Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 431

JAPAN.

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of the three cities are of higher rank and have more extensive powers than those of the kens. The latter are all on an equal footing, are under control of the Nai Mu Sho, and have limited powers, being required to submit every matter, unless there is a precedent for it, to the Minister of the Interior. Nor have they any concern in judicial proceedings since the establishment 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 the 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 valour 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 Daimios (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 Daimios, 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 estimated total revenue of Japan for the year 1882-83 was given in official returns at $66,814,122, and the total expenditure at the same amount. The sources of revenue and branches of expenditure were as follow:-

REVENUE.

Customs Duty and Miscellaneous Incomes conuccted therewith $ 2,600,330 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

A

Profits from Industrial Undertakings

Sales of Government Property

Miscellaneous Receipts

Repayment of Debts due to Government

Total Estimated Revenue

EXPENDITURE.

Reduction of National Debt

Interest on National Debt

...

42,945,853 51,152

1,288,830

10,512,806

348,674

870,356

1,860,000

4

1,176,899

2,001,166

305,125 2,393,593 495,338

$66,814,122

$ 8,237,614 15,055,592 1,398,785

Civil List and Appauages of Imperial Princes

Various Pensions and Gratuities

Council of State (Dai Jo Kwan) 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)

449,279

632,232

178,500

195,210

489,225

669,829

8,605,872

3,161,592

$39,073,830