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Constitutional Imperialism in Japan
[Vol. VI

studying political questions!” Nor was this so strange; for as representative institutions in Japan were but in their infancy, it would, of course, be unreasonable to expect the first Diet to be composed largely of tried and experienced legislators. But it is only fair to add that in both houses there were many veteran statesmen and well-versed young politicians, and that the House of Peers has since been steadily growing in reputation and influence. The House of Representatives consisted of an even 300 members, who had a great variety of professions and showed great differences in personal ability and experience. The old samurai (gentry) class had 109, and the heimin (commonalty) class had 191 representatives.[1]

It was on December 2, 1890, that the House of Peers had the honor of receiving the first bill ever presented to a National Assembly in Japan—a “bill for the amendment and control of the system of weights and measures.” It was on December 4 that Count Matsukata, Minister of Finance, laid before the House of Representatives the first budget, over which ensued a prolonged and bitter discussion. The Government asked for the sums of 70,800,311 yen for “ordinary expenditures,” and 23,204,082 yen for “extraordinary expenditures.” The Budget Committee of the House recommended a reduction of about 7,840,000 yen; the “Moderates” proposed a reduction of 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 yen. At one time it looked as if the “Radicals” would surely win and thus provoke the Government to dissolve the House of Representatives; but finally a compromise was effected, by which the government consented to a reduction of about 6,500,000 yen.

Other important measures passed by the Diet were bills for opening additional ports, for postponement of the operation of the Commercial Code, for reforming weights and measures according to the metric system. One bill, passed by the lower House, but not reached in the upper House, was for the reduction of the land tax.

  1. ↑ This paragraph and several following ones are taken from the writer’s pamphlet on “Constitutional Government in Japan” published in 1903 by the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Philadelphia, as No. 371 of its series of publications.

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