The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-18
FRIAR LANDS ARE NOW IN
POSSESSION OF FILIPINOS
Roots Answer to Taft Made PubIic---Says Catho
lies in Islands Want FriarS Driven Out.
United States Unwilling to Make Further CompomiseWant Nat
ter Settled PeaceabIy if Possible

OF the Philippines in a large and mn.
defined obligation for the purchase ~
lands IN advance of a specific ascer-
talnment Of their value. and of the
estimated prices which We can reason
ably expect to receive from them when
we liz turn offer them for sale, and "a
the clauses which would anticipate the
authority of congress in regard to the
ascertainment of rentals and damages
in the course Of occupation and the
conveyance of church lands provided
/ for in your proposal
The Question Of Compensation.
eff this object is not to be assured.
then the arrangement sought should
be quite different in form and should
more closely follow the suggestions OF
Cardinal RampoIla in his memorandum
of June ., wherein he says that an
estimate of the value of the lands.
conformable with the principles Of JUS
tice and equity, is a complicated qGes-
ton, requiring careful study Of the
facts of the same, and cannot be
solved with precipitation. and declares
the disposition of the holy see to fur
nish the new apostolic delegate. who
is to be sent TO the Philippines with
necessary and OppOrtune instructions.
in order to treat amicably this affair
! in understanding with the American
| government and the parties interested,
and so to arrive at fixing a satisfactory
! accord, whether on the value Of the
/ lands or the conditions Of the sale,
/ and wherein he further says that the
apostolic delegate viii be instructed
upon all the matters touched upon in
/ the memorandum. 10 come to an I'M
I Outstanding with the American author
] tiles and to secure a just settlement.
I Following the course thus proposed
( by his eminence. and having secured
a.
various parcels Of property in which
4 the religious orders are Interested. and
/ which they are willing TO sell it viii
be the duty of the Philippine govern
ment to determine for itself what price
/ it is willing to pay. That price viii, OF
course. be largely affected by the prae-
( teal benefit 10 be derived from the
/ purchase, in view OF the facts then
existing.
This course also makes 1t possible
! to take into due consideration that
| fact which now appears. that contrary
/ to our former SuppOsition, the real and
! substantial title 10 the lands in great
measure has passed out Of the religious
orders. and is vested in corporations,
which they cannot entirely control and
/ which hold the lands for the purpose
Of lawful gain. and are alone cOmpe-
tent to sell them
1T may wei be that the prices whj-ss
EOQ " III 1ECl j4SLluE0 III QAAEA4AA6 ADA
/ the lands viii be acceptable. me
whole matter may thus be disposed OF
by friendly agreement, in conformity
to the ordinary methods pursued in
business affairs I believe that the
good understanding which has been
reached by you and the ecclesiastical
authorities in Rome cannot fail to DO
away with the probability Of friction
or difficulty.
In the same manner, viii direct
the general commanding in the Phil
ippines 10 ascertain, by the customary
methods, what buildings belonging 10
the church have been occupied by
American troops, and for what pc
RODS; what damage has been done and
in every case: what reasons, If any,
exist for denying an obligation 70 pay
rentals and damages; and 1 shall nope
that the conclusion thus reached VIII
be sa tisfactOry to the church. SINH
lar treatment Of all these subjects
mentioned in your proposition may
with equal readiness be followed
while it is to be regretted that the
authorities having control OF me re-
ligious orders do not see their way
to make definite agreement for the
|; withdrawal from Manila OF the frlar5
formerly in the parishes. yet It is hoped
that pending the settlement Of these
various matters they viii reach tne
conclusion that it is wise TO 90 the
same thing Of their own motion, anu
: irrespective Of any agreement 10 tilaL
, effect.
However that may be, you should
assure the authorities Of the Gnu - -
that we shall at all times 90 an IA
our power TO continue the good uliC nee
standing already reached and 20 dSt
: upon such action as shall be tor tl-e
benefit Of all; and further assure ll -S-L-
of our high appreciation Of the c1ul 80
7 and consideration with which tle -.
2 preston of your views and "lSllS9 no.
been received
..As preliminary to the treatnle en-.
f now proposed. it is desirable Inat tll0
: authorities OF the church should a.
range to forward to you as sun -
= practicable, full and definite HslS .,, -,
3 of the property which they ar $3.50 il----S
= to sell, and Of the precise IsiS- 49,
2 which they hold to the ttle % 80
[ properties If their relation 70 ~ -
z is by ownership Of the stoc5-' ll--. ~
total stock Of corporation, 80 - -
e stock which they hold ana 1HS
! GERS of their corporation 4- o+c
"B) OF the churches, conFelLS' go
= which they claim TO have Ds 80 80
pied by the American troops, LoL M III
rentals or damages connl,iaiiie1' a.
l / with the details Of the cidlAll- e.,,sI
e "(C) OF the church propertles L.l - /,
{ title TO which remains ~ me ope-i-l-1
e crown at the time Of cession ana
: mai conveyance of which from the ne
0 government is desired 1t sLoIIo -
T observed as to these that no aue4 ~ II. ~
e has been granted TO congTSSs - =. /.
d such conveyances unless - i,,cl,,l5i,~-
r part of a general settlement Aileiueliiis
= purchase of the lands -.
a .DO A statement of the VaIiDus eii -sl,-
liable and educational trusts NLllen
e the authorities OF the ehurcn eoii see.
e should be regarded as deFoisso upo e'l
TIE INV los - s root.
!, : secretary OF War"