The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01
Studying the Governmental
System Of the Country.
A NEWSPAPER PRESS FOR JAPAN.
What the japanese Dignitaries Think
Of the New York Herald.
America Teaching the East and the West the
Science Of Civilization.
WASHINGTON, April 30, Is

On the LIST OF February last Governor Jushe Hro
bumie Ito, Assistant Minister OF Finance OF the En-
pire OF Japan, accompanied by several secretaries,
arrived in Washington, having been sent to this
country as special Commissioner not only for the
purpose ofstudyng financial system but also 10
acquaint himself with knowledge OF American inst,
tutions generally. He was accredited to the United
States by the Mlkado, and brought letters OF intro
duction to the Secretary OF State and Secretary OF
the Treasury from our Minister ut Japan. Mr. De
Long.
THE MOVEMENTS OF GOVERNOR ITO
since his arrival in Washington have from time TO
time been faithfully chroniced these dispatches,
and now. that his labors completed, he will leave
here tomorrow evening for the North. purposing
visit New York, Boston, Niagara and Chicago. ana
proceed thence to San Francisco sailing for Japan
some time In June next. Although but three
months have been devoted to the object OF his visit
those who have been most intimate with
this first Commissioner sent out by the new
Japanese government to acquire an understanding
OF the American system OF finance say that he has
made wonderful progress. and that he has been I'M
RENTING in his efforts to become thoroughly posted
with the mnutest details OF methods OF receipts
and expenditures OF the government He came for
the purpose OF learning, and his instructors have
found 1t q pleasant labor
TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THE miracles
of different plans OF accountability. Governor Ito,
as as he became settled In the quarters he was
to occupy during his stay in this city, reported TO
Secretary Boutwell,, and the Secretary designated
Mr.. ]. H. Saville, the chief clerk OF the Treasury
Department, and Mr.. Ross A. Fish, Of the warrant
division OF that department, "a Governor Ito's In
structors These gentlemen, selected for their pecu
liar fitness for the duty assigned them proceeded In
systematic to unfold the ntrIcacles OF the
circumocution Offices In the Treasury Department
W mad
proceeded to Baltimore, to gain insight into the
customs revenue. In company with the Collector OF
Customs Of that port they embarked on the revenue
cutter and
BOARDED THE FIRST VESSEL
haiiinc from foreign port. The customs officers
proceeded as usual In such cases. and the
preliminary steps for guarding the custody
OF imported merchandise was explained
step by step, until the vessel was moored
at dock in Baltimore, and the duties OF the Ap-
praiser ana Naval Officer were also carefully
planned The dutiable value Of the articles COM
posting the cargo and the manner Of collecting the
duties learned from observation, the labor not
being concluded until the money paid had been de-
posted to the credit Of the United States
Treasurer. The revenue marine service and the
ONCE Of the special agents Of the Treasury
were likewise made known and their rela-
lions TO the customs service made clear to
the Japanese Commissioner and his secretaries.
Having finished with the customs revenue, the
workings OF the internal revenue system were next
attended to, and the machinery OF the assessors and
collectors offices explained with the greatest care.
As in Baltimore, the Japanese accompanied our in
ternal revenue officers In this city the fulment or
their duties, and learned with the fidelity the
system Of deriving revenue by direct taxation.
THE EVENINGS OF GOVERNOR ITO
have been devoted to receiving instruction from
one oil the most eminent lawyers in Washington IN
law forms, the methods OF securing real ana personal
property, the nature Of deeds, notes and mortgages
the routine OF the Office OF the recorder OF deeds and
Wills and the manner OF acquiring titles TO pro-
pcry. All this |. is the intention OF Governor Ito to
report TO his government with the view or securing
TO the people OF Japan perfect titles and rights to
their property Us are enjoyed by the people OF
the United States. Another branch of the Treasury
Department, the Light House Board, has received
the careful consideration Of Governor to- The
character Of our light house system, the various de-
signs for warning mariners of reels and rocks,
buoys for indicating the channels, In fact every
thing belonging to this department Of the revenue,
has been fully explained. But perhaps the most at
tention has been given to our minis and
coinage IS has already been announced
the Japanese government has adopted the decimal
system OF the United States ana their gold and
-
those issued by our own government. With the as
sistance OF DR.. Lnderman, OF the Philadelphia Mint
and Mr.. +. d. Elliott, or the Treasury Department,
Governor Ito prides himself that he is fully capable
OF inauguratng In his own country asystem as com
plete IN all Its details own, IL has also been
determined to adopt
OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM
OF government bonds and currency. The bureau
OF the Comptroller OF the Currency, the deposit |
other detail connected with that bureau relangsto
banking have been inquired into for the purpose OF
developing the same system IN Japan, and 1t is un.
derstood that negotiations have in fact already been
entered into for furnishing the bonds prescribed by
the Japanese government TO carry into effect this
most important measure. But finance has not alone
absorbed the time of Eastern visitors rhc free
common schools and
THE FREE PRESS or AMERICA
have impressed them with the Importance Of trans
ierrng TO the ancient empire privileges as great as
those enjoyed by the people OF this country. The
free schools OF Baltimore and Washington have
been visited. The grades established for the pupils
they advance their studies, and the text books
used, from the lowest to the highest grade, have all
been made familiar to Governor Ito. With
the free schools, In the opinion OF the
japanese government, there should IKE
wise be established free press, and to the sys-
TEN OF American journalism not only has Governor
Ito PAID particular attention, but one OF his secreta
rics, Foukouisi, was editor OF Japanese weekly
paper. published in the interests OF the old govern
ment Of the Tycoon but which was suppressed dur.
ing the revolution In 1862 and upon his return to
Japan he will start weekly journal OF his own, to
he devoted TO the dissemination OF the new ideas
gained during his sojourn In this country Speaking
Of the relative merits OF
THE LEADING JOURNALS or THE WORLD
Foukontsi says that the NEW YORK HERALD is his |
ideal OF standard newspaper, and JUS, such q one