The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-02-27
POVERTY IN JAPAN
Schools Closed Because OF In
ability to Pay Teachers.
imperial Government Attacks the Prob
lam Bravely by Making Heavy
Retrene hmonts--Famine Stu
alton 10 Very Acute.

Toxic. Japan.--Despite Official ut
terances to reassure the public, Ja-
pan Is declared In other quarters TO
be suffering from an economic depres-
sion. In the northeastern section o
famine has made the situation partio-
alarly acute. In some instances
schools have had to close because
there was no money to pay the teach
ers and because the children. weak
from lack Of food. were unable TO at
tend The Hokkaido government has
asked the central government to ad-
vance $4,000 900 for relief fundB.
The chief cause OF the general do
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 The wave of citation among
the people at the close of the victori-
GUS 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 re.
suit OF the more luxurious level OF ex-
penditure. Then came reaction. This
was due to the burden of extraordi.
nary taxes to meet the war debt and
constant expenditures in the building
up of big army and navy.
The government is attacking the
problem heroically by making heavy
retrenohments. Much to the dissatis.
faction of the army. 1t has been de-
cided to abandon for the present, at
least. the long standing proposal to
create two more military divisions.
Baron Takahashi. the minister OF
finance. promises reduction OF taxes
to tighten the burdens OF the people.
He will endeavor to continue the prac.
tlce of redeeming the national debt
by s25.000000 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
dustrial enterprises. Costly harbor
improvements may be delayed. but
the authorities are actively planning
TO build new waterworks system IN
the city OF which the metropolis
stands badly In need in the interest of
public health For these improve
ments loans probably will soon be
sought in Europe
II In by increasing her export trade
that Japan hopes to find real relief.
Continuous order In China, where rev.
olutton upset the market for Japanese
goods and the opening of the Panama
canal are greatly desired as furnish
ing means for augmenting the exports
and thereby reducing the balance 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 de-
mand for labor and putting large
amount OF money into circulation.
Japanese business men who visited
the United States four years ago have
decided upon campaign for closer
understanding between the two coun'
tries. At recent reunion, upon the
anniversary OF the party's return after
q four months stay in America, reso'
lutions were adopted asking friends In
America to assist in furthering the
traditional friendship between Japan
and the United States. 1t was decid'
ed that members of the party should
send personal letters to their Ameri
can acquaintances 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 az first,
class power and to bring an end to
the movements in the United States
which hit the Japanese.