Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-13
ELECTION WAYS IN JAPAN.
How the Two Houses Of Parliament Are
Chosen.


TFrom the New York Tribune.l
The prominent part taken by Japan
in the Hawaiian question and the
frequent mention of the Japanese par
Lament have given rise to the compo-
sitinn of that body and the Japanese
election methods. The latter are fash
lone; after tnuse of the United States
in many respects-the preliminary
caucuses and conventions being like
those held in this country, in most par
tlculars.
But there is one thing about our
candidates" said Japanese resident
of New York that is unlike the Amer
lean candidate, and that is, he does not
ask his fellow citizens to place him In
nomination, hut allows them to ask
him to become their candidate"
The japanese parliament consists of
a house of representatives known as
the Shingi-In, and house of peers,
known as the Kizoku-In. There are
800 members in the lower house; who
are elected for four years, and about
200 members in the house of peers,
whose term of office Is seven years.
There is no positive number set for
the membership of the upper house,
because there are many hereditary
members, and their number may be
augmented ut any time by appoint
ment at the hands of the emperor.
| All marquises and dukes are members
| of the house of peers by virtue OF
| their titles; the members of the i'm
perial household and imperial princes
are also members of the house of
| peers Barons, counts and viscounts
are eligible to election to the upper
| house but none of these ranks may
| be represented by more than one
| fifth of its total membership. In adj
| dition to these there are various per-
sons whom the emperor rewards for
distinguished services with seat in
| the upper house.
The members who are elected are
| chosen from among the largest tax
payers in the various districts. Fiji
| teen men whose taxes amount to Il
certain sum a year are elected In each
district. and they elect one of their
1 number. He must be at least 80 years
old and may be II merchant, manu-
| facturer or member of one of the
learned professions. The president
and the vice president Of the upper
house are appointed by the emperor.
Members Of the lower house are all
elected by popular vote. Each male of
the age of % years who has liNed one
| wear or more in the district in which
the election takes place may vote, pro
vided he has paid at least 10 yen in
direct taxes. exclusive of what he paid
in local taxes. When the voter is 30
years old he is also eligible to member
! shin in the lower house without any
| further qualifications. But man who
already holds an Office in the judiciary,
| police or correction department, who
has an Office in the imperial household
or is in any way connected with the
custom house, may mot become n
candidate for the house OF repre-
sentatives,
When the members are elected they
come together and elect three OF their
number as worthy Of the place of pre-
siding officer. from these three the
emperor selects the president and vice
president of the body.
The lists of voters are made up by
officers of various districts, and are
completed on or before April 90.
From that time until July l, when the
elections take place, much active cam
paign work Is done. The nominations
are made in the various ounties or
districts, and on election day the chief
officer of the county takes charge OF
the voting in his district The vot-
Ing plnces are all in the municipal
building. and are open on election day
from n. m. until p. m The voter
presents himself NJ the inspectors desk
an which the ballot boxes are placed,
and after writing his name, and OPP
nosite that the name of the person for
whom he desires to vote, on book
tsent for that purpose, he deposits his
ballot In cases where voter cannot
write mn officer may write for him,
M tba election books must show that
etlch help had been extended to the
voter. ,,,., 49,, a,., ,,,a,,,.
men who yell ana cheer ior their can
didate and buttton-hole the voters 81