The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-09
TARIFF AND FRIARS
TROUBLES WHICH NOW AFFECT
PHILIPPINES.
WANT rs PER CENT. OFF NOW.
ACTING GOV. wRIGHT's CABLE TO
GOV. TAFT.

The Question of the Friars Stin
Causes COncern-Besides Being
Large LandhOlders They Are Also
the Money Lenders of the Islands.
Natives DO Not Love Them and
the Commission Would Lake to
Get RID of rhem--Intcrest Runs
From 20 to 40 Per Cent.
Washington, Feb. S.-Continuing his
narrative before the Senate Committee
on the Philippines, Gov Taft to-day
introduced cablegram he had receiv-
ed from Acting Governor Wright urg-
ing reduction in the tariff on Philip
pine articles imported into the United
States from the Philippines. He said
this cablegram was in response to an
inquiry from himself as to the effect
ply of Acting Governor Wright follows:
Manila, Feb. 4.-The public session
of sugar and tobacco interests favor a
reduction of 75 per cent. at least. A
reduction of SO per cent leaves tariff
almost prohibitive. Sugar price now
very low; European market very dull
on account OF over production and low
price. Beet sugar planters here has
lost heavily by carabaos, machinery
and otherwise. Sugar cultivation in a
bad condition. Memorials received
from sugar growers associations of
Negros and Panay ask for free trade
for this reason. Think a reduction of
75 per cent. on sugar and tobacco
would be a measure of relief and have
excellent political effect"
Senator Rawlins questioned Gov.
Taft concerning the holdings of the
friars. The Governor said he thought
the general opinion as to the wealth
and holdings of the friars had been
greatly exaggerated. He did not be-
lieve, for instance, that they held three
fourths of the property owned in the
| cities. That, however, the religious
| orders Shave ready cash was true, as
| was evidenced by the fact that they
| make loans. He instanced a case In
which the friars had advanced money
to promote corner on hemp which
had afterward failed because of irreg-
ularities on the part of the manager.
Gov. Taft said that the Philippine
government is desirous OF purchasing
the Manila property held by the friars,
and that it would also be desirable to
secure their holdings of agricultural
lands.
Friars Are Well Fixed.
In connection with the loaning of
money by the friars, Senator Lodge
| asked about the necessity for a banking
law, and the witness replied that such
a law is badly needed. There are now,
he said, two English banks in addi-
tion to the Spanish Filipino Bank, the
latter being controlled 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 as rule. they had acquired
their holdings by purchase.
''The charge has been made" he
said, that much of their land has
come to them by death-bed convey
ances, but this charge is not borne out
by tracing Of the title. The truth is
that the friars have the best titles in
the islands and even where there have
been irregularities the statute of Iimi-
tations would protect the title"
He said that according to the
charges, one method of extending the
holdings of the orders had been by
extending their irrigation systems over
adjoining lands.
Something after our own method of
watering stock?' said Senator Proctor
referring to irrigation enoroachments
Senator Proctor also asked where the
friars had secured money with which
to purchase their lands, and this in
quiry led Gov. Taft to say that the
fees for marriages, funerals, chrIsten-
ings, etc, had been so high as to be
complained Of These charges for mar
riages had, he said led many couples TO
live together illicitly, but that in most
cases the obligations thus taken were
| observed.
Gov. Taft said that interest rates
are as high as from 20 to 40 per cent.
and that 1t is very necessary that there
should be authority for granting fran
| chises to financial concerns which
would reduce the interest charges. AS
to the coinage, Gov. Taft said that II
Is desirable that the gold dollar should
be established as basis. He also ad
Vocated token coin which should be
| eXchangeable for gold and the paritv
assured by the United States.
The Currency md other Matters.
Referring to the suggestion that
United States money should be adopted
Gov Taft said If this were done II
would have the effect of increasing tl,e
value of the peso to the extent of 30
per cent. and this would unsettle trans
actions. This plan also would have the
effect OF raising the price Of wages and
disturbing business relations. Gov.
Taft advocated the right of appeal in
certain cases to the Supreme Court of
the United States, especially such cases
as would involve the relationship of
church lands TO the government He
urged the granting power to the COM
mission to give franchises for steam
and electric railways and light plants
and also made an argument for au-
thority TO create a bonded debt Of S4,-
900 900 for local improvements in Ma
nilla. He thought no franchise should
be perpetual. He would also have a
wider market given in the matter of
cutting timber.
He suggested that there had been
some public sensitiveness on this point,
because Of the interests there OF the
Philippine Lumber and Development
| Company.