The Washington times., 1895-01-14
Elaborata Programme for Radical
Changes in the Government.
TO BE NO MORE OFFICE SELLING
Military System to Be Established, Navy
Created, Functions of Cabinet Officers De-
termined, Finances Regulated, and USE
less Ceremonial Abolished Won Kun,
Regent, Promises to Abstain from Politics.

Late newspaper mail advices received Mt
the japanese legation are to the effect that
the reform programme presented to the
Korean government by the japanese is max
ing satisfactory progress. This programme,
according to the Jill (newspaper). embraced
twenty propositions, and was presented to
the King of Korea on the Goth and 2lst OF
November and was approved by him. The
propositions included, among others, the
following:
That the administrative powers should
center in the hands of one man; court affairs
should be distinctly separate from the gen.
eral administration of the country. the court
and state affairs having hitherto been mixed
up; a sovereign is bound TO obey the laws OF
his own country; the court should by syste-
matically organized; the functions and COM
petence of the cabinet and the various de-
partments OF state should be determined;
taxes should be unified by the finance de-
partment. hitherto there having been eight
or nine taxation officers, all being indepen-
dent in their accounts
The expenses of the court should be care
fully scheduled and expenses retrenched as
much as possible. a military system should be
established, and, after tlis has been placed
on q sound footing, the creation OF navy is
expected; useless ceremonial and extravaganl
display should he done away with, II being a
standing fault in Korea, from the court to the
| lowest officials, to indulge in unnecessary
display and
USELESS CEREMONIAL.
criminal code should be enacted. the po-
lice authority should be unified, the disci-
pline OF government functionaries should be
rip r1racfipa a a
that in vogue OF selling government offices
must be abolished.
The authority OF local officials should be
/ limited by statute and the power centralized
appointment or dismissal OF government Off
Gals should be arranged according to fixed
I system; government officials should not grasp
/ eagerly at power. nor should they exhibit
mutual jealousy and suspieion; political ven
4 geanoe should not be permitted: promising
/ youths should be sent TO study in Japan. and
/ the unihcation oflthe national policy is requi-
site in order TO establish tho independence OF
/ the country On acsound basis and effectively
/ TO reform home affairs.
! The Tai Won-Kun. until recently the aged
regent Of Korea, and who was deposed for
sending letters to. the Chinese generals in
I Phyong-lan has apoiosiZed to the japanese
j representative and declared by way of show
/ ing his repentance that he should not take
any further part in the active politics OF the
country.
/ TO question from the japanese minister
/ whether he would pledge his honor not 10 in
! terfere any longer in administrative affairs,
either coyertly or oyeitly, he answered
DEJEcTEDLY IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
| He further asked the minister TO employ all
! his ability to the reform of Korea, and also
/ asked pardon for his fayorite grandson, who
/ had taken prominent part in the same mat
ter.
Another difficulty apparent on the horizon
OF Korean politics is said TO be the Unsuitable
! ambition of the Queen TO interfere in state
affairs. Obliged to curb her ambition while her
1 inveterate enemy. the Tai-Won-Kun, was at
the head of the administration, she is now
secretly watching an opportunity to regan
her former position. and such an opportunity
has presented itself in the gradual wane OF
the old statesman's power and his ultimate
( retirement.
A correspondent describes the intense dis
tress that the japanese army is laboring un-
der in the province of Sinking, China. which
is very sparse.y populated. There are no
trees in the province, as the rivers are said
to be almost empty OF water. The army OF
over $4,000 men, the correspondent says is
almost on the point of death from hunger
thirst, ''and cold, as there is no wood tc
/ cook their rice with or water to drink. Many
have been frozen 10 death from their In
ability to face the,cold with an insufficiency
/ OF food and clothing, the greater number ol
them being coolies.