The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-14
REFORMS IN KOREA.
Important Changes Dictated
by japanese Conquerors
the QUEEN 70 MAKE TROUBLE.


Washington City. Jan lS.--Lete news
paper adviees received at the japanese
legation are 70 the effect that the reform
programme presented 10 the Korean gov
eminent by the Japanese - making sat
isfactory progress. This programme. &C
cording to the Ksgi newspaper. was pre-
scented % the king OF Korea on the so;h
OF November and was approved by him
the following: That the administrative
power Should center In the hands Of one
man: court affairs should be distinctly
separate from the general administration
Of the country-the cuuEt and state al
fairs having b ferto besn mixed up; SOW
erefgn is bound to obey the laws of his
own country; the court should be SYSTEM
aticaily organized: the functions stid
competency OF the cabinet and the vaxi-
GUS departments OF state elrould be de-
ternined; taxes should be unified by the
finance department: a military system
should be established. and. after this
has been placed on a sound footing. the
adoption OF a navy is expected; useless
extravagant displays to be done away
with. Ii being a standing fault in Korea.
from the court to tho lowest officer, to
indulge In unnecessary display
and useless ceremonials: q criminal
code should be enacted: the police author
tiles should be unified; the discipline Of
government funceionaries should be rig
idly enforced. and any s,lch practice as
that in vogue Of selling government Of
fee must be abolished; the authority OF
local officials should be ssn3sted by statute
and the power centralized: the appoint
ment or dismissal of government officials
should be arranged according to fixed sys-
tens: promising youths should be sent to
study in Japan: and the unification of the
national policy is requisite in order to es-
tabJish the independence or the country
ON a sound basis and effectively to reform
aome affairs.
The Tai Won Kun. until recently the
aged regent of Korea. and who was de-
posed for sending letters TO the Chinese
generals ir Ping Yang. has apoiogized to
the Japanese representative ard declared.
by way Of showing his repentance. that
he should not take any further part in
the active politics of the country. A DIFF
ficuity at present on the horizon of Ko-
rean politics is said to be the insatiahle
ambition OF the queen TO interfere in state
affairs. Obliged TO curb her ambition
while her inveterate enemy. the Tai Won
Kun, was at the head OF the administra-
ton, she is now watching an opportunity
to regain her former position, and such
an opportunity has presented itself in the
gradual wane OF the old statesmans
power and his ultimate retirement.
A correspondent describes the intense
distress that the Japanese army is la
boring under in The province Of Sinking.
China. The army OF over $1,000, the
correspondent says. is almost on the
point OF starvation. The thirst and cold
are intense. and there is no wood to cock
their rice with or wlter to drink. Many
have been frozen to death from their
inability to face the cold and from in
sufiiciency OF food and clothing, the
greater number Of these being coolies.
London. Jan. ia dispatch to the
Times from Tentsin says the Manchurian
princes have taken the defense of the
country into their own hands, in order
to prevent the intrigues OF the Chinese
officials. The central government Is be-
wildered ana hapless. Lii Hung Charfg,
although he has been relieved of all his
functions except the governor general
ship of his provinces, still exercises in
direct infiuCce over the various officials.
Chinese who have arrived from Munchur-
Ia bring CHASTITY reports OF the desolasion
of the country between the Yalu river and
Lasoho. recalling horrors Of the TAPPING
rebellion.