The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-26

ward them OF the people. The commission
says: ut did not shock the common peo-
pie arouse their indignat ion TO see their
curate establish Illicit relations with
woman and have children by her. Woni-
an did not lose caste that account.
but often prided herself on the relation TO
the chief authority in the village.
of course there may have been instances
In which a friar used his autocratic power
TO establish a relation of this kind against
the will of a woman and her relatives. and
these cases have lent themselves TO deepen
the colors of the lurid and somewhat over
drawn pictures painted by the anti-friar
writers"
LAND OWNED BY THE FRIARS.
The report shows that the total amount
of land I'm the island owned by the Angus
tinians, the Dominicans. the Franciscans
and the Recolletos is approximately 403. 900
acres. besides which they have large sums
of money to loan. Most of this property
has been transferred by the Domincans
to a man named Andrews. and by the Au-
gustins and by the Recolletos to English
corporations. but the commission say these
transfers are not genuine, and the friars
remain the owners. 1t declares however.
that the United States government is bound
by treaty to protect these interests, and
suggests that they be purchased for public
lands out of the island revenues and by
condemnation. II need be, though the or
ders have expressed a willingness to sell
at satisfactory price
Regarding the return of the friars, the
commission says that the deep seated hat
red OF the people must be reckoned with.
1t would be of assistance to the American
cause If the Catholic Church were to sub
stitute American priests, but this is a
question of church policy with which the
commission has nothing to do. Says the
report: 1T is enough to say that the po-
ltical question Will be eliminated IL the
friars are not sent back.
Reference is made TO the subject of re-
ligious exercises in schools, which has since
been decided in favor of the church on the
basis of the Faribault plan. The commits
sion says: lit is not certain that this
would completely meet the views of the
Catholic hierarchy, but it is likely 1T Will
avoid that active hostility to a public school
system which might be formidable OBJ
stacle in spreading education among these
Catholic people.
The question of establishing adequate
means of communication between and
throughout the islands is deemed second
airy in Importance only to the primary
schools as an educator of the people. The
commission states that it has no authority
to grant franchises for the construction
of RAILWAYS and advises this government
to empower it with the right, believing
that the construction of number OF roads.
backed by foreign capital, would ensue i'm
mediately.
performing their regular functions. though
in a provisional way. In the supreme
Court the justices are mostly all f1liplnos,
and the justices of the peace are all ma
tiyes The commission says that the ju-
dicial salaries are miserably inadequate,
and It is not surprising, therefore, that
charges of bribery and corruption have
arisen. The commission hopes TO reorgan-
ize the judiciary early this year, but de-
clares that the establishment of a Federal
Court is not within its Jurisdiction The
civil code is stated TO be adequate Tor the
solution of commercial controversies and
the regulation of all civil conduct.