The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-06
OUR JAPANESE VISITORS.
borrowing American Ideas The Object of the
Visit of the Special UOminIsstOners,

borrowing American Ideas The Object of the
Visit of the Speclal commissioners,
The Washington Republican says:-GOvernor
Jushe Hirobumie Ito Assistant Minister of FL
nance of the empire of Japan and Special
Commissioner to the United States of America
is man of rank, formerly retainer of Chosin,
the second prince of Importance in the empire
of Japan since the last successful revolution.
Through Chosn, Ito was educated and sent
to Europe for O short sojourn. After his return
from Europe he was made Governor of HiOgO,
and from his uniform kindness and courtesy to
foreigners resident there greater degree
of regard from them than any other Japanese
official had obtained that had come in contact
with them. About year ago. when the pre-
sent Government of Japan became consolidated,
Chosin was made Secretary of the Treasury.
Ito was placed Immediately under him, aud has
since that time really superinteuded the inan-
cial affairs of the country.
About ten years since the Japanese Govern
ment purchased the machinery aud dies of
mint, and had it set up at Osacca, and soon
after the works were erected at that place the
japanese Government sent over about two mill
lions of dollars worth of old Japanese coins to
be refined according to the standard of the
United States (g00). This was done at the insti-
CATION of Ito, who had just then assumed his
position in the Treasury Department. When
this bullion was returned 1t was coined into
money-tokens for the Empire of Japan of the
same flneness, size, shape, and value as those
issued in the United States. Thus they have
gold coins in all things equal to our double
eagle, eagle, half and quarter eagles; in a word,
the japanese Government has taken the decimal
system of coinage of the United States for the
benefit of their mercantile interests.
In conversation with Governor Ito Yesterday
he remarked that he had selected our system Of
coinage after the examination of the reports of
agents sent abroad to examine the different
systems and had arrived at the conclusion shat
the United States plan was preferable to any
other. But it was soon found that further and
greater reforms in the financial administration
were necessary before it could be said to be
on sound footing. The late revolution has
changed Japan from feudal Government to
a consolidated central one. Under the old
regime the money that was necessary for the
maintenance of the Government was assessed
on the different feudal princes. They in
turn demanded the money from the lesser
nobility, and so it was continued down to the
merchant and dealer. Since the ownership of
the daimios territories has been vested in the
central government, and the princes and COM
mon people being alike subject only to the rule
of the Emperor, the old mode of taxation is
found to be imPracticable. Hence the adveNt oi
the imperial commissioner. He visits Wash
ington to place himself in communication with
our Treasury Department, and proposes to post
himself thoroughly in our different systems OF
central and local taxation, the revenue and its
sources, the tariff and all custom house affairs.