Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-22
JAPS AND THEIR KINGDOM.
Facts and Figures About the F'owery
Empire and Its People.

Inc RuSSO-JdpdHNpC Wa - 'HNoN>
zine written, printed, illustrated ard
published by Japanese in TOXIC, gives
at a glance information concerning the
Japanese empire which, in the swirl
and whirl of business and political
| life. may not be quite familiar 10
many Americans, and which, put Ill
succinct form, may be welcomed at
this time.
The official statistics for 1904 give
the total population of the empire
at 47,9O0,000, not including Formoaa,
which is reckOned at about 100000.
There are 4,551 mobiles and 226 per-
sons over 100 years old, the Oldest
being 112 years. At the beginning
of 1903 there were 1896 foreign resi-.
dents.
In 1881 the present emperor fulfill
ed 14-year-old promise to give his
people the benefits of constitution
The IA years that elapsed between
the promise and it's fulfllment were
no idle ones, they being employed IN
the gradual removal of ancient GUS
toms that barred the way of national
progress and in searching for intel
! ligence and wisdom throughout the
world
AS constitutional sovereign the
emperor remains, as before, the SUI
preme head combining in his person
all sovereign rights and exercising ali
executive functions with the advice
and assistance of cabinet ministers
appointed by himself and responsible
to him alone for their administration
of affairs. There is also a privy cOun
Gil, composed chiefly of exministers,
whom the emperor can consult on mat
tiers of state whenever it is necessary.
The declaration of war, the making of
peace, the concluding of treaties are
all in the hands of the emperor.
To him also belong the organiza-
ton of all branches of the government
service, the appointment and dismiss
al of all officials. the fixing of their
|. salaries. the granting of titles of no.
bility. of ranks, orders and other EN-
blems of honor, the punishment of
criminals and the rehabilitation of dis
| graced persons. The emperor is in
supreme command of the army and
navy. In legislative matters he acts
through and with the advice of the
| Diet, which consists of two houses
5 Peers and Representatives. The sum
5 moning. opening, closing proroguinl
2 and dissolving of the Diet, are of the
: emperOr's prerOgatives.
r Projects of law may be initiated
t by the government in either of the
= houses of the Diet, and either house
1 may make representations to the gov
e eminent or present addresses to tn,
D emperor when public business de
3 mands it. The voting of the annua
i budget is in the hands of the house
$ of representatives. The house of peer:
s is composed of all members of the i'm
n perial family, all princes and marquis
1 es with hereditary tenure and Ger
t tain number of counts. viscounts an,
$ barons, elected for periods of sever
d years.
C There are also a certain number Q
n persons nominated for life by the EN-
< peror in recognition Of their learning
e or service to the state and fey
representatives of the highest tax
payers in the country, elected for pei
y iods of seven years. The total nun
e Der of members of this house is Sc!
f. The house of representatives ha
re $40 seats occupied by members fror
u the various electoral districts, cleo
le ed by secret single ballot TIL
!e electors are male Japanese subject
X of not less than 25 years of age. VIII
y have paid ten yen (about IS in Anne
- lean money! at least in imperial ia:
"a es for one year previously if on land
Ut for two years If other taxes.
s. Candidates must be male Japanes
X subjects if not less than 80 years {
" age. The following are disqualified
ls Officers of the imperial household
IS: judges. public AUDITORS, revenue co
:o1, T.
So er of the services (army and navy
le priests, teachers of primary school
re officials connected with the election
IT. bankrupts and all who have been {
IL are under criminal sentence.
~. The president of either house l
nc ceives salary of 5000 yen (abo,
=, $4,000 in American money! per a
ny mum; the vice presidents receive 3,Ol
"a yen (about $4,000; and the ordina1
"a. members 1000 ven (about 81, 0OO), b
sides travelling expenses. A memb
~ ~ may. if he chooses. decline to recei,
O., salary, and there have been alrea,
~, some instances of this. The Diet
gu to be convoked every year. The fir
"s session was in 1890: in the fife,
~, years since there have been. owing
na dissolutions. twenty-four sessions
80. The first ten years of the Diet M
"a he said to have been experiment.
W.. The personnel of both houses was I
ph. ing trained and disciplined and t
~. principles of party government we
W.. being clearly established in practi.
he For executive purposes the governme
ON. is divided into nine departments
nd. namely. home affairs. foreign affai
oct finance, communications. agricultu
,os and commerce. education, justice
hot army and navy. Each of these
nto partments comprises several burea
and is under the control of a minis
of state
o;, These nine ministers, together W
az a minister president, or premier, TO
MA the cabinet. One other official enjC
, if ministerial rank, but without a S,
rio. in the cabinet-the minister of
ted imperial household The ministers
Ter war and of marine are indepenyl
. i; of party politics and do not go
rae of office at a change of cabinet. NJ
ont listers of state and governmental
ach egates have the right to appear
of any time in either house of the
He'd and to address the members.
SIM
OF A.s