New-York tribune., 1902-02-09
TAFT ASKS MORE POWER
A AO1HORIT'Y TO GRANT FRAN
CHLSES REQUESTED.
BETTER BANKING LAWS AND CUR.
RENCY SYSTEM AMONG THE GREAT
NEEDS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUxE.l


before the Senate Philippine Committee Gov.
ernor Taft turned his attention chiefly to the
land ownership and financial system inherited
from Spdin's administration of the archipeIago
The exorbitant rates of interest which prevailed
and the scarcity of banks made money Difficult;
to borrow and retarded all kinds of industrial
and commercial development. Better banking
laws and a revision of the currency system and
the purchase of the lands now held by the frars
We're among the crying needs of the time in the
Philippines. Governor Taft also read to tho
committee a cable message from Acting Gov
ernor Wright expressing the desire of the Phil
ipplne sugar and tobacco interests to secure an
abatement of the Dingley duties on sugar and
tobacco of at least % per cent. The message is
as follows
Manila, February 4.
The public session of sugar and tobacco inter
ests favor reduction of - per cent at least.
A reduction of 30 per cent leaves tariff almost
prohibitiVe Sugar price now very low; Euro
pean market very duh on account of overpro-
duction and low price. Beet sugar planters here
have lost heavily by Carabaos. machinery and
otherwise. Sugar cultivation in a bad condi-
ton. Memorials received from Sugar Growers
Association of NegrOs and Panay ask for free
trade for this reason. Think a reduction of -
per cent sugar and tobacco would be a meas
ure of relief and have excellent political effect
THE FRIARS' PROPERTY
Senator Rawlins questioned Governor Taft
concerning the holdings of the friars. The Gov
ernor said he thought the general opinion as to
the wealth and holdings of the frars had been
greatly exaggerated He did not believe. for in
stance. that they possessed three-fourths of the
property owned in the cities, That however.
their religious orders have ready cash was true
as was shown 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 afterward failed because of ir-
reguIarties on the part of the manager
Governor Taft said that the Philippine gov
ernment desired to purchase the property held
by the friars in Manila, and that it would also
be desirable to secure their holdings Of agri-
cultural lands.
In connection with the loaning of money by
the friars, Senator Lodge asked about the
cessity for a banking law. and the witness
piled that such a law is badly needed. There
now. he said, two English banks in addition TO
the pansh-Filipino bank, the latter being
trolled largely by the Church. and being the only
bank Of issue. He said there had been some
grants OF land to the Church orders. but that
g rule they had acquired their holdings by pur-
chase. The charge has been made" he said.
that much Of their land has come to them by
deathbed conveyances. but this charge Is not
borne out by a tracing of the titles. The truth
is that the friars have the best titles IN the
islands, and even where there have been irreSu-
laritieS the statute of limitations would protect
the title" He said that according to the charges
one method of extending the holdings of the or
ders had been by extending their irrigation sys-
TENS adjoining lands.
Something after our own method Of watering
stock" said Senator Proctor. The Senator
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. funerals christenings Gtc,
had been so high as to cause complaints. Inc
charges for marriages had led many couples TO
live together flicitly, but in most cases the
obligations thus taken were observed.
RATES OF INTEREST EXORBITANT.
Arain referring to the financial interests of
the archipelago. Governor Taft said that inter
est rates are high as from 20 to 40 per cent
and that it is necessary that there should be au-
thority for granting franchises TO financial con-
Germs which would reduce the interest charges.
As TO coinage, Governor Taft said ii was desira-
bIe that the gold dollar should be established
basis of value. He also advocated Sohei,
coin which should be eXChangeable for gold ana
the parity assured by the United states. ms
he said. is the plan of the commission, and ne
believed it wise. This plan embraced Ihe com.
aee of a Philippine peso, and the circulation OF
this coin should be confined to the islands he
+bo,,gl that unless the commission author
ize5 10 make good the token money there would
be trouble as Il must be borne in mind that the
Philippine administration is not so strong as that
of an established nation. o.
Referring TO the suggestion that United States
money should be adopted. Governor IaIt salu
if this were done it would increase the 1aiue
of the peso 10 per cent. and TINS WouIu ulI
settle transa ctions. This plan also would raise
wages and disturb business relations -
Taking up another point OF administrators
Governor Taft advocated the right or appeaI III
certain cases to the Supreme Court OF the
United States especially such cases as WouIu
involve the relationship OF church lands 10 the
government This he thought necessary pc
cause Of the proba bility Of prejudice on the
part Of local courts.
POWER TO GRANT FRANCHISES ASKED
lie urged the granting of power to the com
mission to give franchises for steam and cleo
tric railway and light plants. and also made
an argument for authority to create a bonded
debt of s4Oo0OOO for local improvements in
Manila. II is. he said especially desirable that
there should be electric lines in that country
because Of the difficulty in getting about IN d
tropical climate. He thought franchise
should be perpetual. He would also nave
wider margin given in the matter Of cutting
timber
There is magnificent timber throughout the
Islands he said ard il would be beneficial to the
forests to take much of II out The quantity
which can be taken out now by one concern is
there had been some public Sensttiveness on this
point because Of the interests there OF the
Philippine Lumber and Development Company.
In reply to Senator Culberson, Governor
Taft said he would rot advocate grants of land
that could be used for speculative purposes, but
he felt that IT would be necessary to allow per-
sons 10 ACQUIRE large bodies Of land in order to
secure the development Of the country. The con-
ditions there are, he said, entirely dlherent from
what they are in the United States. and il would
b. found that the people would not be so prompt
in taking advantage of a homestead law as in
the United States.
HEARING N THE CASE OF JUDGE MOVES
Washington Feb s.-Attorney General Knox
day gave hearing in the case of Judge Noyes. of
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