The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-04
Taft Proposes That Arbitration
Set Price on FTiaT Lands
U, S. TO PAY AN INDEMNITY
An Important Proposition In the Note
Is That All the Friars Shall Leave
at once-The Contract
Is Enclosed.

Rome. July s--Governor William II.
Taft of the Philippine Islands today re-
ceived a long telegram from Secretary
Root containing the departments final
instructions concerning the note relat-
ing to the disposition of the friars' lands
in the islands. which was drawn up here
Tuesday. and this afternoon Major Por-
ter delivered the note to Cardinal RAM
polla, the papal secretary of state
Governor Taft was gratifed on learn
ing from the same message that the
Philippine civil hill had become & law.
Major Porter delivered the note per-
sonally to Cardinal Rampolla. who con-
verse cordially with him at some length.
expressing the hope that the negotiations
would be completed in time to allow
Judge Taft to leave Rome July 20. The
pope read the original note which was
Immediately manifolded for the benefit
of the committee of cardinals having
charge of the matter.
Note Is Fourteen Pages.
The note covers fourteen typewritten
pages. 1t begins with acknowledging the
Vatican's note of June q and says he
Judge Taft is pleased that the vatican
has approved of the sending to Rome OF
a representative of the President with the
object of arriving at satisfactory
agreement on the questions In dispute
and to see that the general views of tho
vatican are in harmony with the views OF
Secretary Root, although on one of the
important questions. namely, tnat of the
religious orders. there appears to be a
difference regarding methods to be
adopted IN order to remove the admitted
difficulties. Answering the vatican's note
proposing to have the new apostolic dele
gate at Manila eettle the question of the
religious ordors. Judge Taft remarks:
Thus would be lost the advantages ex-
pected from a direct contract clearly de-
termining the principal lines upon whl. h
cooperation between the State and
church may be assured"
Arbitration to Set Price.
The note proposes:
THE purchase of the land of the domin-
leans and Augustinians at price to be
determined upon by five arbitrators. two
to be chosen by the United States, two
by the vatican and one by a neutral-says
the British governor of India
''The arbitrators to meet in Manila no
later than January l. 1903, examine wit
nesses and visit the land.
THE judgment OF the majority to be
accepted.
'grhe price to be paid In Mexican dol
lars, cne-third Immediately, a third in
nine months and third in eighteen
months, with interest at AZ per cent.
payment to be made to q person chosen
by the vatican.
"The former Spanish crown lands now
in possession o. the American government
on which there are ecclesiastical buildings
to be handed over to an ecclesiastical
official appointed by the vatican.
'''rhe ordinary courts to decide concern
ing the land retained by the church, but
claimed by the municipalities.
'It is hoped that when an apostolic dele
gate competent to represent the Holy
See is sent to the Philippines he will be
able to decide which property used for
charitable or educational institutions be-
longs to the church and which to the
state.
Gases OF disagreement shall be SUBJ
mitted to the arbitration of the same ar
bitrators who shall also decide the San
Jose foundation case now pending before
the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
VIII Pay an Indemnity.
THE United States to pay en- indem-
nifty for the buildings used by the Amer
ican troors. But nothing is to be paid un-
til the title deeds are In the hands of the
Philippine government.
''All friars OF the four orders shall
withdraw within two years from the first
payment small number are to continue
during that time to look after the
schools and universities, but all OF them
must 60 half during nine months from
the first payment and half In eighteen
months later not including friars who
have not raised the hostility of the ma
tives and who remained in their parishes
after the revolution Of 1898 till now, except
those n Manila. No Spanish friars may
be substituted for those withdrawn
"The churches, schools and universities
may be directed by Spanish clergy or or
ders other than these withdrawn or by
clergy of the same order, who are not
Spenish. 1t is unnecessary to convince
the Filipinos that the ancient regime of
the Spanish friars is finished"
The note reminds the vatican that the
order still publishes a paper In Manila
which Is anti-American and anti-Philip-
Pine but pro-Spanish and that the order
possesses property In Manila to the value
of nearly S6000,000 (Mexican money!.
while that OF the Catholic church Is only
valued at three and half million Mexi-
can dollars This is very significant, as
the orders have also a large capital out
at interest, besides the land which 1t is
row proposed the gov ernment shall pur-
chase.
Shall Leave at Fixed Date.
To reach the desired object. the best
thing is to prevent any member of the
four withdrawing orders. without dis
tinction of nationality. from being sent
to the islands. Nothing will so calm the
recple and produce hermony between the
church and government than that the
friars shall leave at a fixed date. shall
not return and shall not exercise any in
duence from Mania over the priests In
the parishes. In view of these facts 1t h
hoped that the vatican will accept the
propositions.
The note ends with calling the atten-
ton of the vatican to the clause regard
ng religious teaching In the public
saying that Judge Tafts instruc-
lions prevent further discussion OF the
matter 1t also calls the attention OF
Cardinal Rampolla to the sixteenth sec
ion of the general way for Philippine
a copy of which is enclosed.
The note is accompe MED by the kind OF