The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-11
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY
SECRETARY ROOT
CONTRACT To BE SIGNED
Price OF Lands to be Determined by
Five ArbitratOrs-Time for Pay
Within Two Years from First Pay
ment-The Ordinary Courts Are to
Decide Concerning the Land Re-
tanned by the Church, But Claimed
by the Municipalities.

Rome, July Judge w. H. Taft,
civil governor Of the Philippine islands
today received a long cable message
from Secretary Root containing the de-
partment's final Instructions concern.
ing the note relating to the disposition
Of the Friars lands in the islands which
was drawn up here Tuesday and this
afternoon Major POreter delivered the
note to Cardinal Rampolla, the papal
secretary of state.
Answering the vatican's note propos-
ing to have the new apostolic delegate
at Manila settle the question Of the
religious orders Judge Taft in his note
says:
Thus would be lost the advantages
expected from a direct contract clearly
determining the principal lines upon
which cooperation between the state
and church may be assuerd."
The note proposes the purchase of
the and of the Dominicans and Au-
gustinians at a price to be determined
upon by five a~rbitrators, two to be
chosen by n United States, two by
the vatican and one by a neutral, say
the British governor of India
The price to be paid in Mexican dol
4dISs OIlS-lnlTu IlIHGuldISly 1t InlTO IN
nine months and Il third in eighteen
months. with interest at -four and a
half per cent.
Payment to be made to a person
chosen by the vatican.
The former Spanish crown lands now
in POSSESSION of the American govern
ment, on which there are eccelesiasti-
cal buildings to be handed to an &C.
~clesiastical official appointed by the
vatican.
The rdinary courts to decide con-
corning the land taine by the
church. but claimed by the municipal
tiles.
The United States to pay an lndemn-
ity for the building used by the Ameri-
a troops. But nothing is to be paid
until the title deeds are in the hands
of the Philippine government.
All FriarS of the four orders shall
thdra within two years from the
first payment. No Spanish Friars may
be substituted for those withdrawn.
The churches, schools n univcr-
sites may be directed by Spanish
clergy or orders other han those with
drawn, or by clergy of the Same or
ders that are not Spanish. 1t is neces-
sary tt convince the Filipinos that the
ancient regime of the Spanish Friars is
finished.
The note reminds the vatican thai
the orders still publish a paper in
Manila which is anti-Amerlcan and
anti-Philippine, but pro-Spantsh- and
that the orders possess property in
Manila to the value of nearly six mil
lion Mexican dollars, while that of the
Catholic church is only valued at three
and a half million Mexican dollars.
This is very significant, as the orders
have also a large capital at interest,
besides the LAND which it is now pro-
posed the government should purchase.
To reach the desired object, the best
thing is to prevent any member of the
-four withdrawing orders, without dis
tinction of nationality, from being sent
to the islands
The note ends with calling the at
tention of the vatican to the clause re-
garding religious teaching in the pub
lie schools, saying that Judge Tafts
instructions prevent further discussion
OF the matter. 1t also calls the atten-
ton of Cardinal Rampolla to the six
teenth section of h general law Tor
Philippine schools, a copy of which is
enclosed
The note is accompanied by n kind
of contract which Judge Taft proposes
will be signed.