Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-26
OTHER LANDS THAN ouRs.

The coming general election IN Japan
Will be Of probably greater Interest and
Importance than any which has preceded
Il, because In It more than in any other
definite party lines win be drawn. Ever
since the establishment OF the constitu-
ton, Japan has been moving toward party
government on somewhat the same lines
as the free countries OF the western world.
Various circumstances have retarded the
process now and then, but at the present
time party development has reached a
point where 1t may be said to be crys-
talizing into permanent form. Neverthe-
less, Japanese parties are still a puzzle
to most people outside Of that empire, APP
pearing to be organized upon entirely
different bases from parties Of similar
names in other lands. Thus a Toxic cor
respondent points out that intelligent OBJ
servers have in successive interviews re-
garded the same Japanese statesman as an
ultra conservative. a moderate liberal and
an extreme radical. The key to the puzzle
lies in the fact that Marquis Ito. the con-
sentative or constitutional leader. is q
conservative In politics because he is a
radical in social reforms, while Count
okuma, the radical or progressive leader,
is a radical in politics because he is a
conservative in social matters.
zee
One Of the dangers of the telephone
where the service is in the hands OF the
government has been curiously illustrated
in Germany. An association, Of which a
w~ell-known German captain Of industry"
is a member, recently found II necessary
to ask him by telegraph II he was satisfied
with a certain resolution passed by the
qOcfQfv Tho taIaUram WAS fOrurardad 70
Cologne by means Of the telephone. and
on its way the word resolution became
revolution. This was enough to make the
operators at the Cologne central turn over
the dispatch to the secret police. With
their customary wisdom, the latter saw in
the message plain proof OF a widespread
anarchist conspiracy to overturn the gov
eminent, particularly as 1t was signed by
an organized body. Forthwith two detec-
tives rushed TO the hotel and arrested the
captain OF industry on sight. Since the
~latter's name is known throughout Ger
many, he found II easy to prove his inno-
cence and to explain the message. But
what would have become of him had he
been a foreigner, or an inconspicuous per-
son from a far-off village, is something
about which the knowing prefer to remain
silent and look wise.
zee
Before the present year closes the great
Transsiberian railroad, the longest con-
tinuous line in the world, will be open for
traffic. and Russia can well claim possess
sion of the most wonderful line Of trans
portation in existence. The new road Will
extend for a distance of over $500 miles
and connect with the old Russian road
from Moscow to the Ural mountains, thus
forming a continuous line from Moscow to
Port Arthur or Vladivostock; the passage
will occupy about sixteen days. The road
has cost the Russian empire $50, 900, 900
rubles, or 1876, 200, 000-a vast sum of
money, but one that will no doubt be re-
paid with ample interest within a very few
years. 1t is one of the %grandest works I'M
dertaken by the government OF the car,
and It promises to increase the wealth of
his dominions almost UNNECESSARILY by
bringing China into direct commercial
communication with Russia.
An official return Of incomes subject to
taxation in Prussia shows that In the last
ten years the number Of persons with in
comes ranging from 900 marks ($225) to
5000 marks $3.50 has increased by 81 per
cent, while the number of incomes over
5000 marks has increased by 81 per cent.
Inc rise from INCOMES DelOW 10 luCOlueS
above 900 marks has been pr~oportionately
much greater than from incomes below to
incomes above 5000 marks. The number of
persons enjoying incomes from 900 to 5000
marks has always been six or seven times
as great as those with 5000 marks or more,
but the aggregate income OF the former
class has not been much larger than hat
of the latter, and its income tax contribu-
tion has been much less. This would seem
to show that the burden of the tax falls on
the shoulders of those best able to bear Il.
Persons enjoying incomes OF geo to 5000
marks, with the members of their family,
formed in 1901 1914 per cent Of the popu-
lation OF Prussia, while persons with in
comes above 5000 marks formed. IN a
similar calculation, 4.S1 per cent.
zee
Canada is ~gratihed to observe that its
export trade has nearly doubled in nine
years; In 1898 1t amounted to S102, zoo, 900,
and in 1902 to 1886. 00O, 900. 1t is especially
hattering to Canada to observe that Its
manufactured exports much more than
doubled In the nine years. OF the total
increase OF $94, OOO,0 900, 500, 900, 900 Is in the