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is to use taxation as a prohibitory measure. If the price were to be doubled suddenly it would not be the loss of market that would be feared, but encroachments upon the market by the clandestine sale of prepared drug, Formerly at Hsuchou and Haichou, in Kiangpei, there were many who clandestinely sold prepared opium. If in one day the price of opium were suddenly doubled the profit to be made would be immense, and licensed opium would be driven out of the market by illicit sale, and this would, it is to feared, militate against the suppression of opium smoking.
Your new scheme of increasing the price by one-tenth per annum is quite consistent with the idea of the suppression of opium by degrees, and it is the duty of the Anti-Opium Bureau to check sales and collect the tax. An amount of the resulting income to be determined on should be handed over in lieu of the original tax on prepared opium, and the rest should be utilized for the expenses of the anti-opium
movement.
As to the expedient regarding the opium shops, this is a measure in consideration of the poor; and of the prepared opium shops, few are to be found which do not provide facilities for smoking on the premises, or which confine their business to the sale of prepared opium. These are to be licensed as retail dealers in prepared opium. The names and addresses of the proprietors of the shops are first to be collected, and these must be made to give a bond not to allow smoking on the premises, and must obtain reciprocal security from others of the same trade. When licensed and registered on the official list they are to be allowed to carry on business. From that time forward shops may be closed, but no new shops opened, and fraudulent assumption of names and transfer of ownership, and other frauds of this character, will be strictly dealt with.
The original scheme as now amended by you is hereby indorsed as approved, and should be put into operation.
The various measures which have been submitted to me, with my revisions, should be embodied in the form of a Circular Report, and sent to all the higher authorities.
"Hsin Wen Pao" of the 5th April :
Chu Taotai, head of the Li-kin farm at Soochow, and the officials of the head Li-kin Office at Shanghae, after discussion some days ago, requested the Governor to authorize a Regulation that private individuals purchasing raw opium should pay an increase of the price of 30 cash per ounce. The Governor decided yesterday that as the newly-established bureau for the control and taxation of prepared opium had instituted the measure of raising the price, the old practice of collecting opium duty by
farming" should be abolished, and he instructed his subordinates accordingly.
3. Attitude of Officials and Movement in the Official Circles.
"Shen Pao," of the 15th May:
The anti-opium movement is being actively carried out at Soochow, but at Nanking there is no sign of activity. This is said to be due to the tastes of his Excellency (probably the Provincial Treasurer). It is impossible to expect instant obedience to the orders against smoking. We hear that the Viceroy has decided upon a new Regulation, that, whether substantive or expectant, all officials shall be guaranteed by two others, and should any subterfuge be discovered all three will have to resign.
In this wise every one will have to look after his own position, and there cannot be any secret aiding and abetting from motives of friendship.
"Chung Wai Jih Pao," of the 17th March:
The expectant officials in Soochow city are being carefully watched for opium smoking and have already given bonds, details regarding which have been embodied in a report to the Governor. It is now said that, as Governor Ch'en finds that as the bonds detailed in the report are mainly those of officials stationed in Soochow, and that as there are many detailed on special service who have been omitted, he has given orders that Lu Taotai and others, who are in charge of the investigation, shall make a fresh report, and should there be any officials who have been omitted from the previous one, they must be included forthwith and made to give a definite undertaking to be handed in within a given date. No delay or evasion can be permitted. This must not be disregarded.
"Shen Pao," of the 4th April:
•
Yang, Commandant of the Soochow Active Regulars, discovered that his second local regiment is full of opium smokers, and that the artillery is in a worse state, so gave orders to the officers of his regiment that they were to enforce the cessation of opium smoking among the men within a fortnight. At the expiration of this time the troops must be paraded at head-quarters for inspection by the Commandant. Should any of them try to conceal the fact that they are addicted to the habit, they will be at once struck off the list. The officers have communicated this to the men, and have ordered them to obey.
The "Shih Pao," of the 8th April:
says
Gives an item of news which has excited interest among the Chinese in Shanghac, and although it cannot be said to pertain to the district under notice, yet it may be of sufficient significance as to warrant its inclusion in this Report. The "Shih Pao" Chekiang officials are being carefully watched for opium smoking. A register of the opium smoking officials has been drawn up, and a report been made concerning them, and six months bas been the time limit laid down for their cessation of opium smoking No pretexts will be admitted or concealment allowed, and any who break the rule will be impeached. Clerks in yamêns must also observe this time limit. Hsin, Provincial Treasurer, has discovered that the keeper of the Provincial Treasures, Pi Ting, is an opium smoker, and although he had promised to give up smoking, he was ordered to leave his post and to wait till he had got over his craving, which fact was to be certified by a foreign doctor; he will then be allowed to return. His duties will be attended to by Chin Pin San, Secretary of Records, in addition to his own. The Treasurer hopes that all officials will take heed of this example made of an officer of his own yamên. Officials, whether substantive or deputies, who have the opium habit, will all be granted furlough to cure themselves. The Treasurer is actively carrying out the idea of the prohibitory edict.
"Hsin Wen Pao," of the 17th April:
The Governor considered that Lu, Proctor of the Bureau for Control and Taxation of Prepared Opium, was not discharging his duties satisfactorily and cashiered him, appointing Teng, a Prefect, to replace him. The latter assumed his duties on the 15th April.
Liu Kuo Shun, Superintendent of the Central Anti-Opium Bureau, finds many difficulties in the way of the proper discharge of his duties, and on the 15th April went to tender his resignation to the Governor. His resignation was not accepted. (He is said to be indignant at the cashiering of Proctor Lu.)
4. New Bureaux, &c.
(a.) Bureau for Control and Taxation of Prepared Opium.
(b.) Prohibition Anti-Opium Bureau.
(c.) Bureau for the Surveillance of Opium Smokers, (See also above.)
There would seem to be little difference in the methods or personnel of the three Bureaux-in fact, the names may probably be correctly regarded as synonymous.
"Chung Wai Jih Pao," of the 17th March:
It has been reported to the Governor that the Bureau for the Surveillance of Opium Smoking is now in operation.
Now that the Bureau for the Surveillance of Opium Smoking is established, Liu Tuotai, who is in charge, is anxious to secure the co-operation of the Anti-Opium Society of the gentry, to enable a strict control to be kept over the opium dealers. He has been in treaty with this Society for some time without attaining any definite conclusion, and much time has been wasted, and active operations have been commenced.
We hear that Liu Taotai has had repeated instructions from the Governor pressing for action, Satisfactory arrangements have now been made, and the Bureau commenced operations some days ago.
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