El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-24
FINANCIAL
PANIC HITS
JAPANESE
Famine Adds to Distress and
the Government Tries
to Give Relief.
TAXATION PROVES
TO BE BIG BURDEN

IT. OhIO' Japan, Jan. 24-Despite
ofIlcial utterances to reassure
the public, japan is declared in
ether quarters to 10. suffering from
on economic deJIcSs-CT- In the north
& stern section famine has made the
SITUATION particularly acute. In some
cases scnoOlS nave had to close be-
cause there was no money to paw the
teachers and because the children.
weak from lack of food were unable
TO attend The HOkkaidO government
has asked the central government to
advance $l5,OOO,00O for relief funds,
Taxation Is a Burden.
Inc chleI cause of the general de-
preston, which began about the time
of the death of emperor MutsuhitO is
the heavy taxation of the people which
IS necessary to pay the interest on the
national debt of over billion dollars
me wave Of elation among the peo-
PIE at the close of the victorious war
with Russia and a patriotic business
boom also caused a general rise in the
standard of living and the price of
commodities scared as a result of the
more luxurious level of expenditure
Then came reaction. This was due to
the burden Of extraordinary taxes to
meet the war debt and constant ex-
pendltures IN the building up OF a big
army and navy.
The government, however. is attack
2hS the problem herOically by making
heavy retrenchments. Much to the
dissatisfaction of the army, it has been
decided to abandon for the present at
least, the lOng-standing proposal 10
create two more military divisions.
Reduction Promised.
baron Takahashi, the minister of
unance, promises a reduction Of taxes
to Tighten the burdens of the people.
He viii endeavOr to continue the prac-
tlce Of redeeming the national debt
oy go, 100000 yearly. He looks for
ward also to an increase in the amount
of capital invested in the establish
ment or expansion of banking and in
duStrlal enterprises Costly harbOr i'm
provements may be delayed, but the
authorities are actively planning to
build new WaterWOrks system in the
city of Toxic and construct a sew
age, system Of which the metropolis
stands badly in need in the interest
OF public health. For these improve
ments loans will probably soon be
sought in Europe.
Must Increase Exports,
But IT is by increasing her export
trade tnat Japan hopes to find real re-
ueL continuous order in China where
revolution upset the market for Jana
1ese goods, and the opening of the
tanama canal are greatly desired as
furnishing means for augmenting the
exports and thereby reducing the ball
ance OF trade which now stands
against Japan.
Everybody, is also looking forward
eagerly to the coronation of the new
emperor next fall as Signalling bright
prospects by the increased demand for
tdDOr ana putting a large amount of
money into circulation.
Look to United States
The Japanese business men who
visited the United States four wears
ago nave decided upon campaign for
cioser understanding between the two
countries. At a recent reunion, upon
the anniversary of the party's return
alter q four months stay in America
resolutions were adopted asking
friends In America to assist in further
ing the traditional friendship between
Japan and the United States. It was
decided that members of the party
should send personal letters to their
american acquaintance seeking their
aid in this cause
This is but one of many Indications
OF Japan's earnest desire to be under
stood by the United States as a first
eiass power and to bring an end to
the movements in the United States
Whlch MT the Japanese.
California Trouble.
II would be a mistake. however, to
DeleVe that Japan intends to drop the
california land question. On the con-
trary, there is every indication that
She viii stick tenaciOusiy to her or
was voiced by BuCi NakanO, president
Of the Toxic chamber Of commerce.
Whle welcoming a party OF Japanese
tourists from Sacramento. He said it
was source of deep regret that the
land question remained unsettled, de-
spite the united and assiduOus efforts
or both the Japanese government and
ton 1t would require further effort
and the Japanese at home were fully
prepared to strive to the last for a
fundamental settlement