Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-10

rights is the cause of the trouble In
Japan. The sudden effacing Of Prince
Katsura and the appointment OF Admiral
Count Yamamoto to the premiership have
not brought complete victory. The peos
pie are demanding the large share in gov
ernmental affairs guaranteed them by the
constitution Of 1889. and they are deter
mined that the cabinet shall be more re-
sponsive to the will of the diet than to
the nod of the emperor. Before success
crowns their efforts they must crush clan
influence on the one hand, and on the
other hand they must make worthy the
rather unworthy diet which they would
exalt.
The insistence of the army on two new
divisions, or 10000 men, for Korean de-
Tense, In the face
Greater Liberty Of the nations
virtu al bank
the immediate cause Of the recent up
heaval. Other elements were the rivalry
between the army and the navy, the
heary feud between the Choshu and the
Satsuma clans. and the growth OF party
politics. The waning influence of the
elder statesmen and the fact that the
new mikado does not command the wor-
ship so freely given to his father also
are factors.
But the movement for greater liberty
is the prime agency, and 1t will be We'll
to consider for a moment the constitu-
ton which the people wish to strengthen
and the governmental forms which. that
document set up for them nearly a quar-
ter of a century ago.
While MutsuhitO, the late emperor, was
put on the throne in 1858. thus restoring
the imperial family to power. and start
ing the country on the road of progress. a
constitution was not granted until Feb
ruary IL. 1885, 1t is modelled after that
of the German empire, the ministers be-
ing responsible only to the emperor. with
diet, which has been done frequently. The
emperor's prerogatives are:
l. Right of conyOking, opening. clos
ing or proroguing the imperial diet, and
of dissolving the house OF representa-
tives
2 Right of issuing any urgency ordi-
nances when the imperial diet is not sit
ting, to be submitted to it for approval
at the next session.
g. Right of issuing or causing to be
issued the ordinances required for put
ting the laws in operation, or for mains
tanning peace and order.
4. Right of taking the supreme COM
mand of the army and navy, and of de-
termining the organization of the serv-
s. Right of declaring war; making
peace and concluding treaties.
8. Right OF determining the organiza-
ton of the governmental department, linn
iting the functions and fixing the salaries
Of civil and military officials.
Z. Right OF comforting titles OF nobil-
ity, honors and decorations, and to grant
pardons and DEGREES OF amnesty.
4 y
The usual executive, legislative and jul
dicial divisions are provided. the first and
last named being APP
Limit Suffrage pointive. while the
nnr. legislative is cleo
IN Vmclal AlIc. tive. The suffrage is
limited The people. elect all the members
of the house OF representatives, but only
43 of the 81 members OF the house OF
peers. and they are chosen by a select
group of wealthy taxpayers in each cleo
toral district.
The upper body of the imperial diet, the
house OF peers, Is composed Of IA princes
OF the blood. IL princes, 80 marquises, all
of whom sit for life upon becoming
twenty-five years of age: also II counts,
20 viscounts and 63 barons. all Of whom
are elected for seven years by members
OF their own orders of nobility. The en-
peror appoints 121 men, notable for learn
ing, patriotism, philanthropy or any other
worthy trait. regardless Of their origin.
and who sit for life. The - members
who represent the highest taxpayers in
the empire serve seven years. The nom
titled members must have exceeded the
titled ones. The body cannot be dissolved
under any circumstances, but can be con-
vened at any time.
The house OF representatives consists
OF 80 members elected for four years.
The electors must be at least twenty-five
not less than the equivalent Of s. per
annum. Candidates for the house must
be at least thirty years OF age. Over 300
OF the total membership come from the
rural districts, the average being one
member for every 10000 of the popula-
sion three months every year, and are
paid 1900 yen ($1 ,OO0) per annum besides
free passes and travelling expenses.
In case member II unseated, dies or
ponent who had the next highest vote
succeeds him. There are only 100000
voters out OF total population OF about
5000. 600.
The average expense OF campaign Tor
a seat in the house is 1000 yen or 1850.
although in one
Average Expense district in 1908
~ two rivals spent
WI 0ees II Avusc. $1,000 yen each.
The house meets every other day, the al
ternate day being given to committeework.
Farmers represent 80 per cent of the
membership, merchants and manufacture
ers IL per cent lawyers. journalists and