The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-06
Government Issues a Pamphlet
on Reforms in Korea.
Many Difficulties Confronted
Ito at the Outset.
THERE WAS NO MONEY
He Made a Loan, Built Roads
and Started Schools.
Police and Hospital Service Has
Been Regenerated.

| Washington, Aug. 6.-The Far East
ern mails just arrived contained a
pamphlet issued from the Japanese
residences general of Korea, entitled
: Administrative Reforms in Korea, y
designed to vindicate the work of the
Japanese in the hermit kingdom un-
der the authority conferred by the
Japanese-Korean agreement of 1904,
whereby Japan was constituted ad-
visor to Korea. The document treats
of the financial difficulties that con-
fronted Marquis Ito at the outset,
owing to the inadequacy of the Korean
exchequer to bear the cost of reform.
He succeeded in raising a loan from
the Japanese Industrial bank of ten
million yen, guaranteed by the GUS
toms receipts, bearing interest at Il
per cent and sold at 80 yen per 100
yen. The money realized was dis
tributed in the reconstruction of roads,
in building waterworks. and estab-
fishing an educational system; the
creation of banks and erection of hos
pitfalls. 1t is said that the Korean
roads were totally unfit for horse and
carriage travel, so that it became
necessary to alIot 100000 yen in
laying out four great roads to traverse
the regions of best promise and con-
meet the best harbors and railway CEN
terS. Even Chemulpo was unable to
supply ships with drinking water, and
the inland towns were in serious dan
ger of epidemics.
Prior to the reSidency there was in
vogue a Confucian educational meth-
cd, whereby a village dominee called
about him the children of the neigh
borhood and taught them the rudi-
ments of reading and writing. There
were ten thousand of these schools
and at Seoul an institution of higher
Confucian learning. A primary school
ordinance, promulgated in 1905, was a
dead letter. and the middle grade
schools in Seoul with the exception of
one in foreign languages, existed in
name only. An entirely new system
has been establish ed. first importance
being given to dissemination of COM
mon education under JapGnetse :hstE9e-
tors. The existing hospitals, defective
in management, and limited in accom-
modations and equipment, have been
consolidated into the "Great Korean
Hospital" The police department
which had really been in triplicate has
been unified
OF the remarkable attempt at puri-
fcation of the imperial court, the
after painting striking pic
ture of the corruption and the Chi
canery and sloth that existed, declares
the reform measures adopted and says:
I'm court circles there were no doubt
some who at first felt alarm at this
radical turn of affairs. but the sterling
of the resident generals
solicitude becoming gradually better
known the force of resentment has
since slackened. until no voice is now
heard in active opposition.
THE way in which justice had been
administered in Korea" it is stated,
lis too revolving to all sense of decency
to be told in detail"
1t is charged that the country has
not yet attained that stage when the
executive and judicial branches are
so that the administration
of justice is regarded as privilege to
be farmed out; bribery is general in |
nocent people are convicted and their |
property confiscated and the guilty are |
liberia ted. All this, says the pamphlet, |
IS being reformed by the Japanesest
The work of reforming the currency |
system has progressed. the gold stand |
ard being adopted. and private coinage |
while the circulation of |
notes has been encouraged and a new
revenue system adopted.
In conclusion the pamphlet says the |
Japanese have provided the Koreans
With code of laws (among other
hings safeguarding the transfer of
,eal estate, formerly without any pro-
ection) regulating the development
If native mines. providing for the pro-
ection of immigrants, and. .encourag-
ng the development of productive in
lustrieS.