The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08
50 PER CENT
NOT ENOUGH
Reduction of IS Per Cent in
'Pino Tariff Needed.
ACTING GOV. WRIGHT
ACTING GOV. WRIGHT
He Is Drawn Upon by Gov. Taft fol
Information.
FR1ARs AND THEIR HOLDINGS
Some Popular Impressions Are Said
by the Governor to BE
Erroneous.

Washington, Feb. 8.-Continuing his
narrative before the senate committee on
the Philippines, Governor Taft o-day re-
verified to his testimony Of yesterday for
the purpose of introducing a cablegram
he had received from Acting Governor
Wright urging reduction in the tariff
on Philippine articles imported into the
United States from the Philippines. He
said this cablegram was in response to an
inquiry from himself as to the effect OF
reduction of so per cent. The reply OF
the acting governor is:
The sugar and tobacco interests favor q
reduction Of at least rs per cent A reduce
ton of SO per cent leaves the tariff almost
prohibitive The sugar price is now very
low. The European market is very dull on
account of overproduction and low prices.
Beet sugar planters here have lost heavily
by carabates, machinery and otherwise. Su-
gar cultivation is in a bad condition. Memo
rails received from the Sugar Growers asso-
citation Of Negroes and Panay ask for free
trade for this reason. I think reduction Of
rs per cent on sugar and tobacco would be
a measure of relief and have excellent polit-
zeal effect
The Friars.
Senator Rawlins questioned Governor
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 believe, for in
stance, 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
a case in which the friars had advanced
money to promote a corner in hemp which
had afterwards failed because of irregu-
larities on the part of the manager.
Governor Taft said that the Philippine
government is DESTROYS of purchasing the
Manila property held by the friars and
that it would be desirable also to secure
their holdings Of agricultural lands. He
said:
There were some grants of land to the
church, but as rule the friars acquired
their holdings by purchase. The charge has
been made that much of their land has come
to them by-.death and by conveyances, but
this charge Is not borne, out by a tracing OF
the title. The truth il the friars have the
best title in the islands, and even where
there have been irregularities the statute of
limitations would protect the title. 'E
According to the charges one method of ex-
tending the holdings of the orders had been
by extending their irrigation systems over ad
Joining lands.
f<Something after our own method OF
watering stock?" queried Senator Proc
tor, referring to irrigation entertainments
SENATOR Proctor also asked where the
friars had secured money with which to
purchase their lands and this inquiry led
Governor Taft to say that the fees for
marriages, births and christening had
been so high as to be complained Of
These charges for marriages had led many
couples to live together illicitly, but in
were observed.