New-York tribune., 1902-07-20
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
BELIEF, THAT MONSIGNOR SBARRETTI
WILL BE APPOINTED.
HAVE CAUSED THE HITCH IN FRIARS'
LAND NEGOTIATIONS
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.I

TBY TELEGRAPH rRIBuNEI
Washington July 19.-Monsignor Broderick,
private secretary TO Monsgnor Sbarretti called
at the War Department to-day and had a con-
ference with Secretary Root, the substance of
which has not been made public. Monsignor
Broderick's principal. Monsignor Sbarretti, has
been in Washington for many weeks. He start
ed from Rome preceded by a declaration that he
had been named as Archbishop of Manila but
when he reached Washington, on his way to the
Orient he was detained at the Papal Legation
here 1t was the original understanding that in
his capacity of Archbishop OF Manila, if ap-
pointed TO that post he was TO negotiate di-
rectly with Governor Taft regarding church
matters in the Philippines. including the friars
lands question. He was greatly disappointed
when he learned in Washington that his plans
were TO be changed, and that the negotiations
were to be conducted at Rome, instead of Ma
Mia. The outcome at Rome, however, taken in
connection with Monsgnor Broderick's call has
led 10 the belief that Monsignor Sbarretti is
after all. to be Archbishop of Manila At any
rate, ii is understood that he is to continue his
Journey to the Philippines. and. if he does not
I'll the post mentioned, he may still be named
as apostolic delegate there in view of the ex-
perience he has had in adjusting the status Of
the Catholic Church properties in Cuba with
Governor Wood while Monsignor Sbarretti was
Bishop Of Cuba.
The causes for the failure of the negotiations
between the Vatican and Governor Taft are
susceptible Of a number of explanations, of
course, but the following given ANONYMOUSLY
to a local paper this afternoon. is not without
plausibility. The man making the statement is
said to have been in Rome for several months
and TO nave been in correspondence recently
with the Catholic Church dignitaries in the
Eternal City. Here is what he says:
to-day represent the Pope being highly dis
pleased at the failure of the negotiations Natu-
rally. he is disappointed, il is well known that
the Pope and his immediate official household
were delighted at the prospect of realizing
SS.O00,0O0 or S10,00O0OO on the friars' lands
The commission of cardinals who dealt with
Governor Tafts proposals consisted of rep
resenting the Pope and each the different
orders OF the Church holding lands in the Phil
ippines. The proposition was to pay the money
in three instalments, bearing interest, to au-
thorities TO be designated by the Pope.
The representatives of the orders were opposed
to that plan They preferred to set the negotia-
tons adrift, TO be picked up later in the Phil
ippines, where payment Of the moneys to the
orders direct could be made They did not want
the payments 10 go through the Papal treasury.
It is well known that the revenues Of the Pope
have materially decreased within the last two
years, and that at this time his treasury is de-
pleted. The United States. the largest contribu-
tor to Peters Pence" which supported the
Pcpe's privy purse, does not send as much
money now as formerly. This is ascrlbed TO
waning interest, due 10 the ascendency of for
eign methods over 'Americanism," as it is
known. Ireland, the next largest contributor,
has been heavily taxed with the rest of the
British Empire TO sustain the Boer war, and
her contributions have fallen off. In France the
establishment of rigorous surveillance Of the
rnonastic orders has set back the cause of the
Church considerably, driven many monks out of
the republic and pulled down the sum total OF
the contributions. In other countries OF Europe
industrial depression has operated to the same
end the result being that condition exists
which causes the Pope to hail with delight any
proposition seeming to bear financial relief.
In what way his treasury would beneht
through the payment of money intended TO COM
pensate the nnonastic orders for loss Of their
property is question not for discussion outside
of the priVy councils Of the Vatican. 1t is evil
dent to my mind, however, and in accordance
with latest authentic reports received from
Rome that the jealousy Of the representatives
OF the orders over the question OF the payment
of the money was the underlying cause for the
failure.