2298 COMMERCIAL JAPA:^. [Decejibee, 



resources. While it supplied the Government with the necessary funds and did its best in collecting subscriptions to the war loan, the 

 bank was always active in providing capital to trade and indastries. To the high credit of the bank, its notes circulated during the war 

 even in the heart of the Leao Tung peninsula of Chir^. The total cost of the war was 200,475,508 yen, but this was paid without 

 causing any serious calamities in industrial circles. 



ADMIXISTEATI\'E M.ICHIXERY OF THE E.VN'K. 



The government of the Bank of Japan is composed of a governor, vice-governor (now vacant), four directors, and from three to five 

 auditors. The governor and vice-governor are appointed by the Government for five years. The directors are also chosen by the 

 Government out of the double number of candidates nominated at the general meeting of shareholders, and their term of ofiice is four 

 years. The governor and the directors meet daily together and constitute the governing board, wliich decides all important questions 

 of the bank. The auditors are elected by the shareholders for the term of three years. They constitute the board of auditors, which 

 meets at least once a month. All important actions of the board of directors, such as the changes of the rate of interest and the rate of 

 dividend to be declared, are subject to their apx^roval. They also inspect books and documents of the bank. The governor, the %-ice- 

 governor, the directors, and auditors constitute the general meeting of the bank, which deliberates upon questions proposed by the 

 governor. These officers must live in Tokyo, and during their terms of office they can not accept any other office either in the Govern- 

 ment or other banks and corporations. The regular meeting of shareholders takes place semiannually, on the third Saturday of February 

 and August. Those who own ten shares or more have a voice at this meeting. 



Besides these bodies, the Government appoints a certain number of comptrollers out of the high ofiicers of the trea.sury department. 

 They have the power to stop any act either contrary to the laws and by-laws or deemed to be against the best interest of the Government. 

 They weekly visit the bank and receive various rei)orts regarding the condition of the bank and its transactions. They can attend any 

 meeting of the bank officers and express their views in regard to the business of the bank. 



The internal organization of the bank has passed through many changes since its foundation. At present it is divided into eight 

 departments and tlie office of the private secretary ; namely, inspection department, business department, teller's department, issue 

 department, state treasury department, secretary's department, the department of securities, and accountant's department. The control 

 of each department and of each branch or subbranch is intrusted to either managers or submanagers, who number at present twenty- 

 three. The total number of employees now stands at 1,102. 



The bank has had already four governors, and the present incumbent is the fifth, in the person of Mr. Tatsuo Yamamoto. He has 

 already rendered very distinguished services to the bank, both as a director and as the chief of the busines.<» department. At the 

 resignation of Baron Iwasaki, in October last, he was promoted to the present office. He is still a young man of 43 and much is 

 expected in liis future career. 



COLLECTION OF DEBTS IN JAPAN. 



In reply to the State Department's instruction of March 17, 1899, Consul-General Gowdy states that the method of collecting debta 

 in Jaitan is in general similar to that prevailing in the United States, namely, by action at law simi)ly or by action with attachment of 

 tiie (lel)tor's property. 



Tlic courts provided for this purpose are — 



( 1 ) Ku saibanslio, or local (;oui-ts, having jurisdiction over claims under 100 yen (850) in amount. 



(2) Chiho saibansho, or district courts, having jurisdiction in cases inA-olnng larger amounts. From the chiho saibansho apx)eals 

 lie to the 



(3) Koso in, or appeal courts, and to the 



(4) Daishin in, or supreme court of the Empire. 



Foreign plaintiffs not residing in Japan should furnish their agents or attorneys with ample powers of attorney, with authority of 

 substitution. Such documents should be attested by a diplomatic or consular officer of Japan. Foreign plaintiffs are required to give 

 security for costs. 



The period of limitation of actions arising out of conti'acts for the sale of goods is two years. 



NEW LAWS IN JAPAN. 



Mr. Herod, secretary of the legation at Tokyo, sends the State Department, under date of April 10, 1899, translations of recent 

 law.s rehiting to the duties of consular officers and to the arrest and detention of mariners of foreign vessels, as follows: 



LAW KELATIXCi TO CONSULAR DUTIES. 



Article I. Restrictions with regard to matters in the treaties cspcciiilly relating to the rights of consular officers shall, within 

 limits proscribed by law, be llxcd by ordinance. 



A UP. II. Wlicn provisions of law are wanting in reganl to matters relating to the duties of consular officers under the treaties, in 

 cases where ."uch ]>rovisi()n.s of law are required they shall bo determined by ordinance. 



AnT. 111. Coiisniar oHiceiH and others who, in accordance with this law, are performing consular functions, shall perform their 

 duties ill liMrinoiiy with the provision.s of the laws and treaties. 



Sucl) oHicers, however, may t'onform to the usages founded on international law or to the special usages of the place of residence. 



When till' im ceding clause can not be (»bserved, .'Special regulations may bo fi.xod by ordinance. 



AiiT. IV. When tin- date of the operation of a law in foreign countrioij i.s not fixed, the date of the operation of said lawishall Ix) 

 fixed by ordinance. 



Akt. \'. The limits of juii.sdiotion relating to the duties of con.'sular ofiicers shall be fixe«\ by notification. 



Akt. VI. Consular olliioi-s who. by treaty in usage, have authority to exerci.«e consular judicial powers, shall i^rform their duties 

 relating to civil and criminal cases and to registration in harmony with Artiiles VII and XIII. 



