New-York tribune., 1902-08-08
FRIARS OWN THE LANDS.
STATEMENTS FROM ROME
CONTRA DICIED.
VAST ESTATES STILL CONTROLLED BY
RELIGIOUS ORDERS-YATICAN NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR FALSEHOODS.
ley TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l

ley TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, Aug. THE friars still the
real owners of the vast estates in the Philip
pines from which they were driven by the
tives four years ago, and the impression sought
to be created in the dispatch from Rome print
ed this morning is characterized distinctly
erroneous. The dispatch is not accurate in the
statement that information has been received
at the Vatican that almost ali the real estate
belonging to the friars sold to syndicates
headed by Americans living In NewYork. and
the allegation that although the friars hold
some shares they do not hold controlling in
terests is distinctly untrue
But the chief falsehood of the dispatch, and
that calculated TO be most mischevously mis-
leading is the following:
The Vatican is surprised at this information.
in view Of Governor Tafts proposition to buy
the friars' lands which apparently are no longer
in their control II is considered remarkable
that Governor Taft. fresh from the Philippines.
was not OF the situation
OF course the Vatican is not responsible for
the dissemination OF such stories. for IT is too
familiar with the actual facts of the friars
ownership too we'll acquainted with the ster-
ling character of Judge Taft. and too thor
oughly satisfied OF the frankness OF the United
States Government throughout the discussions
wAich a&vs been held on the whole subject of
the obnoxious orders
CONTROL IAlNc~D d. 1Nb<aHNo-
The Vatican has known for four years. and
the United States for three years. that three
religious orders that owned agricultural prop
erty IN the Philippines had transferred their
titles to corporations which administered them
and collected the rents. and that the friars re-
tained controlling majority. and in some cases
| nearly all. the stock OF such companies. In the
annual report of the Philippine Commission
| dated November 80. 1900. Judge Taft said
Nearly all the immense agricultural holdings
have been transferred by the three oIue.
the Dominicans to a gentleman named ANDREWS,
by the Recolctos to an English corporation anu
by the Augusttnians to another corporau@on, non
but these transfers do not seem to nave peeI'
ont and out sales but only means FOR man
aging the estates without direct II
by the friars for selling the same When eda,i d
| proper price be secured Inc Hiats ee
| to remain the real owners
The fourth order OF the Objectionable friars
| whose removal is regarded as essential 10 the
| public welfare, the Franciscans, owned no asFi-
| cultural lands their property being conflneu "
| converts and schools by their own ruies' nc
ether three in addition to owning valuaoie ousl-
! ness property in Manila and having laf se
| amounts Of money % lend. possessed approxl-
| mately 403, 600 acres in the rural dlJtrlc's. u
! which 10000 are in Cavite alone. The DO
,,i,toa,s have 162 600 acres the Augustnians
15o o0o and the Recoletos $4,000. Before the
| war the Dominicans had an income OF s-ii-o''
| CNexican) annually from their lands the Au-
eustinians S15O0O0 and the Recoletos less 'iidiA
100000.
| THE FACTS ABOUT THE TRANSFERS.
After the war, seeing they could not collect
| their rents the friars found 1t necessary u
| place their property in the hands OF agents
| REPRESENTATIVES, of all the orders appeareu pe
fore Judge Taft, at the request or Arcnols,i1p snip
| ChaDelIe in the fall of 1900 and testified fuiiy
| on this subject OF transfers. and their verbatim
! testimony was printed in Congresslohal @ puD,
| lin document over year ago 1t there appear D
| that Andrews the EngliShman VINO was 'IIs
agent and collector for the DonnlnlcahS' Ioi -
| q cornoration of which the Dominicans retaiieu u
| tho controlling stock. The representative VI
| that order testified that this course was pui
| sued in order that they might nave hosii.i.s .n
| agricultural lands and to remove causI Ss ,S
| Complaints that the friars owned all the iaiiu
and were making all the money. x tho
| Similar testimony was eVokeu lio ~ y
| Anpustinians as to the corporation Iney 1 iau
argsnized The representative OF the iteColetVs =
| ia how some of their holdings hao peeH % soiu
| 70 an American corporation headed py .n iiltii.
| ,aad Christy who conducted the negotlauonRs
| IN Madrid in 1898. and some TO the pr I
Manila CORPORATION Company. Limited thG Sc. suru
IN both cases being absolute, but the lilaJoI W t.y
| 20 the stock being delivered TO the fecoiie'oS
| md still belonging TO them n -. . -
| - the note of the Vatican dated july iasl ~
Judge Taft, containing the coItrao az tb - I1nitsd
- he signed for selling the lands to the Oh'e1
cttes the third article declared that II some oI
/ - lands are possessed by corporations lhe
| er;ere would sell their shares under tle eatii1
| nroy,isions as they agreed to sell all 'heir asii
| cultural lands.