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Emperor he received an appointment from Chen-pi. It is suggested that he was given this post because Ch'en-pi was in his power, owing to the knowledge possessed by Li-chun of the misappropriation of public funds by the President.
Lí-chün has been examined with regard to this charge, but denies having had financial transactions with Chien-pi, and it is difficult to find conclusive proof of such transactions.
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ก 15. Ch'en-pi is charged with having opened, through an agent, a grain shop outside the Chien Men, and with arranging that the grain conveyed to this shop should erade the payment of duty.
The memoralists have interrogated the manager of the shop referred to, but have not been able to find any proof of the existence of a partnership between him and Ch'en-pi.
16. Ch'en-pi is charged with conniving at a fraudulent conspiracy between an officer in the Board named Chin Kung-shou and a certain firm of timber merchants.
It is found that whilst there is no conclusive proof of the existence of such a conspiracy there are considerable grounds for suspicion.
17. Another charge of having given an appointment to an incompetent officer, owing to improper influence, is not fully established.
Is. Finally, he is charged with taking bribes in return for granting public appointments. The bribes were said to be on the following scale: 10,000 dollars for a recommendation to an appointment as Councillor or Secretary, 3,000 taels for transferring an officer to the Board, and 5,000 taels on giving a substantive appointment.
If this charge is true the utmost secrecy must have been preserved with regard to the matter, and no definite proof has been brought forward.
The memorialists conclude, as the result of their investigation, that as regards the charges of taking secret commissions, having misappropriated public funds, opening a grain shop, and taking bribes, although there are many rumours on the subject, no conclusive proof has been adduced, and they may therefore be disregarded for the present. As regards, however, the large sums of money under the Board's control, which are either the property of the State or else share-capital subscribed by the people, it is essential that the utmost care and economy should be observed. When such salaries as 1,900 taels and 1,000 taels a-month are paid to the Directors of Railway and other bureaux, what can be the amount of the emoluments received by still higher officials? When men of exceptional merit are engaged it is right that they should be paid liberally, but there is no doubt that whilst the officers holding posts in the Board may be competent, there has been much extravagance and corrupt practices.
They recommend the dismissal of two officers, Chin Kung-shou and Ting Wei- chung, and the retention of the other officers should depend upon their zeal and behaviour in the future. The excessive salaries should be reduced and a uniform scale drawn up. As regards the sons and nephews of Ch'en-pi, their superior officers should be directed to inquire into their fitness to retain office.
With regard to Ch'en-pi himself, he is undoubtedly a man of ability, and gained a high reputation during his terms of office as Censor and Governor of Shun-tien Fu. His principles, however, are not so high as his abilities and he has now lost the esteem which he formerly enjoyed. Whilst some of the rumours against him may be exaggerated, there has evidently been considerable extravagance in the employment of public funds in addition to irregularities in connection with the distribution of appointments, for which he must be held responsible. The question of his punish- ment is left to the Throne.
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The course of study will be divided into two sections, Mongol and Thibetan, and will comprise the study of either of those two languages, in a period of three years, as well as the study of history, geography, jurisprudence, and economics. Examina- tions will be held by the Board of Dependencies, and successful candidates will either be employed in that Board or be attached for service under the Military Governors, Lieutenant-Governors, Imperial Residents, Governors-General, Governors of Frontier posts.
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It has now been decided to enrol 200 students, who may be Manchu, Mongol, or Chinese by birth, provided that they are over 18 and under 32 years of age, of sound physique, and well grounded in the middle-school standard of education.
In order to enter the school, candidates will have to satisfy examiners in the following subjects: The Chinese language (written), arithmetic, history, and geography.
Selected candidates will be called upon to deposit 10 dollars (say 1.) as security. There will be no school fees, and students will lodge and feed themselves.
The entrance examination will take place at the school, in the P'i-ch'ai Hut'ung, West City, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th February,
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