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(k.) The cconomical management of houses of detention.
(1.) The supervision of the construction of private buildings and approval of their plans and façades.
(m.) The establishment of pawnshops and of credit institutions.
Note. The provisions of paragraphs (i), (j), and (1), relating to the rights of the municipal administration to issue regulations concerning the relations between employers, employés, and workmen, the supervision of private enterprises and constructions mentioned in paragraph (j), as well as the approval of plans and façades of buildings, do not affect the Chinese Eastern Railway Company.
Art. 3. The sphere of action of the municipal administration shall be limited to the town territory as indicated on the plan conferred by the general administration of the Chinese Eastern Railway, this territory consisting of land belonging to the said All streets, railway company, to the municipal administration, and to private owners. public gardens, squares, parks, bridges, &c., on this territory shall remain open for general use, and cannot be converted to any other purpose without the consent of the general administration of the company. Unoccupied lots in the town territory intended by the Chinese Eastern Railway Company for lease to private persons or enterprises shall remain the property of the said company until the lease has been effected. This applies also to lots occupied by railway institutions and to lots to be given on lease by the railway for short terms."
Art. 4. The municipal administration is authorised to purchase and sell properties of the town, to enter into agreements and engagements, and to sue and be sued before the courts in the name of the town.
Art. 5. The municipal administration is authorised to impose the following taxes for the requirements of the town in accordance with the stipulations contained in the present regulations
(a.) On the assessed value of unoccupied lots.
(b.) On houses and buildings.
(c) On commercial and industrial enterprises.
(d.) On hired conveyances, bicycles, motor-cars, carriages, &c.
(e) On horses and dogs.
(f.) On transfers of immovable property situated within the town limits and of
long-termed land leases.
(9.) On apartments.
(4.) On auction sales of movable property.
(i). For medical treatment in the town hospitals.
Note. Of the land and buildings on the territory of the town belonging to the Chinese Eastern Railway Company only such are subject to taxation by the municipal administration as are occupied by the employés of the company for private dwellings or are leased or to be leased according to the annexed plan (article 55). The barracks of the military of the Trans-Amur district and the barracks of the railway brigade, as well as those of the railway workmen, are exempt from taxation.
Art. 6. In addition to the above, the municipal revenues shall be credited with the fees charged for the town benefit by local notaries when executing legal documents.
Art. 7. To satisfy wants of a public character affecting and of general importance to the whole railway territory-such as the prevention and combating of epidemics and epizootics, establishment of public charitable institutions, &c.-a yearly sum, the amount of which is to be determined by agreement between the local railway administration and the municipal administration, but not exceeding 5 per cent, of the total revenue (articles 5 and 6) of the municipal administration, shall be handed over to the railway. In addition to this, a proportion of the expenditure incurred on the police, which is to be fixed by mutual agreement between the manager of the railway and the municipal administration, shall be paid by the latter.
Art. 8. All taxes imposed upon the town population shall be levied on the principle of full equality for all taxpayers. The amounts of the taxes as well as the manner of collection shall be decided by the municipal administration according to the stipulations of articles 38 and 40 of the present regulations. The rate of taxation on the assessed value of improved land shall not exceed per cent., and on that of
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unimproved land per cent. of the said value. The tax ou houses and buildings shall also not be in excess of 1 per cent. of their assessed value. The collection of arrears and fines in connection with taxes shall be summarily effected by the police or by special town collectors, assisted by the police.
Art. 9. Under the provisions of the present regulations the municipal adminis- tration is authorised to issue general obligatory orders binding on the whole population of Harbin regarding such matters as are entrusted to the care of the said administration, to enforce their fulfilment, and to institute legal proceedings according to their respective national laws against persons failing to observe such orders.
Art. 10. The municipal administration shall consist of (a) an assembly of delegates, and (b) a municipal council to which shall be attached the executive officers.
Election of Delegates.
Art. 11. For the election of sixty delegates and twelve candidates an electoral meeting shall be formed consisting of persons having the right to vote at the elections (article 12).
Art. 12. The right to participate in the election of delegates shall belong to all residents irrespective of their subjection, nationality, rank, and religion, having attained the age of 25 and having been settled residents of the town territory for a period of not less than one year. Provided (a) they are owners or representatives of commercial and industrial enterprises possessing long-termed leases of land or houses, the taxable assessed value of which amounts to not less than 1,500 roubles, or short- termed leases of land, the annual rent for which amounts to not less than 600 roubles, or apartments with an annual rental of not less than 600 roubles, and (b) the total taxes paid by them yearly for the needs of the municipal administration amount to not less than 10 roubles.
Note.-Persons not renting their own private apartments, but living in the houses of firms or enterprises in whose service they are employed, shall have the right to participate in the election of delegates on condition of their answering to all other requirements laid down in articles 12 and 13.
Art. 13. Women shall be represented at the elections by proxy: children and minors, as well as persons under guardianship, by their guardians.
Art. 14. In the case of several owners possessing together undivided immovable property, the right to vote shall be vested in one of them by agreement with the others.
Art. 15. No one shall be allowed to have more than two votes at the town elections--one for himself and one by proxy or representation.
Art. 16. The following are not entitled to participate in the elections :----- (a.) Persons deprived of, or limited in their civil rights, and, generally, persons convicted for fraudulent offences; and
(b.) Persons who are in arrears with the payment of the town dues and taxes.
Art. 17. Representatives of firms, institutions, and women, as well as guardians and trustees of children, minors, and other persons under guardianship, may participate in the elections on condition only of their answering to the requirements of age and residency at Harbin (article 12), and of not being liable to exclusion by virtue of the stipulations of article 16.
Art. 18. The lists of persons eligible for participation in the elections shall be prepared by the municipal council and shall be published by them not later than one month before the holding of the elections.
Art. 19. After the publication of the lists, a week's interval shall be allowed to enable residents to prefer any objections regarding the incorrectness or incompleteness of the lists. On the expiration of this term the municipal council shall, where the complaints appear well-founded, make such corrections as they consider necessary, and shall send the lists, together with their observations on any objections left undecided, to the manager of the railway for his decision. The ruling of the manager of the railway on such matters shall be final.
Art. 20. After having been corrected, as provided in article 19, the lists shall be published again not later than one week before the elections take place, and, having been so published, no further corrections or additions to them shall be allowed.
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