The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-22
JAPAN.

Interesting Summary or News-Publa
! fExpenses Being Reduced-PatrfOtic A 9
ron OF Omcials and Governments Em-
| PlOyes-A (" Mint" of Trouble for the
! EmpIre.
The steamer Vancouver. which ar.
rived at San Francisco, on the 1st inst.
brings late and interesting news from
Japan. A typhoon at Yezoo had
wrecked many junks and swept away
several villages, causing the destruction
| of 200 lives.
Public expenses are being reduced in
various ways. The Mikado and MEM
bers of the imperial family have re-
nounced a part of their incomes. Nu-
merous employees have requested re-
ductlon OF their salaries, and even the
scholars in the national academies have
petitioned that the amount allowed for
their education be temporarily reduced.
The enthusiasm and offers Of personal
sacrifices are universal. Volunteers
are forming throughout the empire.
There is much discussion concerning
the displacement of the Director and
other English employees of the mint at
Osaka. The British community and
newspapers of Yokohama complain bit
terly, as if an actual wrong had been
done them, and proclaim that the ma
tional coinage will become valuless with
the mint taken away from the British
management. The matter is q serious
one for the japanese government. and
is totally misrepresented here. Some
time since, a contract was made with
the Oriental Bank Corporation to SUPER
intend the establishment of the mint.
among other public works. This con-
tract expires early in 1875, but the cor
poration has claimed the right to make
future engagements with the officials in
the mint and elsewhere. The govern
ment denies this, finding that it has al
ready placed itself far too unreservedly
in the hands of the Oriental Bank Cor
poration, and announces that the en-.
gagements heretofore made with that
body must terminate with the expira-
ton of the general contract, next Feb
ruary. SO far as is practicable, there is
no intention of removing the foreign
assistance from the mint, but there is
a positive determination to get lid of
oppressive interference of the bank in
government affairs. The bank is natu-
rally unwilling to surrender its valuable
privileges, and it's pretensions are
strongly supported by British infuen-
ces, but the government is quite de-
cided.
The superhous supply of silk-worm
eggs had been reduced by burning num-
bers of cartons.
The Japanese Postofice Department
has decreed fine of $3.50 for wrong
fully opening any letter.
The United States Minister'S relations
with the Japanese government are per-
fectly harmonious, but his representa-
tons In regard to the military registra-
ton of the servants in his service. and
the employment of Mr.. Wasson, have
passed unheeded.
The British Minister has notified the
English employed in the naval service of
Japan that, in case of war, they must
resign their positions.
The impression appears to prevail in
American journals that Iwakura es-
pecially directs the government in it's
present crisis. This q mistake. There
are three ministerial offices near the
throne, only the third of which, in rank,
is held by Iwakura. When he visited
America and Europe, the second place
was vacant, but this has since BEEN
filed by Shimandzee Sabulo. The first
is occupied by Sanjio. Iwakura, in
fact, takes comparatively little part in
the war discussions.
The Mikado's birthday was celebra-
ted Nov. 3 with military reviews, state
receptions, and public festivities of all
kinds. The Foreign Diplomatic Corps
dined by invitation at the Imperial
Guest House at Yeddo.
The Japanese are rapidly preparing
to erect fortifcations on all the i'm
portant points along the coast.
The boiler of steamer on Lake Biwa
burst, and her passengers and crew,
numbering 100, are reported killed by
the explosion or drowned