The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-03
THE LAND Law IN
THE PHILIPPINES
The Cause Of Strong Sentiment
Against the Friars.
A PRINCIPAL GRIEVANCE
History of the Law and The Complaints
Made by tho Ienants-Mnch
Expected From Ameri-
can Rule.
A PRINCIPAL GRIEVANCE

MANILA. p. /, May 1.-0ne OF the prin-
cipal grievances which the natives OF
.he phiiipuine Islands had against their
snanisr rulers and The question which
,no-e than any other made them resolve
10 throw OFF the Spanish yoke, was the
land question. This question now con
fronts the American authorities. and an
adjustment of il satisfactory to the ma
-i,,es would so far howard ending the
resurrection. II has been positively stated
NV one of the officials OF the AGuanaioo
government that when it Is settled aii
.,r,nosition to the American government
OF the island VIII cease Inc qussNoii -
largely onse of the relation OF iallaiRd
md tenant. and, Mike the land question IN
ireland to-day, Il arises from the iact 'iist
1aeey. tracts of land are Owned, or CLAIMED
to be owned. ley individuals, churcAes or
,,rlra,,les who demand rent from the
zeal occupants Of the land, many OIL "ifoLi
have had possession for years and VINO
feel that the property IS righiiuily iheits-
II is this same question which is me
cause of the strong sentiment in the ISL
ands against the fr!ars. for the churcn Is
one OF the largest iandhoiders.
The Iar,d laws of the Philippines are
VOW INCOMPLETE, and although laws have
been in existence from very early tunes
they have been little uSed and the GcsiSl1y
of titles was almost unknown unul inc
present century. Even now registry IS
looked ,IIou as a rather unnecessary pro-
c..eiinc. AS a Filipino gentleman recent
ly said "Onr word was our bond. PaTefS
were not needed a promise vas N;ilid-
The Spaniards recognized at the ffSi the
holdings Of native farmers. All reafensoS
or unculrvated lands were supposed 10
belong; TO the Government, and II allowed
natives to squat and build on the public
lands without any regular form of law.
II the small annual tax were paid, the
holding was respected. These unregistered
holdings were often transferred from one
native To another without any form OF
law or registry.
MORE RIGID LAWS.
This condition of affairs could not con-
tinue, because the land sharpers and the
Government fayorites soon saw that pro-
iii to themselves could be made out OF the
lax methods Of transfer. Then more rigid
laws became necessary. But the laws were
50 cumbersome that the more ignorant
people in the interior never attempted TO
make use OF them to register their lands.
and many Of those who We're intelligent
enough ITO understand The Importance OF
having clear titles TO property never
registered their holdings because the risk
OF being involved In legal proceedings con-
'stituted the greater danger. As a conSe-
uuence families that had owned land Tor
generations accepted the claims OF some
landlord who had by Illegal means OBJ
tained title 10 their property, rather tnall
fight the matter in the courts. 1t was
cheaper TO pay rent than 10 pay the
expenses of a law suit. Great confusion
resulted from this condition of the land
laws and the Government was forced
10 take some action in the matter.
Some forty years ago one of the cover
nor-generals called upon ali landholders
to register their property. Again III 1871
when the mortgage law was promulgated
an opportunity was given TO the property.
holders 10 prove their claims and make
valid their titles by showing ten years
undisputtd possession Of their lands. AS
before, the ignorant ones paid no atten-
ton 10 the law, and the unprancipled ones
took advantage OF il TO strengthen their
hold on the land already occupied ana
to register their own land together With
that OF as many OF their neigabors as
was possible, This may seem like an act
OF kindness toward the neighbors, but the
truth IS That all the properties We're
registered in the one name and tae land
holders suddenly found themselves ten
ants of their kind neighbor. Disputes
were frequent, OF course, but 1t WAS not
difficult TO get The Government 20 decide
tered the land. In the underhand and lille
gal way outlined above many large es-
tates We're formed from the small holdings
OF a number of individuals.
on many OF these large estates the ten
ant is protected TO some extent because
under The 4aw he holds the land for an
irdeinate period, and cannot be elected
from the property by the owner. In fact
he is u Co-oNner and has a voice in the>
selling of the land he leases SO long as
ne pays 4 yearly rent TO the landlord. The
system Is almost feudal. for although
there is no military service involved, the
tenants, in many cases, lock to the land
lord for protection and help when they need
them. During the war the house of an old
Filipino in Manila was crowded with ten
ants from his estates in the provinces.
They had come TO him for protection
against the TaSalog forces and the fact
that some of them had lost the ownership
OF the lands they occupied through the
trickery Of the old man did not seem TO
inspire any resentment. The principal
thing which. under This system made the
tenant dissatisfied was that when he had
by hard work improved the property he
was frequently compelled TO pay i higher
rent 30 Fhe landlord. Some OF the tenants
rent their farms from year 10 Year and
do mot enjoy the rights of the class men-
toned.
THE LANDHOLDERS.
The large holders of land in the Philip
pines are a1le religious orders of friars,
and various private parties Spaniards,
Mestszos and Fflipinos. The friars are
peThaiss the largest landholders, regardless
OF The schools and churches owned by them
and speaking only of the large estates
they hold in is,e country around about
Manila and in the renpoteg provinces Tasse
lands are said 70 have been acquired by
gift from some devotee or from the State
or by purchase and the properties repre-
sent the investments Of the corporations
and correspond 10 endoNrnents in our own
country The income from the estates is
used. so 1T is said. fer the support of
the schools and sesninaries in Spain. They
are exceedingly valuable and have made
the religious orders here very wealthy.
1t is almost impossible TO ascertain the
extent Of the holdings of the fr1ars. one
of their number who was interviewed
Claimed not TO know and said that only
the Supporters OF tle orders had any accu-
rate information on the subject Con
lectures are frequently made. hut are
likely 10 he far from the truth For
instance. one friar said that .'ali the
cultivated land is held by The orders. a
u manifest Intruth. Another says 1.-THE
church mas q sea Of plantations II is