than that of representing the republic in foreign relations.
From this the constitutional committee appear to have made a complete about-face. new. draft Rives the President very large pow-gra. as witness the following provi sions, Article 43. The President shall, accordance with law, promulgate Taws and issue mandates, but these must be counter-signed by the president of the yuan concerned, stipulates that all the various grades lof governments and self-governing bodies must compile budgets and estimates every fiscal year, and also lays down some general principles regarding. the procedure of compile ing them.
Article 168 of the same chapter prohibits the various grades governments from exceeding their estimates with the exception of emergency expenditures as required by. (1) national defence or the protection of peace and order,. (2) natural calamities, or 3) urgently needed engineering projects, Article 169 stipulates that the following matters shall mot be carried out unless in accordance with law or with the approval of the [Legislative Yuan.
The imposition of taxes, duties, fines, of other imposts exacted by means of governmental authority, jas, well as alteration in the rates.
disposition of public property, 2."The sue of public bonds, the the conclusion of contracts bound to increase the burdens of the public treasury.
3, The creation of monopolies Jand the granting of concessions or similar commercial privileges, as as the withdrawal of these
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.