CHINESE ROOSEVELT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2593, 30 August 1909, Page 3

CHINESE ROOSEVELT.

THE EXTRAORDINARY ACTIVITY OF THE PRINCE REGENT OF : china;

1 Many remarkable indications of the immense activity of the new Prince Regent of ..China are, given by the “World’s Chinese' Students’ Journal." Here is a good one to begin with:— “The Prince Regent, is receiving lessons in the ' English language from Chang Teh-yih (Chinese ex-Minister to London).” “ ... “The genuine interest which the Regent has shown in the general welfare of the State and the determination with which he grapples with many of the outstanding problems of the .Empire will add greater impetus to the progress of reforms. ABOLISH SUPERFLUOUS • OFFICIALS. .

“The Prince Regent has ordered the ministries and offices in the capital to dismiss all superfluous officials in. their employ, and to increase the salaries of the ones retained, so as to enable them to give their entire time „and attention to their work. . c “The Prince Regent pays much attention _to questions of constitutional government, and has more than once inquired among the Grand Councillors for the reason of Turkey’s having been granted a constitution so' readily. “The Prince Regent has sent strict instructions to all the Viceroys and Governors, giving orders that, in view of the present difficult times, they should not only do their best to carry out constitutional measures, but also attend to administrative measures, defence, anti-Christian troubles, foreign and financial affairs, and adding that any negligence will be severely dealt with.

“The Prince Regent has given orders to the Grand Council to detail deputies do read every day newspapers published in the Empire, and to present him with an abstract of the important news contained in them; also to translate such items from papers in foreign languages. The Council has accordingly appointed eight men for this duty. “The Prince Regent has caused, to bo put up, outside his residence, a pet-ition-box, accessible to all classes of people. “The Ministry of the Interior is considering a strict code of laws to be directed against violations of police regulations. v A CHINESE CABINET. “The Government ihas decided to establish a responsible Cabinet in five years. ,

“The Waiwupu proposes to call a meeting of the coming Ministers in Pekin next spring to discuss the revision 3 of the treaties, in order to secure terms more favorable to China’s sovereign rights. “The Prince Regent has commanded the Ministry of Justice to draw up immediately a set of special laws against officials accepting bribes. NO OFFICES BY FAVOR. “The Prince Regent deeply objects to men who attempt to secure positions and offices by favor, and has again commanded the Grand Council to telegraph to the provinces forbidding Viceroys and Governors to as'k the Throne for permission to transfer officials from one province to another for appointments. “The office for. Study of Constitutional Politics has decided to maka the knowledge of the mandarin dialect a necessary qualification for * the provincial of the future Parliament in China. “The Prince Regent ihas ordered the Grand Council to recommend officials well versed in constitutional politics for appointment as High Commissioners to compile constitutional laws. LITIGANTS NOT TO KNEEL. “The Ministry of Justice has addressed dispatches 4° the provincial authorities stating that the kneeling of litigants during the hearing of law suite has arisen from long practice rather than, from any established rule, and the practice should be abolished in tlieso progressive times when the people are preparing , for constitutional government. The authorities are ordered to follow the example of the Tientsin Provincial Court, where parties, in a civil suit are exempted from kneeling during the hearing, and only the accused in a criminal case _is made to kneel. It is hoped by this to elevate the people’s dignity and preserve their self-esteem. -

WORK FOR EDUCATED CHINESE. “The Government brought forward for discussion the advisability of permitting Chinese students educated abroad to present memorials to it on national affairs,, with, their views, and suggestions. It has now been decided to grant this privilege, and the Government will consult the Ministry of Education and draw up a set of regulations governing the matter, to come into operation after the expiry of the one hundred days of national mourning. Chinese students abroad will thus have an opportunity of making suggestions for the welfare of their country and people, based on tlieir superior education and knowledge. v APPOINT ABLE OFFICIALS.

“/The Prince Regent has ordered tho Grand Council to telegraph to the Yiceroys and Governors of Manchuria, the two Kuang provinces, Yunnan, Kueichow, Shensi, and Kansu to appoint able-officials to posts at the frontiers so as to preserve peace and order. . “The Chinese Government has decided to reorganise the Imperial Navy next year. The expenses for this work will be contributed to by '•the provinces, -y “The Prince Regent has instructed the Grand Counpillors to .recommend those who are well versed in diplomatic affairs for appointment to office. ' “The Prince Regent has instructed the Office for Study of Constitutional Politics to draw up immediately the constitution of a Judicial Council for the -Administration, -so as to keep check over officials and 1 to obviate the necessity of their being frequently impeached by the censors.” These baldly-worded paragraphs, which .we reproduce just as they stand, are eloquent of a new spirit moving in China.