The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-10
Fifteen MONTHS FIGHTING
REPRESENTS THE EXPENDl-
TURE OF VAST SUM.
Seven Hundred Millions is the Amount
Money Was Raised BY Issuance
Of Bonds.

The cost of the Russo-Japanese wal
to japan amounts to the enormous sum
of 1,356,O0O,000 yen. In American
money values this approximates $780,
900 900. This gigantic expenditure
does not include the ordinary expenses
of government or appropriations made
for economic purposes or national de-
velopment during the period. 1t is the
grand total of extraordinary expenli-
ture levied, floated and loaned during
the last fifteen months for war.
The cost of carrying on the imperial
government Of Japan during the last
fourteen years amounts in the aggre-
gate to less than 3,2OO,00O,000 yen, or
$1,000 900, 600 This is little more than
twice the cost of the terrible struggle
Just closed. 1t is thus seen that in the
short time of one year and a quarter
Japan has poured into the hell Of war
an amount of money almost equal to
that which for seven years has been
expended in conducting a govern
ment, which means maintaining lega-
lions abroad, increasing and strength
ening army and navy, maintaining the
courts of the land, public instruction,
agriculture and commerce, finance de-
partment and the countless other out
lays incident to conducting a govern
ment.
The people of the Island Empire
number less than 100000 souls. Thus
to pay off the expense Of the war, a
per capita assessment of $14 would be
required. This would have to be paid
by every one from the emperor down
to the most helpless infant.
How War Funds Were Raised.
These deductions are CLEANED from
the fifth financial and economical an
nual of Japan, issued by the depart
ment of finance The volume is fresh
from the press and contains the bud
get for the fiscal year 19051906. AL
facts and figures relating to financial
matters, down to March 81, of the
present year, are contained within its
covers. 1t is thus the most reliable
work available on the subject of ia
pans financial affairs.
One of the strong lessons taught by
these figures is the terrible destruc-
tiveness of modern warfare and the
startling rapidity with which it is
prosecuted. The Russo-Japanese wal
lasted less than fifteen months
Breaking out in February of 1904, il
was practically at an end, as a fight.
ing contest, on the first of June, 1905
For the purpose of obtaining tn,
money with which to prosecute the
war, recourse was had to the following
sources: Public loans, exchequel
bonds and temporary loans whereby
the sum of $520,OOO,OO0 was raised
surplus under general account, which
yielded $3.50, 100000; funds under spec
ial accounts from which was secured
s32,OOO,0O0; voluntary contributions
to the war fund amounting to $780,.
900 and miscellaneous receipts aggre-
eating $4,000.
In addition to the revenue gained
lar annual income from taxes, land
income and excuses; tax on convert.
BILE bank notes; post and telegraph
services, railway profits, stamp re-
ceipts, customs duties, public under
takings and state property. This rev.
enue amounted to 296,93S,694 yen, OF
approximately $15O,00O,00O. There was
in addition, a regular or normal extra
ordinary tax accruing from the sale
of Chinese indemnity bonds, the sale
of state property, transfer of forestry
fund, etc, amounting to S,72S,496 yen
or $4.500,000. This made a grand to.
tai of 3O5, 667, 100 yen, of s155,OOO. OOt
which is the amount called for in the
normal budget as normal expenditure
for the year.
Local Expenditures CurtaIed.
How the people of the OrieDtal coun.
try work together when confronted
with a crisis which demands the com.
bined efforts of all for the public good
may be best understood from the fol
| lowing paragraph which appears or
page % of the annual. 1t reads as fol
| lows:
Thus the burden of taxation ma,
appear to nave been very great in con
sequence Of the operation of the ex