New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-23
THE PIOUS FUND CLAIM.
OF THE PHILIPPINE FRIARS
QUESTION
Icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIRrNF.1

Washington. July 1.-THE ''Pious Fund" claim.
which has the distinction of being the first
to be submitted by any countries TO The Hague
International Tribunal. have influence
the settlement of the friars question in the Philip
pines. it offers conspicuous instance of the
manner in which this government treats religious
organizations and their property. The expenses
of the arbitration will probably amount TO $4,000.
for which the United States will receive nothing
except the satisfaction Of asserting the rights of
some of its citizens. who. in the award is
against Mexico will receive all the proceeds with
out expense TO themselves.
According to Judge Penfield. Solicitor of the State
Department, who has been instrumental in secur-
ing the settlement OF the case. the "Pous Fund of
the CALIFORNIA; originated In 1921 in gifts from
charitable persons for the purpose Of establishing
and supporting Roman Catholic missions in the
CALIFORNIA; and for converting the heather Of that
region. The gifts were made in to the Society
Of Jesus. In 1861 the Spanish Crown made an order
eXpeling the Jesuts from Mexico and California.
and took over the property OF the order and ad-
mnistered the fund through a cOmmise5on ap-
pointed for that purpose. When Mexico achieved
independence she succeeded TO the and
tinued to apply the proceeds Of the fund the
maintenance Of the missions In 1856 by an act of
the Mexican Congress. a bishopric comprising the
two CALIFORNIA; established and by the
the Administrative and application the ''Pious
Fund in accordance with the wishes of its found
ers. intrusted the bishop In 1872 the Presi-
dent Of Mexico abrogated part of this and de-
volved the administration again the government
the decree declaring that the object o. the givers
to be carried In the latter part of the
same year the Mexican President by another de-
cree ordered that the property of the 'PiOuS Fund
Toe sold the proceeds he paid into the public treas
per cent the fund. About 100000 realized
only part of the property being sold The remainder
restored to the bishop by the Mexican Con
greSs in 1915.
on the cession of Upper California to the United
States, Mexico ceased to pay the Catholic Church
there its portion OF the interest the "Pious
Fund and the arrears were made the subject OF
claim by the prclateS Of California before the
mixed commission of 1865 Sir Edward Thornton.
the umpire, the Mexican and United States dele
diSagreeing held that the interest the fund
should be apportoned equally between the Church
I'm Upper and Lower California, and that Mexico
should pay the Upper California Church an an
nuaI interest $S.0S0 80 which for twenty-One
years from February T. 1SiS. 10 1859 when ratifCa-
lions of the claims convention exchanged.
amounted to 1904, 200 20. This amount paid in
fun
After that time Mexico made further pay
ments. and for twenty-eight years nothing was
done until 1897, when. complaints made by the
Roman Catholic Bishop of California. Minister
Clayton instructed TO vigorously for pay
ment of S1OOO.OOO of withheld interest Mexico
repudated the Indebtedness. holding that the UNI
not extend beyond the time of the treaty AS a
result of the Pan-American Conference last winter
and its recommendations the subject of disputes
between American republics. agreement
reached refer the arbitration The
Hague. The arbitrators will meet September l,
the will be closed November Is. and the de-
cision must be rendered within thirty days