The San Francisco call., 1896-10-26
After the Abolition of Consular
Jurisdiction Favorable Terms
May Be Secured.
MERCHANTS MADE BANKRUPT.
An Alarming State of Affairs Among
the Business Men Of Toxic
Disclosed.

TOXIC, JAPAN, Oct. 10.-The publica-
tion of the new Japanese Civil Code rem
ders it clear that the complaints made by
Europeans and Americans about the
tenure of land under the revised treaties
are baseless. Ownership of land by aliens
has always been opposed by the Japanese
and is forbidden by the new treaties.
On the other hand, unless foreigners
should be able to obtain land for long
periods. it was not easy to see how they
could reap any advantages from the OPEN
ing of the country after the abolition OF
Consular Jurisdiction, since the building
of stores, warehouses or factories outside
the present settlements would be virtually
impossible. That leases of building sites
could be obtained was not doubted, but an
idea prevailed that the Civil Code would
restrict the term of leasing to thirty years,
period plainly insufficient for the pur-
poses of business men.
1t is now found, however, that although
the privilege of owning land is withheld,
foreigners will be able to obtain land for
any number of years in the capacity of
''supeIfieiaires." In that capacity they
will be able to purchase right of tenure
holding good for whatever term is entered
on the face of the contract. and the right
will include absolute ownership of all
buildings, trees, or bam boos on the land.
If the term be not fixed by the parties to
the contract, the intervention of court of
law may subsequently be invoked by the
owner should the original conditions of
tenure prove onerous to him. But that is
a secondary question. The main fact Is
that after the abolition of consular juris-
diction in 1899, foreigners will be able to
obtain leases of land in any and every
part of Japan for whatever term ofyears
they may think convenient.
An alarming state of affairs has been
disclosed among a section of Japan busi
ness men. Several of the Toxic dealers
in cotton piece-goods had been for some
time getting their notes freely discounted
by the banks when the latter, having their
suspicious aroused by precautionary ac-
ton on the part of the Bank of Japan, re-
fused to discount any new bills or renew
the old. The result is that about eleven
commission merchants are threatened
with bankruptcy. their liabilities aggre.
eating nearly 1000, ,0C0yen. There is some
apprehension of panic, but probably
compromise will be effected.
The new line OF Japanese steamers to
pioneer steamer being the Yamashiro
Maru, belonging to the Nippon Yusen
Kaisha. The Yamashiro Maru IS a fine
steamer of $500 tons, beautifully fitted,
and affording to passengers all the COM
forts of crack Atlantic liner. Her de-
parture from Yokohama was m ade the oc-
casion of celebration on a liberal scale.
Japan has now lines of steamers running
to Vledivostock, Europe, America and
Australia.
From the provinces of Anhui and HUI
kuang. III China, reports have been for
warded to Peking describing the great
hardships suffered by the people on ac-
count of foundations. In both cases q
waterspout is mentioned as the prime
cause of the trouble. The Emperor simply
ordered the Governor of Anhui and the
Viceroy Chang to devise means for alleviat-
ing the distress and for carrying off the
surplus water. His Majesty is not partlcu-
larly helpful, it must be confessed
Another case of violent assault against
foreigner is reported from China. 1t
occurred at Pootung, near Shanghai, and
the victim does not seem to have given
any provocaton whatever. He was as
sailed by party of roughs and severely
handled, but managed to effect his escape,
losing only his dog, which was cruelty
killed. Several outrages of similar ma
ture have been committed in the same
QlStrlct.
As an illustration of the popular admin.
istration of justice in China, the case of
man that stole a farmers wife at place
some 300 miles inland from Hankow is in
structive. The thief sold the woman for
ten ounces of silver, which appears to be
about the tariff in mountainous districts
of China. He was caught by the husband
OF the woman, and Two other men, who
carried him to particular tree near
Buddhist monastery. and strung him up
by his wrists tied behind his back so that
his body was bent forward and his toes
barely touched the ground. In that posi-
tion he was hammered with large stone
at the base of mis- spine and on his ankles.
This was by way of preliminary to carry
ing him to the magistrates yamen, where
he was sentenced to decapitation.
Anti-foreign feeling at Chengtu is re-
ported to be so bad that the Roman Cath
ollc fathers, who have lived there for
years, no longer venture to walk in the
city, knowing that to do so would expose
them to insult and perhaps attack.