The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-09
FRIARS IN THE ISLANDS.
The FiIipinos Are Very Much Opposed
10 Them.
THEIR HOLDINGS ARE BY PURCHASE
interests Rates Are from 20 to 40 Fer
Cent and Governor Taft Wants 10
See that Materially Reduced.

Washington, February s.-Befors the
senate committee on Philippines Governor
Taft today reverted TO his testimony Of
yesterday for the purpose Of introducing a
cablegram he had received from Acting
Governor Wright nrging reduction in
the tariff on Philippine articles imported
into the United States from the Philip
pines. The cabegram Is as follows:
Manila, February 4,-The public session
Of sugar and tobacco interests favor a
reduction OF 75 per cent at least. re-
duction OF so per cent leaves tariff almost
prohlbitive. Sugar price now very low.
European market very dun on account Of
overproduction aud low prices. Beet
sugar planters here have lost heavily by
carabos, machinery and otherwise, Sugar
cultivation In bad condition. Memorials
received from sugar growers associations
OF Segros aud Panny ask for FREQ trade
for this reason. Think a reduction of 70
per cent on sugar and tobacco would be a
measure Of relief aud have excellent po-
lltlcal effect"
Governor Taft said he thought the gen.
eral opinion as to the wealth and holdings
Of the friars had been greatly exaggerated.
lie did not believe, 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 lie instanced case IN which the
frIars had advanced money TO promote a
failed
Governor Taft said that the Philippines
government Is DESTROYS Of purchasluE the
Inns FHl mn
thai 1t wocld be desirable 10 secure their
hoidings OF agricultural lulds. The gov
einor said that banking law is badly
needed. There are now, he said two
English banks In addition To the Spanish
Filipino bank, the latter being controlled
largely ny the church and being the only
nank OF Issue: He said there had been
some grants OF land 10 the church orde T.
put that as rule they had acquired their
uoIdlngs by purchase The charge that
much OF their land had come TO them by
deathbed conveyances Is not borne out by
a tracing Of the title. The truth IS that
the firms have the best titles In the Is
lands, and even where there have been
irreg4inrities, the statute OF limitations
would protect the title.
He said that according 90 the charges
one method OF extending the holdings OF
the orders had been by extending their
irrigation over adjoining lands
something after our method OF water
to irrigation encroachments.
ptuutor PROCTOR also asked where the
Tiars had secured money with which 10
purchase their lands md this inquiry lea
Governor Tart to say rhnt the faCs for
marriages, funerals chfstanngs etc, had
charges for marriages had, he said, led
many couples to live together illicitly: but
thnt. In most cases, the obligations thus
taken were observed.
Governor Taft said that PhilIpplne in.
terest rates went as high rs 20 To- 40 nor
cent, and that II Is very necessary that
there should be authority for granting fran
chlses to financial concerns which would
reduce the Interest charges He said IL Is
desirable that the gold dollar should be
established MS 2 basis. lie also advocated q
token coin which should be oXchangoahle
for gold, and the parity assured by The
United States. The plan OF the commits.
s!ou, he said, embraced the coinage of "A
fllIppine peso and the circulation OF this
coin, and he thought Il should be combined
20 the Islands, He thought that unless tine
commission was authorized to make good
the token money there would Doe trouble.
Referring to the suggestion that United
States money should be adopted Governor
TAFT said II United states money should
be adopted II would have the effect Of In
creasing the value of the peso TO the ex-
tent OF 90 per cent and this would uuscttle
transactions. This plan also would have
the encct OF raising the price OF wages and
disturbing both relations
Governor Tart advocated the right OF m.
peal In certain cases to the supreme court
of the United States, especially such eases
as would Involve the relationship of church
lands to tho government. This he thought
necessary because Of the probability Of
prejudice on the part OF local courts He
urged the granting OF power to the com
mission 20 give franchises for steam and
electric railways and light plants, ana also
made an argument for authority to create
bonded debt Of Si,OO0oO0 for local inn
provemcnts in Manila.
II Is, he said, especially desirable that
there should be electric lines In that coun-
try because Of the difficulty or getting
about In n tropical climate He thought
that no franchise should he perpetual
There Is magnificent timber throughout
the Islands and IL would he beneficial to
the forests TO take much OF it ont. The
quantity that can he taken out now by one
concern Is limited TO 100000 cubic feet. He
suggested that there had been some public
sensltiveneSs on this point because OF the
interests there OF the Philippine Lumber
and Development company.
In reply to Senator Culberson, Governor
Taft said that he would not advocate
grants Of land that could he used for spec
ulOtlve purposes, but he felt that II would
be necessary 10 allow persons to acquire
large bodies OF land In order to secure
the development OF the country The con
dltons there are, he said, entirely differ
ent from what they are In the United
States and II would be found that the pco-
pie would not he so prompt In taking ad-
vantage Of hometead law as In the United
States
Adjourned until Monday.
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