374
JAPAN.
of the twenty-three local Courts and the four Supreme Courts at Tokio, Sendai, Nagasaki, and Osaka, over which the Daishin In presides at Tokio.
Previous to te last change of Government, which restored the ancient Imperial régime, the administrative authority rested with the Shogun (Military Commander) whom foreigners were at first led to recognise as the temporal sovereign, and with whom they negotiated treaties of peace and commerce. The Shogunate was founded in 1184 by Yoritomo, a general of great powers and ability, and was continued through several dynasties until 1869, when the Tokugawa family were dispossessed of the usurped authority. Under the Shogun two hundred and fifty Daimio (feudal princes) shared the administrative power, being practically supreme in their respective domains, conditionally upon their loyalty to the Shogun; and the Mikado's power was thus reduced to a shadow. A list of Daimio, published at Yedo (now Tokio) in 1862, stated their incomes to vary from 10,000 koku of rice to 1,000,000, while that of the Shogun is said to have amounted to 8,000,000 koku. All these princes, after the overthrow of the Shogunate, surrendered at will their estates and every attribute of authority to the Mikado, and are now ranked as Kuazoku (noblemen), quietly living in Tokio.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
The sources
The estimated total revenue of Japan for the year 1880-81 was given in official returns at $59,933,507, and the total expenditure at the same amount. of revenue and branches of expenditure were as follow :-
REVENUE.
Customs Duty and Miscellaneous Incomes conuected therewith $ 2,569,462 Land Tax
Mining Tax
..
Tax on Productions of the Northern Provinces Tax on Alcobolic Liquors, &c.
Tax on Tobacco
Stamp Tax on Legal Documents
Postage Stamps
Various Taxes and License Fees
Income derived from Mines
Income derived from Railways
Income derived from Miut of Finance Department.
Income derived from Various Manufactures, etc.
Income derived from Government Property
Miscellaneous Receipts
Repayment of Debts due to Government.
Total Estimated Revenue
EXPENDITURE.
R duction of National Debt
Inte est on National Debt
Civil List and Appanages of Imperial Princes
Various Pensions and Gratuities
Council of State (Dai Jo Kuwan)
Senate (Gen Ro In)
Foreign Department (Gai Mu Sho)
Home Department (Nai Mu Sho).....
Finance Department (O Kura Sho)...
War Department (Riku Gun Sho)
Navy Department (Kai Gun Sho)
Educational Department (Mon Bu Sho)
Public Works Department (Ko Bu Sho)...
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41,901,441
12,544
660,979
5,965,029
348,674
650,010
1,410,000
1,040,165
241,269
616,762
434,000
115,616
650,956
2,500,325
$50,956
$59,933,507
$ 5,817,538 15,631,369
960,100
596,744
500,000
184,000
201,000
1,647,150
1,487,700
8,151,000
3,015,000
1,181,100
545,860
$39,918,561
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