The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-10

party had an absolute majority. 1t
was the first time that a single party
dominated legislative affairs. 1t was
also in a majority during the second
Katsura ministry. but was induced to
sanction some OF his financial meth
DDS which it now refers to with such
bitterness.
When Saionji began his second min
istry in May, 1911, he continued to
hold the presidency Of the Constitu-
tional association party. This was
unprecedented and WOuld have been
hooted out of court 10 years before.
The party has been with the premier
in his retrenchment measures. In fact,
it has gone beyond him and is now
forcing the fight. whereas. he, yielding
to the personal ~admonition of the
young emperor, seems willing to COM
promise for the time being. The ko-
kuminto. or nationalist party. is in the
minority and is more conservative. In
the present struggle. however, it has
Joined hands with the majority against
the b~ureaucrats
A glance at japanese finances VIII
show the acuteness of the situation.
For example, take a comparison with
the United states: The Japanese
number approximately sc, 000, coo people
whereas there are nearly 100, 100000
Americans. Their total trade is $685.
900, 600 annually. whereas ours is ST.
100000, 900. America, rich and strong,
has a national debt of about
81 900, 600, 900. Japan, much smaller
and much poorer, groans nde a ma
tional burden of 1880, 000, 600. The
annual expenses Of the American gov
average 1000, 000, 900, while
Japan's are S2S5, O00, 900.
In other words, Japan's national
debt is almost three times as great
as it's total annual trade. In this
connection it is interesting to note
that for the past three years Japan's
own balance of trade has been UNI
favorable, the imports eXceedings on
the average the exports by 1000, nnO.
Japan's annual expenditures for the
upkeep Of the army, navy and other
departments is three-fifths of it's total
trade, while in the United States the
annual appropriations are less than
one-Seventh of our total trade. Also,
we have a substantial balance in our
favor, imports being $4,000, 900, 600 and
exports $4.0 00, OO0, 900. And still the
Japanese army demanded 10000 more
men on the pretext of guarding and
pacifying Korea, a task with which
the present army of 100000 is appa
rently considered too small to cope.
According to the Japan year book OF
1912 the national expenses have
jumped in IS years from $37 ,Ooo, 600
annually to $3.50, 600, 600, as stated
above. Prior to the war with hin
the principal taxes were on land, in
comes and sake (~native Wine). Fol-
lowing the war registration and BUSH
ness tax laws, an increased tax on
sake and the establishment of the to-
baccO monopoly added 90, O00,O . yen or
$4,000, 600 to the annual revenues. IN
1899 the country already was prepar-
ing for it's coming war with Russia
and an additional annual revenue of
s20,O 0O, 900 was provided by another
increase all along the line and the
creation of the convertible note tax
and n dues. Two years later
another 10000 600 per year was
yielded the government by a third
raise of the sake tax n the crea-
ton of a new beer tax and a sugar
excise. Only a small tax on playing
cards was added from that time to the
outbreak of the war with Russia three
years afterward.
As a result of the war, the heavy
taxes that the people paid before
have been added to twice, and the ma
tiOnal debt SWelled enormously. To-
day they are paving $4,000 900 per
year more han they did Is years ago.
The increases made necessary by the
war with Russia We're called 'emer-
gencN taxes" implying that they We're
for the time being. But the country
has continued to borrow, and these
"~emergency taxes are now perma-
nent. Increases were made on land,
! income. business, sugar. soy, registra-
ton, stock and rice exchanges and
mining, and the import duties We're