Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-14
The Premier, Saionji, rendered
His Resignation, Which
Emperor Refused.
OTHERS WERE ACCEPTED.
This Leaves Government without Any
New E1ement--Budget is
Cause of Trouble.

Toxic. Jan. 1.-THE resignation o.,
the entire cabinet was narrowly avert
ed today.
The premier, Marquis Saienji, ten
dered his resignation to the emperor
this afternoon at o'clock. but his
majesty declined to receive it, white
the alternative designations of Yoshiro
Sakatani, minister OF hnance, and OF
lsaburo Yamagata, minister of COM
munications, were accepted
Masahisa Matsuda, minister OF JUS
tice, will combine the portfolio Of IL
nance, and keihara, minister of the
Interior, Will combine that of the min
lister of communications.
This leaves the cabinet without any
new element. and removes the dispute
ants, who have been the disturbing FAC
tors for some time past.
The information about the resigna-
ton OF Isaburo Yamagata, as minister
of communications, announced by the
Associated Press on Jan II, was evil
IDENTIFY correct, and the official denial
made on the following day was prob
ably intended to tide over the period.
during which there was a possibility
of an adjustment.
HEATED DEBATES
The cabinet council this morning
gave rise to some heated debates
Yamagata. insisted upon the resigna-
ticns of Sakatani, who is responsible
for the budget which will be introduce
in the diet this month. and who Is
L.Amed by the cabinet ministers and
the public. because in 1907, he prom
Used that there would be no increase
made in the taxation nor would there
be any resort to foreign loan in 1908.
An investigation Of the financial sit
uation, however, Convinced the cabinet
officers and elder statesmen that an
increase in the taxation. or In lieu
thereof a foreign loan would be UNI
avoidable.
Sakatani endeavored to reduce the
approximation OF the army and navy 70
which these factions objected and H.
nally succeeded In carrying thier point.
Sakatani thereupon attempted to TO-
duce the appropriations for railways,
and to this Yamagata, raised an OBJ
jction.
Sakatani then increased the general
taxation, but this found strenuous OBJ
ljections among the leading merchants
and bankers. 81
INSISTED ON. RESIGNATION. Is
Sakatani finally decided to resign and
Yan1agata also insisted that his resig-
nation should be accepted.
MARQUIS Saionji, who was responsible
as the head of the cabinet. then de-
cided to tender his resignation, and
tile other members OF the cabinet who
agreed finally, and decided on the fol-
lowing program.
The Marquis SafonjTs resignation
would first be offered. IL the emperor
declined to accept 1t. then the resigTa-
tor, Of Saka;ani and Yamagata would
b. offered, Natsuda and Hara consrht-
ing TO combine their portfolios.
In pursuance of this agreement, Pre-
mier Saionji and Prince Ito waited on
the emperor this afternoon. The en-
peror refused to accept the resignation
of Saionji. but accepted the resisna-
tons OF Sakatani and Yamagata.
The whole matter is now believed "a
be settled. There probably will be
some changes OF items in the budget
and possibly, the government may de-
eide not to increase taxation, but in
stead reduce the appropriations for the
army and navy. II Is also possible that
it may be decide 10 issue loan &c
cover the deficiency.
Cable di..j,stches received from To-
hio during the past month have indi'
Gated that the SaionJi ministry wal
meeting with growing opposition
through the country. particularly be-
cause or the reuuct,ons nlhue ny it'
appropriations for development pur'
poses. The elections In Japan are ap'
preaching and the opposition has beer
endeavoring to arouse strong senti
ment against the cabinet by a news
paper campaign attacking principally
the governments policy OF increasing
taxation. The financial program wal
formally settled at meeting OF thu
| council OF elder statesmen. held Dec
IL. It was one of retrenchment ant
| involved a reduction in the expenses o
| tho army and navy for the next 81,
| years whereby the government would
| save $500 100000.
As soon as this program becam
| known, the opposition made vigorous
| preparations to fight II In tho diet
| othor REPORTS declared that a miscalcu
| lation of s20.0OO,ooo in the budget ha,
| aroused widespread distrust In the n
| nancial policy OF the Saionti minlstr,
and three days ago thero was seriou
| difficulty In tina cabinet because OF tn
reduction of the appropriation for rail
| road construction. AS Il result the res
| ignation OF Isaduro Yamagata, minis
| to-. Of communications, was announced
but Immediately denied.