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about 42; the oldest member is 70 years of age, and there are several who are barely 30.
Opening."The opening of the council took place on the 1st day of the 9th month (14th October), the Viceroy performing the ceremony.
Viceroy's Speech." In his opening speech his Excellency pointed out the necessity of co-operation between the gentry and the officials, and cautioned the representatives against trying to proceed at too rapid a rate, saying that as the Government regula- tions provided for the gradual introduction of parliamentary institutions spreading over a period of ten years, they must not try to anticipate the reforms so provided for. 'This, with the election of the president and vice-president, completed the pro- ceedings for the first day. The president, named P'u Tien Chun, appears to have been elected on his literary reputation. le is a well-known member of the local gentry, was first of his year in the examination for provincial graduates, and is a third-class secretary of one of the metropolitan boards (chu shih ').
"The council was then closed for thirteen days, reopening on the 15th day of the 9th month (28th October). When the council first met, the subjects for discussion had not all been prepared, so an adjournment was necessary for their completion. On account of this adjournment, the period of sitting has been extended five days, and the session will not close until the 16th day of the 10th mouth (28th November).
Programme of Business." On the opening day, the Viceroy handed over to the president a list of subjects for discussion that he himself had drawn up. The council does not contine its deliberations to these subjects, but also proposes questions for itself; moreover, the various high provincial officials frequently request the council to give them the benefit of their deliberation on matters of reorganisation and administration. As an indication of the scope of the council's discussions, a list of the subjects dealt with up to the present date, together with those named in the Viceroy's list, is included as an Appendix (Appendix A),
An
Proceedings of Assembly."The council sits every day (except Sundays, when there is no sitting) from 1 P.M. to about 5 P.M., with an interval of about twenty minutes in the middle. As there are usually three or four subjects to be dealt with each day, this time does not seem to admit of very thorough discussion. examination of the published reports of the debates shows that the discussion is largely monopolised by a very few of the deputies, the greater number taking no part in the debates. Every day a certain number of the provincial officials are appointed by the Viceroy to be in attendance at the Chamber, and when matters touching on their administration are raised, these officials themselves take part in the debates.
Criticism of Provincial Government; Altercation between Assembly and Provincial Government." Reports go to show that the council is very free in its discussion of the merits--or more frequently, the demerits-of the officials of the province. This independent attitude of theirs has already led to a mild constitutional straggle, that Accounts vary as seems to have done a little to raise the prestige of the council,
to how the breach arose, but all agree that an attempt was made, either by the Viceroy or by his secretary in his name, to restrict the freedom of debate. The council were discussing, with great freedom, the conduct of certain officials, and the Viceroy's principal secretary, who is an expectant intendant of circuit and also the director of the official newspaper office, was sent to instruct the council that this was ultra vires. The president objecting to this ruling, the secretary went on to say that he was there as the representative of the Viceroy and that he therefore had full power to instruct the council as to what subjects were admissible and what were obnoxious—in other words, to point out to the council what subjects they might discuss. The council would not agree to this position, and the president told the secretary that the powers of the council were conferred by the Emperor and were therefore not to be diminished by the Viceroy, adding that a continuation of this attempted interference would compel him to telegrapli a full account of the incident to the Constitutional Investiga- tion Office in Peking. The secretary was thus compelled to withdraw, but on the next day the president apologized to the Viceroy, admitting that the discussion was out of order on the ground of irrelevance. In spite, however, of this admission, the general opinion seems to be that the incident has strengthened the position of the council.
Little Notice taken by the People." It might be thought that an assembly that has adopted so independent an attitude towards the officials and is dealing with subjects of such direct interest to the people would awaken a certain amount of excitement and enthusiasm among them; but it is no exaggeration to say that, so fur as the preponderating majonty are concerned, the people regard this revolutionary
17
body with an even milder interest than a parish council excites in England. This is no doubt explained in part by the absence of full newspaper reports of the debates, with free comments thereon. There are only two daily papers circulating in Chengtu: one of these is an official paper and the other is privately established. The reports of the debates appear only in the official paper, and then only in the form of a very brief précis, as will be seen from the typical specimen appended to this report (Appendix (B)). These reports are, I believe, substantially accurate, but are too brief to excite much interest, besides which the paper is not allowed to make any comments on the debates. The official paper at first appended its own opinions in the form of a parenthesis, but the president of the council informed the director of the newspaper office that this was not satisfactory to the council, and since then all comments in the papers have ceased. No report at all, but only a list of subjects,
in the unofficial paper. appears
I am given to understand that the management of this paper prepares reports of the council's proceedings for insertion in the paper, but that these are always disallowed by the police.
"It is probable, too, that the lack of interest on the part of the public is partly occasioned by the powerlessness of the council to carry any of its recommendations into effect.
Arrangements for Admission of the Public.--"Arrangements have been made for the admission of the public to the galleries of the chamber, and also for the admission of newspaper reporters. The public are admitted by ticket. These tickets are procured, in the case of officials of the province, by writing direct to the president of the council; foreigners may obtain tickets by applying to the most convenient public office (this is explained as meaning the foreign bureau); and other people are admitted on the introduction of a member of the council, each member being allowed to
introduce two guests. Bules are drawn up providing for orderly and decorous conduct on the part of those so admitted. The people avail themselves of this privilege in good numbers, but from the general attitude of the public it would scem that in the majority of cases they attend rather from curiosity than from a genuine interest.
"Appendix (A).
"List of Subjects discussed by the Szechuan Provincial Council.
"1. Viceroy's original list:-
"Eradication of superstition.
"Institution of an experimental department for industrial machinery and
implements.
"Dispersion of illegal societies.
"Reform of the train-bands.
"Establishment of trade banks (Chin yeh yin hang ').
"Means of curing the opium habit.
"Establishment of 'schools for easy reading."
C
Expenses of police.
Expenses of river police.
Discouragement of foot-binding.
Expenses of the education department.
"Establishment of irrigation societies in district cities.
"Protection of woods and forests.
1
Prevention of disputes between couverts and other natives.
Establishment of textile societies.
"Establishment of a provincial society for the investigation of natural
resources.
"Collection of fees in primary schools.
FC
**
Raising of funds for the Szechuan Province Mining Supervisory
Company.
Improvement of rapids on the river,
"Acceleration of the raising of capital for the Chuan-Han Railway.
"2. Other subjects dealt with up to the 17th November:-
"Collection of share capital by the Szechuan Province Mining Supervisory
Company.
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