The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-01

yen had already been appropriated un
der imperial ordinances issued during
the time the diet was not sitting. The
greater part of this sum had not been
spent, in fact, only some 6as000,000 yen
had actually been paid out. The
budget proposed also to provide for an
extraordinary war expenditure of $780,
600 yen and a special reserve fund
of 10000, 900 yen. To meet these re-
uuirements the government proposed
to raise 6S,000,000 yen by increased
taxation, to transfer $4,000 900 yen
from special accounts and to raise 411,
000, 600 yen by public loans and what
they called temporary accommoda-
tions.'
They also figured on saving 47,000,-
900 ven from the estimates for the
current fiscal year for expenses outside
of the war.
The extraordinary war expenditure
of 3S0,000,000 yen the government pro-
posed to meet by taxation and loans.
When the diet finally met for the
transaction of business Count Kat
sura, the prime minister, made a speech
to the house Of representatives in
which he said:
"The maintenance of permanent
peace in the extreme Orient and the
consolidation of the position of the
empire by means of promoting friendly
relations with the treaty powers and
respecting their legitimate rights and
interests is the established national
policy of the empire. But owing to the
fact that the schemes and actions OF
Russia in Manchuria and Korea were
wholly incompatible with this policy
the imperial government, by the COM
mand Of his majesty, engaged in July
last in negotiations with the Russian
however.
failed to meet our proposals with sim
cerity, but also continued all the more
to defiantly resort to actions which
were calculated to injure our national
rights. Hence Japan, in self-defense,
was compelled to terminate the nego-
tiations and take independent action,
and it is confidently believed that al
ready all the world has fully recog-
nized the justice and patience uni
formly exercised by the Japanese gov
ernment in carrying on these negotia-
tions, anxiously desirous of a peaceful
solution and mindful of the woeful con-
sequences which war brings upon
mankind.
Gentlemen, in the present situation
there is no doubt that all the subjects
of his imperial majesty all over the
country are of one mind in their en-
deavor to secure in obedience to his
majesty's will a speedy restoration of
victory as to attain the object Of the
war. The government, in order to meet
the requirements Of beiligerent state,
has formed a financial programme and
by imperial command has already laid
before the diet the budget and various
projects of laws. 1t is the earnest de-
sire of the government that you shall
after candid deliberation give a speedy
assent to these measures.
Baron Komura, minister of foreign
affairs, also addressed the house, re-
viewing the course of negotiations
with Russia, which covers more than
three years.
Work Is Rapid.
| In all forty-six bills were presented
| by the government to cover the situa-
| ton. With one exception these were
! the only bills presented during the
session. They were promptly referred
to special committees and the work
Of the session began.
The procedure in the Japanese diet
| is rapid to an extent that is aston
| ishing to one unacquainted with their
methods and used only to the practices
| of our own more deliberate legislative
bodies No time is wasted at all. If
any man begins to talk about some-
! thing that does not appeal to some OF
| the members they pound their desks
and laugh and talk loudly and keep
UP a continued shout of useless!
| 1t usually is. The rules provide for
three readings of a BILL
As a matter Of fact, one or two is
usually sufficient. These financial bills
| were settled in almost every case by
the committees. They were read first
| upon their presentation to the house.
| Upon coming out of the committee they
We're read again. Then the chairman Of
the committee reported the opinion
and recommendation of the committee.
! The president of the house asked those
| who favored the bill to stand up. The
| house is divided into sections, and a
| president and manager are appointed
| for each section. The members are
| seated according to their sections.
When vote is taken the secretary of
each section counts those of his men
who stand UP. If there is all told a
majority the bin is passed; if not, it
fails. The other side is not called.
There was very little modification
| of the government bills. The proposal
for tax on salt and silks and woolens
was rejected, and in its place was sub
! Stituted an increase of the tobacco
tax. This was accepted by the gov
ernment, although it cut down the es-
| timated revenue about six and half
million yen. The government ANNOUNCE
! ed that this sum would be made up by
! additional administrative economies
and by diverting money from other
sources. The bill authorizing the issue
| of small denomination savings bonds
was amended to provide that the issue
should not exceed 80, 100000 yen in one
year, and that the law should remain
effective only during the operation of
| the special tax law, which has been
| limited to one year after the close of
/ the war. With these exceptions the
government plan went through un-
Scathed. There was Just enough
4 change to emphasize the fact that the
diet could make changes If it so de-
sired.