Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-10-03

931. Thirty years later the debt had
risen to $1120,00O, 900 This immense
increase was due mainly to the Chi
nese and Russian war, and a continu-
ing expenditure on a large scale is
necessitated by the national defense.
In the year 1903 the army and navy
cost $144,189,183. Between April /,
1895, and March 1, 1909, the army cost
S376,085,08S and the navy $313,443, 440.
The national defense has cost a total
of $3.50, 423, 523 within fourteen years
and this without counting the cost Of
the Russian war. COrea, FOrmOsa and
ManchuTia have demanded heavy
expenditures. A merchant marine has
been established, many extensive pub
lie works undertaken, including rail
ways, telegraphs and telephones, and
all these things have been done by a
country that contains only $4,000
square miles of arabic soil
Under such conditions it is easy to
believe that taxation is the question
Of the day in Japan and has been so
for many years. Since the outbreak
of the Russian war the land tax has
ranged from per cent. to 17.5 per
cent. The tax on liquors ranges from
So per 40 gallons up to 1740B per
40 gallons, according to the percent
age of alcohol
Then comes the income tax. which
is arranged upon a sort of graduated
scale. Before the war the tax paid
by "juridicat' persons was ~ per
cent, but after the war an additional
tax was levied equal to so per cent.
up to 400 per cent. of the ordinary
rate An income tax of 2 per cent
was also levied on public loan funds
and company deGentures. All other
persons not already assessed as above
pay rate in proportion to their in
come. Before the war those with an
income of 300 yen ($150) per annum
paid l per cent, and this increased
according to the income up to SO
per cent. Now the lowest income pays
10 per cent. and the highest 2O.35 per
cent. There are various exceptions,
such as army and navy officers while
engaged in war, widows, orphans. pen
siOners, etc. There is also a tax on
textiles, an excise duty on sugar, and
substantial revenue from the post
office. The customs tariff also is re-
sponsible for a substantial income
amounting to about $22,OO0,000 a year.
Mention should also be made of the
state monOpolies of tobacco, salt and
camphOr, worth about $25,000,0OO a
year.
AdaChi kinnOsui describes the will.
ingness of the Japanese people to be
taxed and their accomplishing re-
Spouse to demands that are necessi-
tated by the good of the country. His
statement is so remarkable that it is
worthy. of quotation. He says:
In 1895 We went to war with China.
Our government wanted money. and
wanted it badly. It let our people know
about its needs in terms of war loans.
To the first call the people answered
by putting up $4,000, 600. The govern
ment wanted more, and on the. second
call it succeeded in getting from the
people $4,000, 000-in all $4,000, 900.
The people gave this amount very
willingly. That fact was very plain
on the very face OF it. 1t was widely
advertised also. The thing that was
not so well known, especially outside
of the country, however. was that this
was all that the people could do at
the time-and a little more. Nine