Evening star., 1901-04-09

precise status of the native tenantry of the
orders. In the examination of Father Paya
OF the Dominicans the following testimony
was given:
%. AS to your tenants, did you permit
one family to remain for several genera
tlons on the same piece of land?
"A. Yes, sir, way back to great-grand-
parents. At times these tenants would
sublet to others the right to cultivate the
ground, and at good price too
u. Dld the tenants put in any improve
"A. No. in every instance the CORPORATION
mas made all the improvements such as
drainage canals, dams and irrigation
works
better each year?
"a. Yes, sir; it hardly needs any fertu-
ing at all after few crops
Y: Would not sometimes one family
Whch occupied rice lands transfer its
rights to another family; that is, sell out
It's right Of tenancy to another?
The Tenants Rights.
"A. That was prohibited, but they often
did that, sometimes with the consent of the
administrator and sometimes without
q Was the tenancy regarded with such
privilege that the person going in paid to
the person going out any sum of money?
A. The tenants themselves considered
that great privilege and charged some
times as much as the property was worth.
without respect to the original order, what
we call the tenants right?
"A. Strictly speaking, the tenant had no
right whatever. Contracts We're made for
three years, and after that they were ten
ants at will.
u. But what want to get at Is the feel
ing and impression among the tenants
themselves, not the legal rights + rnaan
what was the right between the tenants
themselves? They, I suppose. came TO
thlnk that they might retain the lands as
long as they chose in the family and that
lhat privilege of retention was a valuable
privilege, and so regarded among them
another? ~
"a There is no doubt that these tenants
held the privilege which they had at a very
hlSh value and they would get number
OF acres. One man would go to the admin
lstrator and say, I will rent twenty acres,
alld ihen ne would sell that privilege Of his,
winch was only for three years at a high
ngure, and SO long as he paid his annual
rental ne would not be disturbed But
there have been several cases in Calamba.
Where the only persons they could look to
for payment of the rent, the tenants. were
elected for non-payment. They understood
that they had no legal right to it after
the three years"
the order had been to give them this privi-
themselves? '
Eyes, that is true So much was that tho
hectares and five sons would will those s,,o
hectares one to each SON.
Church and school.
The ecclesiastfcs examined, other than
those directly representative of the orders
gave testimony in general covering the
same ground. This inquiry, however
touched upon the broader questions of ed
ucation and church administration under
American rule. The following question,
asked of the archbishop of Manila briefly
expressed the tentative policy of the com
mission on the former subject:
You know the restrictions placed upon
the disbursement of money in America
raised by taxation in that it must be non
sectarian. But this is Catholic country
and We wish to give as full opportunity as
we can, subject to the restrictions I have
mentioned, for the instruction of the school
children, either before OF after the regular
instruction, by the priest or teacher whom
the church will select, in morality and re
igion, and We wish TO give the same op-
portunity to other churches Now such n
system has worked in some parts of Amer
lea In a great many parts of America no
religious instruction is permitted in the
schools at all. but we are In different
country, and SO long as We keep within
the line OF not ourselves paying people
Tor instruction in particular religion we
want to give full opportunity to the oper-
alton of the church in moral and religious
instruction to the children. and we have
Sdiu 10 our superintendent OF instruction
that while II is not possible, of course to
discriminate in favor of Catholic teachers
In selecting those whom We hope to bring
out here, We are very anxious in any leeiti-
mate way to make that number lust and
fair proportion
In answer the archbishop expressed the
opinion that the idea was very good
Can the Frfars Return.
The bishop OF Jaro. answering the aues-
tion as to the probable reception of the
friars by the natives If they should re-
turn to their parishes, said:
Il think they can all return when the in
surrection Is at an end but when is the
daily letters from the provinces asking us
to come back, but there are always two
three. or four of this disturbing element In
these towns trying to get the men up