Evening star., 1902-08-07
LANDS OF THE FRIARS
THEY ARE MOSTLY HELD BY
SYNDICATES.
Religious Orders Hold the Majority of
the Stock-Gov. Taft's
Testimony.

According to information received by the
Vatican at Rome almost all the real estate
belonging to the Spanish friars in the Phil
ippines was sold before American occupa-
ton to syndicates and corporations duly
registered and legally recognized, headed
by Americans living in New York. 1t is al
legged by the same authority that although
the friars hold some shares in these cor
porations they do not own controlling in
terests. The Vatican is surprised at this
information in view of Gov. Taft's propoe
sition to buy the friars' lands which appa-
rently are no longer in their control 1t is
considered remarkable at Rome that Gov.
Taft, fresh from the Philippines, was not
aware of the situation.
Gov. Taft's Information.
The War Department has known for
some time that portions of the friar lands
in the Philippines have been disposed of
to companies, and all of the recent negotia-
uons conducted by Secretary Root have
carefully taken into account any contin-
genctes which might arise through these
transfers, The facts were fully communi-
Gated to the government here by Gov. Taft
IN the course of his evidence before the
Senate Philippines committee Gov Taft
SAID In answer to the question whether the
friars were in actual possession of the
lands:
Generally, in order to avoid hostilities,
they have transferred their titles to COM
panies and retained the majority of the
stock"
Beng asked as to these companies Gov.
Iaft explained their status as follows:
Il wish to say that one of these comma
MES or a stockholder of one of the COM
panies, has filed a protest with the acting
soVernor,which | have with me, against the
condemnation of these lands because of
the interest some individual owners have
in them. But 1 want to add that do not
tnnk that protest has sufficient weight to
vary the truth of my statement that the
commission has reasonable ground to be-
l1eve that with the authority which it asks
TO WIT, to issue bonds. it can at reasona bic
prices purchase this land"
Reason for the Transfer.
AS to the bona fide nature of the transfer
TO certain companies, Gov. Taft said that
he had cross-examined the heads of re-
ligious orders. He added:
Il think after you read the evidence it
will become obvious that while it is true
that transfers have been made, they have
been colorado in this sense-not fraudulent
l 90 not say that-but they have been COL
orable In the sense that the transfer made
was for the purpose of giving the public
the Impression that the friars had parted
With their titles, and thus facilitating the
collection of rents, while in fact the owner
tion as to the condition of the titles now
IN spite of a protest filed by some stock
holders with respect to the ownership Of
some haciendaS."
Having in mind this information that the
frfars had transferred portions of their
lands to- companies, Secretary Root said in
his last dispatch of instruction to Gov.
Taft at Rome. that in case of a successful
close of the negotiations lists must be fur
nished not only of the land. but also of
titles which had been merged in the stock
corporations, with the total stock of such
corporations and the amount of stock held
by the religious order.
Individual Transfers.
Aside from this information given by
Gov. Taft, the War Department has been
advised from time to time of certain indi-
vidual transfers made by religious nstitu-
tions in the Philippines to persons and or
CARNATIONS in this country. One such
transfer is represented by leading firm of
attorneys in New York and another is rep
resented by Washington firm of attor-
neys. The negotiations have proceeded
however, with the idea that these trans
fers were not of character to interrupt
the consumption of the main objects of
securing the transfer of the lands as an
entirety.