Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-23
WOULD BUY OUT THE FRlARS.
Secretary Roots r. commentator to
the Committee on Insular Affairs.

Washington, Jan. 19.-ScCrctary Root
recommends that the United States buy
the lands of the friars in the Philippines
in order to settle the vcxatious controversy
in those islands
The House committee on insular affairs
yesterday heard Mr.. Root on this qut 8
ton.
The secretary said the religious orders
so fully recognized the bad condition Of
affairs that they were disposed to sell
out. and he urged that the government
should take advantage Of the opportunity.
Re thought a fair price could he agrc, d
upon. A rough estimate of the value Of
the lands. he said, was from S. O0O0 to
N,5o0,00o American money.
secretary Root began his statement by
explaining the enormous power which the
religious orders had long exercised in tn .
/ inilippneS. They were represented at
Madrid, and tho archbishop was quite as
powerful as the governor general. The
orders had largely suppantcd the native
priests. As a result of their great poit-
ical power the friars became the medium
or communication between the local par
ishcs and the central government. They
held large treats of the best land, amount
ing to about 100000 acres at the time of
American occupation. The people rented
the lands, and thus n landlord and tenant
system was now in operation. This caus-
ed intense hatred. and Mr.. Root said the
equalled in bitterness by anything in Ire
land. Agunaldo had taken advantage
of this intense feeling of the tenants
against the friar landlords and the move
ment had become very popular.
The secretary said that about the most
import ant thing to he done at this time
was to dispose of the friar question, as it
was felt that when the land proprietorship
was settled est of the agitation would he
disposed Of 'rhs friars had been driven
from the land in many cases, he said. and
If they returned the people would Kill
them. Appeals had been made to the war
department to collect tho rents, but the
secretary said tits could not be done with
cut troops. Mr.. Root sad nc religious
question was involved, as ii was simply
condition that existed and was fully rec
cgrized. The friars themselves would
doubtless be ready to sell, and Mt all
events. Mr.. Root said they were a part
of an organization and he apprehendrd
that the disposition of the lands would he
determined by higher church authorities
than the friars themselves
The war department Is advised of the
surrender of Go insurgents to Brighten.
James +. Wade at Cehu, Philippine Is
lands. Jan. l4th. On Jan. 18th they took
tho cath at Tarliharan, Rohol.
AN EXCHANGE OF TROOPS.
Washington. Jan. l9.-Ordcrs were issued
yesterday TO Licut.-Gcn.. Miles for an OK
tensive movement of troops between the
United states ana the Philippines.
About 523@ troops stationed in the United
states are ordered to service IN the division
of the Philippines, as follows: Second
squadron. 9Th cavalry; list battalion, I'd in
fantry; headquarters. band and Companies
A. l., l.. I, q. |. * and l., eth infantry; lst
battalion. Sth infantry headquarters, band
and lst battalion. 10th infantry; battalion,
tt,fa "a