Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-02-13

CUT MUST Be A1LEAsT rs PEh GENT.
Gov. Taft Continues His Testimeny
Before Senate Commiftee-Ques-
ton of Holdings Of Friars Comes
Up-Their Titles Are Good-Have
Plenty Of MOney-House.

Friday for the purpose of introducing
a cablegram he had received from Act
ing Gov. Wright, urging reduction in
the tariff on Philippine articles inn
ported into the United States from the
Philippines. He said this cablegram
was in response to an inquiry from
himself as to the effect of a reduction
of so per cent. The reply of Acting
Gov. Wright is as follows:
Manila, Feb. 4.-The public session OF
sugar and tobacco interests favor re-
duction of Is per. cent. at least. A reduce
ton of 50 per cent. leaves tariff almost pro-
hibitive. Sugar price now very low; Euro
pean market very dull on account Of over
production and low prices. Beet sugar
planters here have lost heavily by cara
baos, machinery and otherwise. Sugar
cultivation in bad condition. Memorials
received from sugar growers association
of Negroes and Panay ask for free trade for
this reason. Think reduction of % per
cent, on sugar and tobacco would be
measure of relief and have excellent po-
litical effect"
The Holdings of Friars.
Senator Rawlins questioned Gov.
Taft concerning the holdings of the
friars. The governor said he thought
the general opinion as to the wealth
and holdings of the friars had been
greatly exaggerated. He did not be-
lieve, for instance, that they had three
fourths of the property owned in the
cities. That, however, the religious
orders have ready cash was true, as
was evidenced by the fact that they
make loans. He instanced case in
which the friars had advanced money
to promote a corner in hemp which had
afterward failed because of irregulari-
ties on the part of the manager.
Gov. Taft said that the Philippine
government is DESTROYS of purchasing
the Manila property he'd by the friars
and that it also would be desirable to
secure their holdings of agricultural
lands.
Banking Law Needed.
In connection with the loaning of
money by the friars Senator Lodge
asked about the necessity for bank
ing law. and the witness replied that
such law is badly needed. There are
now, he said, two English banks in adj
dition to the Spanish-Filipino bank,
the latter being controlled largely by
the church and being the only bank of
issue. He said there had been some
grants ofland to the church orders, but
that as rule they had acquired their
holding by purchase. #
''The charge has been made,' he said,
hat of fo{, lon Il IN
by deathbed conveyances, but this charge
is not borne out by the tracing of the title.
The truth is that the friars have the best
titles. in the island, and even where there
have been irregularities the statute of linn
itations would protect the title"
He said that according to the charges
one method of extending the holdings
of the orders had been by extending
their irrigation systems over adjoining
lands.
Where Friars Get Their Money.
Something after our own method of
watering stock?" said Senator Proctor,
referring toirrigatione ncroachments.-
Senator Proctor also asked where the
friars had secured money with which
to purchase their lands, and this in
qdiry led Gov. Taft to say that the fees
for marriages, funerals, christenings,
ETC., had been so high as to be com
planned of. These charges for mar
riages had. he said, led many couples
to live together illicitly, but that in
most cases, the obligations thus taken
were observed.
House.
Washington, Feb. 1o.-some routine