The twenty-sixth session of the Imperial Japanese Diet was convoked December 22, and after the opening two Houses went into january 20.
Tu January the different political parties will hold grand meetings, issue! declarations and manifestoes, and decide! generally on the tactics to be adopted by the different parties. No scrive movement is thas expected until that time, Before the convocation of the!
jet, the different parties elected their jamentary leaders and managers, but jo duty does not attract any particular attention.
In its forthcoming session the Diet will have to deal with most important questions. The Budget for the 1910 11 fiscal year implies a step forward of the financial programme launched by Marquia Katsura in 1908 and carried into effect in 1909. The present Gorment proposes farther to increase of the amortization also proceed with the re-adjustment of taxes, which the preceding Cabinet had failed to carry maintain the equilibrium of taxation, for the readjustment will result in a reduction the total yield by 10,000,000. The proposed increase of official deserves keen Pa mi ire expenses, which will in-together with the readjustment of ad-
clude reduction of official staffs, amaliplification of official business, It is understood that the question of iff revision is to be submitted to the Legislature, Important bills are also to be introduced by the Goreroment, including the Factory Bill. The parties outside the Goveroment will propose reduction of the land tax. The Seiynkai (led by Marquis Saionji, ex-Pre-jer) proposes a reduction of 5 per cent and the Progressives one of 10 per cent, to be carried out from the beginning of the next fiscal year. The Government seems to hold that there is no room for such reduction in the next fiscal year, but that it may be feasible la 1911-12 calling for reduction largely of agrarians and will strongly fight for their constituents.
Next with regard to the relative strength of political parties. The Seiya 100 members in the Lower over ten more than in the lant session, and thereby commands an absolute maj-rity. The Progressiv~ Representatives exceed 60. The Yushioksi numbers 40, Boshia Clab 40, Bosbin (lub 30 and Daido Club less than 30. Even if these parties unite themselves into s new party, they cannot svcentally contest with the Seiya ksi existing circumstances, such union is far from being carried into effect, Thus the situation this session
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.