Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-02-08
Of 1890 showed the follow

Total ..................5S ia S1,2I0 S9SSO
The Japanese and Chinese in the isl
ands are what are known as contract
laborers, engaged Tor definite time, to
be shipped back at the expiration of
the time. The laws there against the Ce-
lestials getting foothold as citizens are
as eXacting as those of the United
States.
The voters are divided into two
classes: 1) Those who possess not less
than a certain income $4,000, a certain
amount of land, and an education which
will enable them to read. These vote
for members of the legislature and
House Of Mobiles, (2) Those who can
read and write, but who have no in
come or lands may vote for members of
the lower house only. The Asiatics
have no citizenship.
In the matter of taxation the returns
from April /, 1889, to March 81, 1890,
showed:
lax on real estate 5"9,o90
Road, poll and school .................. $50, $50
Horses, dogs, carriages, Sl1OS
Total .. .... ... 81, oS2, $50
It may be of interest to Americans,
who beat the world on turnouts, to know
that the value of a rig in the islands has
nothing to do with the tax; ali alike are
put down at So year. The poll tax is
collected on the same principle as that
in vogue in the United States.
Real estate Is supposed tc be taxed up
to its value, varying according to gov
eminent expenses. At the same time
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars IN
property escape taxation there as in the
United States. In the matter OF sugar,
for example, it is said that the bulk of it
Is oil nj mad iJ1Gt bpfNrA rho
Of the assessor.
The coffee raised there is said by
those who are good judges to be super
Tor IN flavor to any Java or Mocha,
and sells at the retailers at % cents q
pound.
The government is practically a re-
public, so that If annexation to the
United States shall follow the people
will not be annoyed by any cOmplica-
tons unless the Australian ballot shall
be introduced. The people, as CLASH
fed above, elect the members Of the
Of the two bodies which compose the
COngress-the legislature being the
lower house, and the House of Mobiles,
which corresponds TO the United States
Senate. The two, in joint session. make
the laws, and In passing upon the same
the ruler must approve or veto, as the
cabinet directs. The cabinet is chosen
by the ruler and confirmed by the leg
islature. The cabinet consists of minis
ter Of interior, of foreign affairs, and the
attorney-general. These, or any OF
them. may be voted out Of power when
ever the legislature chooses to do so.
In a word, the people are the sover-
eigns of the legislature; the legislature
is sovereign to the cabinet; the cabinet
is responsible to the ruler.
The government has
school law, and special police in the
various school districts are charged
with the enforcement of the law. How
well the police have attended to their
business may be guessed III the state
ment published in 1890 that out of
population Of 81, 436 those unable to
read were 24,O67. Instructions in the
schools are III English, and, for the most
part, American text books are used, and
where it is possible American teachers
are gwen preference. Some Of these
schools are under the care of Catholics,
and one is under the supervision of an
Episcopal bishop, who has the islands
for his diocese.
In the schools where boys are pupils
they are Instructed in the various
branches of mechanics IN a practical
manner. 1t may be OF interest to some
to learn that the game al recess is base
ball.
In the schools where 9irlsare educated
they must learn how to make their own
clothes, cook meals victuals that an
American can eat, and know all about
the rudiments of housekeeping. In
music, where they have received in
structlons, they have excelled.
There is one college IN the kingdom
under the care of Prostestants and one
under Catholic rule MaDV of the MI
pills are prepared to enter Yale, Harry
ard, Ann Arbor, or any Of the institu-
tons Of similar rank in the United
States