The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-30
A GIFT TO AN EMPEROR.
Curious LiberaIity of the Japanese
Diet.

net.
Kobe Letter in London Standard.
One of the first acts of the Diet on as
sembhng for the winter season has been
TO vote unanimously a present to the EN-
peror of 20,000O00 yen out of the Chinese
indemnity, a circumstance which must
strike all who do not owe allegiance to the
Emperor of Japan as somewhat remarka-
bic The present ministry like its prede-
Cessors, finds the greatest difficulty in pro-
vid.ng for the annually increasing expen-
diture of the country. The budget, which
has just been published, shows, on an es-
timated expenditure OF 225000,000 yen, a
deficiency in the revenue amounting to
thirty-tive and half million yen. No one
who has any knowledge of the rate at
which Japan has enlarged, and still contin-
ues TO enlarge, her navy, will need TO be
told that it is the naval department and,
in a lesser degree, the military department
which are responsible for the country's
present financial difficulties. These two
departments claim nearly one-third of the
ordinary expenditure, and about five
eighths of the extraordinary expenditure.
While the government is terribly perpleX-
ed as to how the deficit in the revenue is
to be met-since a strong opposition exists
TO the increase of the land taX-We have
the remarkable spectacle, at the opening
of the Diet. of absolute unanimity among
the political parties in voting a sum Of
2O0O0,O0O yen out of the indemnity for his
majestys private purse. The reasons for
this action are so interesting and remarka-
bic that 1 cannot do better than give a
translation of the resolution adopted by the
House upon the subject. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
whereas, during the war of the twenty
seventh and twenty-eighth years of Meji,
his imperial majesty, our illustrious sover-
eign, this empires great civil and military
ruler, advanced the imperial standard to
Hiroshima, and in his imperial person di-
rected the affairs of the war so that abroad
the soldiers of the country offered up their
lives for the public cause, and at home a
united people, one and ali animated by a
warike spirit offered up their resources
for the conduct of belligerent operations
with the result that peace was finally re-
stored to the East, and the glory of the
country made to shine throughout the
world; and whereas We his majestys SUBJ
jects, are profoundly sensible that these
issues were mainly due to the imperial vir-
tues, We desire to express the sincerity of
our respectful gratitude by including in the
Imperial estates, as memento of the sig
mai success achieved in the war. a sum of
100000 yen from the indemnify obtained
in consequence of the country's victories
The resolution speaks for itself 1t shows
the peculiar sense of loyalty prevailing
among the japanese people. One or two
exceptions have to be noted. Certain news
papers discussed the proposal when it was
first announced in a manner so frank as
to cause considerable establishment among
their contemporaries, for it is still consid-
cred a high misdemeanor to criticise af-
fairs relating to the sovereign; and il is
alleged that this consideration precluded
other papers from adversely commenting
on the proposal Besides the reason set
out In the resolution, 1t was urged in The
papers favorable to the grant that mas
much as the civil list had remained at
three millions since the reformation, the
approDriation was necessary in view of
the enhanced price of commodities. and
The large donations constantly made by
his majesty for charitable purposes. But
on the other hand, IL has been pointed
out that the Emperor is not entirely de-
pendent upon the appropriation annually
voted by the Diet He is, in fact. describ-
ed as a nultimiionaire, for besides hav-
ing large areas of land and some Valu-
able mines, the imperial household has
many million yen worth of shares in the
Bank of Japan, the Specie Bank. and the
japan Mail Steamship Company
Ii will be seen, therefore, that on the
ground of insufiiciency of income, there
was no justification for the appropriation
ana II IS quite possible that his Majesty
will decline the money so generously voted
TO him for services rendered in connection
with the war three years ago. 1t seems
extraordinary that the idea should strike
the Diet three years after the conclusion
of the war. and one prominent journal has
gona so far as to hint at IL being the work
~ certain speculative schemers, who are
seeking TO handle the money when it be-
comes available for investment. This.
Il appears to me, can hardly be the case,
hut of the total sum of S62,O0OO0 yen re-
celved from China, 2S9,OOO,OOO has been APP
propriated by the Diet, leaving only about
100000 and very little OF TINS remains
IN casb as the greater portion of it has
been Invested in various domestic bonds.
II is presumed that if the Emperor ac-
cents the vote, 20,O00OOO worth Of these
bonds will be handed over to him.