The New York herald., 1873-11-08
PA N


American Diplomatic Representatfor
and the Postal Treaty-Ffssal Hints
for Use in WAshingtOn-Sweep or .
Typhoon-Grief at Court-Exscuttvs
Measures for Social Reform.
YOKOHAMA, Oct. T. 1873.
Hon. John A. Bingham, ,of Ohio, recently appointed
to the post OF American Envoy Extraordinary ana
Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan. vice Mr.. D.
Long arrived here, with his wife and family, on The
26th ult. Mr.. Bingham Is to have his introductory
audience OF the Mikado to-day-at which time alec
Mr.. De Long will bid His Majesty farewell-and win
probably take charge OF the Legation tomorrow.
hr. De Long win leave Japan for America ON the
steamer OF the 7th Of next month,
Then
POSTAL TREATY
between Japan and the United States has been
published. and gives anything but satisfaction to
the Foreign residents Of Japan The reasons for dg-
Satisfaction are numerous, In the first place, an
internal postal system has already been established
ana people augur from the manner in which this
mas been managed, complete failure OF foreign
mail service. Aletter, posted at Yokahama des-
tined for Jeddo, distance or about twenty miles
traversed by railroad will not reach It's desttna-
ion ifit reach there at all In less than six hours AZ
least twenty per cent OF the letters and papers bo
tween the two places not delivered In less than
twenty.four hours and about ten per cent neveE
reach their destination at all. The telegraph sys-'
tenn, which is also entirely In the hands OF the
Japanese Is also frIghtfuIiy mismanaged. have
had kilograms from Jeddo reach me twenty-four
hours after being sent and never one IN less than
three hours. Besides this, the japanese do not re-
gard letter with that sacred feeling OF 1l0H mo
nations. T It Would not be % crime % ior man, espe-
cally government Official, to open letter ad-
dressed to another person. Then, again, the price
0t io role nd fr6Yn fan IN r
claimed that "a long as the British and Unttea
States governments are paying large subsidies -
clause is In force there Is necessity for Japan
ese foreign postal service. It Is true probably that
imbursed for the outlay, and that therefore, either
or both might be quite anxious to give up tho
control that they at present exercise over the
carrying OF the mails.
THE INCOME
to the United States government could be legitf.
matey increased at least twenty per cent. By
the present arrangement the government pays all
the expenses OF Keeping up post office In each
open port OF China and Japan. and the cOnsuls Of
those ports receive extra remuneration for acting
as postmasters. The stamps are sent from
America and are are charged to the respective consus
difference OF at least twenty per cent and in this
port alone amounting to nearly $60 per annum.
which amount now goes as a legitimate perqusite
into the pockets OF the consular authorities. But
this is a matter between the American governments
and its ofilclas. So far there has not been much
cause to grumbe to the manner in which tho
post Office affairs have been administered. We
now enjoy puncbuallty anu JOleraBie degree Oh
security in the receipt and delivery OF mail matter.
which am AFRAID shall not enjoy when tho
post office comes under the full control OF Japanese
officials.
SEVERE STORM.
The coast OF Japan was visited the latter part Of
last month by very severe typhoon, which re-
suited in more or less damage In all the coast
towns. In YOkOhoma great damage was done to
property, and several lives were lost In c0nSo-
quence Ofand slides that occurred after the storm.
During the month OF September very heavy rains
have iallen, exceeding by several inches the rain
fan of any preceding year for ten years
The rice crop will most probably be consider
ably damaged throughout the country.
DEATH IN THE ROYAL FAMILY.
A ssubsidiaryn wife OF the Mikado gave birth to
still-born child on the 22d inst, which was buried
with great pomp and ceremony on the 24th It -
stated that the death OF the child was the result of
the lncompetency OF the Jap anese physiclans-a
German having been called in to attend after the
mischief had been done.
PROGRESS.
On the 9th inst. the Mikado Is to take part In
the State opening OF the Polytechnic school as
Jed do.
Some ninety new ordinances have just been pub
lished by the Shiosho, or Department Of Justice,
mostly directed against minor offences. They arc
divided into two classes-namely, wilful and acci-
are from a fine Of from fifty to seventy cents, in
default OF which the offender shall receive from ten
to twenty blows. For the latter fine OF six 70
twelve cents or impri for one or two days
Some OF them snow an improvement In social mas
ters as, for instance, prohibiting the sale OF OBJ
scene pictures and the mixing OF the sexes In
public bath houses and vulgar exhibitions. Some,
however. show little too much or parental inter-
ference, such as prohibiting the tatOong OF tho
body and preventing women from cutting their
hair short. But altogether they will reform many
little things thaJ are now decided nuisances to
foreigners.