Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-03-19
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
IApAM Ann nae ooLn STANDARD.

ton from TOXIC Ine Only lOunudllOu lOl
the story was the fact that on March 2
bill providing for the change was In
troduced into the lower house of the
japanese diet. This, the Japanese
minister to Washington explains, mo
more foreshadows its passage by the
diet than would be the case in the
American congress" And it is under
stood in the japanese legation that the
proposed legislation will find strong OPP
position, and grave doubts are ex'
pressed as to the possible success of the
measure"
Since 1871, up to which time the ratio
between silver and gold in Japan had
been .02 to l, the ratio has been about
1G to l. The unit of value is the yen of
100 sen. The gold yen contains 1867
grammes of metal 000-l 900 fine; the
silver yen, 4l6 grains, or 26.95G3
grammes. There have been coined
60, 4l2 900 gold ven and 134,7l0,000 silver
yen. The unit of value proposed by the
bill now before the diet is one-half the
present gold yen, or 0.S33 gramme. In
other words, the existing gold yen are
to circulate at twice their present value.
There will be no other change if the bill
becomes a law. The information that
the bill provides that tree coinage of
silver shall cease October !, 1897. is
rather puzzing, in view of the fact that
for some time past silver coinage has
been suspended, except on government
accr unit.
Untrl more complete information has
been obtained he arguments advanced
in favor of this bill in Japan can hardly
be even guessed at Since the early
seventies, when American and European
prosperity began to decline because of
the demonetization of silver, Japan's
growth in prosperity under bimetallism
has been one of the wonders of the
world. In 1885 Japan exported SILL
800 worth Of textiles. In 1895 the value
of such exports was S22. l7IG2G In
the same time the exports of raw silks
increased from Sl4,473,39G to S50,92S,-
40; of grain and provisions. from ST.
4,S43 to Sl2.723T71; of matches. from
$50, go to Sl,G72 SCI; of porcelain,
curios and sundries, from S2,7S6,S7G to
81, G2A7O1: while Japan's commerce for
1895 increased by $50 100000 over 1894,
reaching a total of exports and imports
OF S29G, 100000, or about S. 80 per capt.
ia. 1t therefore does not seem likely
that arguments in favor OF the gold
standard in Japan are based upon the
condition of the country.
What other sources can argument in
favor of it be drawn from? Perhaps
the answer may be found in the fact that
the number of banks in Japan has lately
been increasing very rapidly. There
are now nearly 800 banks, with a total
capital of 93.94G,3 4S yen and total loans
of l43, 7l0,lG7 yen; the total stock of
money in the country being BOG, 100000
yen. 1t would obviously be to the in
terest of the banks and their stockhold-
ers to contract the currency, and 1t
looks as if they might have power
enough by this time to do it. Similar
influences were strong enough TO effect
similar purpose here and in Europe in
1873 - New \ ork Journal.
TWO CHARITIES ooNTRAsTED.
The report of the Charity Organiza-
ton society of New York for the month
of February contains the following in
formation. The number of families
''dealt with"-that phrase should be
noted-during February was 1919, of
whom 375 were new applicants and 7O4
were "reguars." Relief for 40 of
these was obtained from private sources
and for PSI from cooperating societies
and churches making a total of 397, or
nearly 81 per cent. 1t is to be inferred
that the G3 per cent also "dealth with"
but apparently not relieved. were treated
either by friendly visitation" or by
"advce and direction only" Out of
7,SS3 cases "dealt with" by this society
between July !, 1895, and July /, 1896,
1869 were treated by friendly vista
ton and 1864 by "advce and direction
only" amounting to 3033, or about 3S
per cent. During February transporta-
ton was secured for families, work
"that should be permanent was pro
cured for % persons, and 81 persons
were provided with temporary employ
ment," probably in the society's wood
yard, which, during the year ending
July l, 1896, earned a net profit of
$ls13 80.
During the same month of February
the Journals reliefs station furnished
$4,000 square meals per day to 1000
starving persons, or the enormous total
OF $4,000 meals. 1t also provided $500
persons with new shoes and 1000 per-
sons with second hand shoes. 1t pro-
Vided more than 1000 women and child
rem with sufficient clothing. 1t pre-