His Majesty has issued a proclamation concerning the new laws which have been promulgated. He calls attention to the fact that there has been doubt in the minds of magistrates as to whether certain ancient laws were repealed, and it has therefore been found difficult to enforce the existing laws. The new laws are made up of the best of the ancient laws conformed to modern foreign regulations, to be published throughout the country and observed forever.
The Sunju prefect has been summarily dismissed for squeezing money from citizens of his district.
The governor of South Pyeng An province reports that the people are greatly disturbed, and he asks that a good magistrate be sent there at once.
Cutting of trees on South mountain by the Japanese has been complained of, and the authorities have been asked to put a stop to it.
The Minister of the Law Department memorialized His Majesty, stating that law should mean justice and asking permission to appoint special agents from his department to investigate all the courts of Justice and Judges and examine the evidence and judgments carefully to see that no wrong is done. His Majesty acquiesced, and six agents have been appointed.
The Japanese gendarmes have been asked for permission to form another political organization by several prominent Koreans.
Human bones are said to have been found scattered along the road-side near the railway outside of South Gate, probably having been disinterred when the many graves were removed by railway workmen. The Home Department has ordered policemen to see that the bones are properly interred.
The former secretary to the Korean Legation in Russia returned to Seoul this month.
The Minister of War, Kwan Choong-hyen, has repeatedly sent in his resignation because of the reduction in the allowance for military expenditure. He has now been dismissed and Yi Yong Ik, formerly governor of North Kyeng-san province, has been appointed Minister of War.