Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-19
JAPAN NEEDS MONEY
Finances in Bad Shape and Tax
ING Of Necessities Causes
People to Protest
EXPENSES EAT UP REVENUES
Much Money Flowing Into Public
Treasury = Army. Navy and Other
Departments Absorb All Receipts -
Situation is Field to Be Desperate =
Demands Must Be Met.

Seattle. Wash. Feb. 19.-The --latest
newspapers To arrive from Japan con-
tain a full account of the japanese
budget for the fiscal years of 1908 %
This budget was recently passed by the
Japanese parliament, after period OF
active hostilities between the govern
ment and its opponents. And While the
government scored 4 victory, the oppo-
siticn newspapers of Yokohama ana
Toxic openly declare that its passage
marks the passing of the present re-
gime in power for many of the ar
ticlcs adopted are Very unpopular with
the mass. of the people and it is prop
hesied that when the full burden is
felt by the people there will be fierce
antagonsm.
TN the following account the figures
given are in yen. which is practically
equal TO 90 cents in United States
money!
The budget provides for an ordinary
revenue of 40 $50 900 yen and an ex-
traordinary revenue of l4o,45o.O0o. or
a total of Gil 100000 yen needed to run
the japanese government for the next
year. The expenditures are TO he 613.-
$4,000 leavins, deficit of 100000
yen. which is u be met by an increase
in the consumption tax on sake. or
Japanesa beer. sugar and petroleum
1t Is this increase on the necessities
of the people Il at is slated for arousinS
the people To the foreigners there is
a decided feelin 9 as stated in the Eng
lish press of Japan. that when the gov
eminent finds it necessary to tax the
COMMON necessities that the govern
ment is in bad way and face to face
with a situation that is said to be des-
perate.
Revenue Sources Strong.
A comparison of the ordinary reve-
nue. and the ordinary expense shows
that the Japanese conduct their rail-
roads. postoffit es. and telegraph serv-
ices in splendid manner, for the net
earnings are greater than the oper-
ating expenses. Yet the rates are low.
much lower. in fact than in other
countries. The, forests are made to
yield a revenue whether owned by the
government or by private individuals.
government likewise controls the pro-
duction of salt. hundreds of mines of
all kinds which under the head of gov
eminent works pay handsome earn
ings. The monopoly in the tobacco,
match and other indu' ries also pays
we'll. Without these monopolies. the
income Of the government would be far
less than its needs.
The increase in the ordinary expen-
ditures over last year is about $1,000
600 yen. caused largely by the expense
Of maintaining railroad guards in
Manchuria and tn" sta6oning of
troops in Korea. This feature has
been prominently brought forward by
Gates that the japanese are not MAX
ing any VERY great efforts to withdraw
their troops from the Chinese terri
tory.
Army and Navy Costly.
The extraordinary expenditures
planned for next year include the fol-
lowing: Foreign department. 361S000:
home department. 13.2S0.000: finance,
17.204 900: war; 37.206.OO0; navy 49,
$4,000: education. 1.727.000: agricul-
ture and commerce. 9,941. 900: commu-
nications 59.279,000.
The war department demands are
necessitated by the maintenance of
the troops in Korea and Manchuria.
and the suppression of the rebellion in
I'ormosa. In the navy department
there are payments to be made on
warshps now building and contracted
for. In this department. the Toxic
papers supporting the government lay
great stress upon the fact that the
program outlined previ-
ously has been postponed. effecting a
saving of 45.0O0.000 yen in the next
six years. The activity of the gov
eminent in promoting agriculture and
commerce is seen in the extraordinary
expenses which is more than the ordl-
nary. But the greatest feature is the