Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-17
TO BUY FR|AR LANDS
Gov. Taft Effects an Agree
ment.
PRICE NOT YET FIXED
DELICATE AND DIFFICULT CUES
TON NEARLY DISPOSED OF.
No Doubt That the Result Of the Me-
gotiations at Manila Will Be APP
proved by the Administration.

A cablegram from Manila last night
says:
An agreement has been reached by Gov
Taft and the frars providing for the set
Element of the friar land question" The
pope has given his approval of the terms
of the settlement and the approval Of the
War Department is awaited. The settle
ment provides for the purchase of 100000
acres. comprising all the agricultural lands
and holdings of the friars, with the excep-
ton of 1900 acres. including farm near
Manila. which has been sold to railroad
company, and also one sugar plantation
The price agreed upon is $4,000 The
friars originally asked $15,OO0,00O. Gov.
Taft offered them S6,0OO,O00.
Press Report Confirmed.
A cablegram has been received at the
War Department from Governor Taft
practically confirming the press dispatch
from Manila to the effect that an agree
ment has been reached for the purchase Of
the friars' lands. There are some small
matters of difference still. and even the
exact price to be paid has not yet been
finally adjusted, but the officials believe
that negotiations have advanced so far that
there is no doubt now that before he leaves
Manila Governor Taft will have succeeded
in disposing completely of one of the most
delicate and difficult questions which has
confronted the United States government
in dealing with the Philippine question.
Secretary Root has given especial atten-
ton to that subject, regarding settlement
Of that great issue and the successful en-
actment of legislation for the adjustment
of reciprocity relations between the United
States and Cuba and for the general staff
system as the brightest achievements of his
career as Secretary of War. He carried
Governor Taft's telegram to the White
House today. and discussed with the Presi-
dent the settlement of the minor details re-
quired to put the arrangement in force.
To Buy on Long Time.
The main features of the agreement have
been outlined in the dispatches from Ma
Mia, but there are subordinate features in
the agreement of great interest to the stu
dent of political economy, for it Is under
stood that provision is made for a relation
between the tenantry and state government
which marks an advance even upon the
land tenure system of Ireland Thus, for
instance, 1t Is in contemplation to sell the
vast area of land purchased from the friars'
orders for the benefit of the Filipinos them
selves; for the money will go into their own
treasury. Payment will be made by bonds
either turned over directly to the friars or
sold by the Philippine government at the
best market rate obtainable the proceeds
being given to the orders.
The lands are to be sold as far as posi-
BILE to the tenants who live upon them now,
and, realizing that few of the Filipinos have
any considerable sums of money laid by,
the Philippine government proposes to al
low them to buy the lands on long time
payments. at very moderate rate Of inter-
est on the deferred payments. The main
purpose Is to create the greatest possible
number of landlords in the Philippines for
1t Is believed that such body will be a
strong conservator Of peace and will do
much to discourage future revolutionary
movements.
Withdrawal of the Friars.
The question of the withdrawal of the
friars, at the outset the most important
connected with this problem. has. 1t Is said
at the War Department, practically settled
itself, or almost so. OF the great body Of
friars in the Philippine Islands at the out
break Of the war with Spain only 200 odd
are said to have remained. and nearly all of
these are in Manila. They have one by one
or In groups, found calls to other fields of
duty outside the archipelago. those who
remain being almost objects Of charity.
These latter are as anxious in most cases to
get away from the islands as those, who
maintaining them at some sacrifice, are
anxious to have them go. But even If few
remain, it is felt that their power to further
erpbarrass the future relations of the gov
eminent and people in the Philippines has
disappeared. for. with the establishment of
strong. well-balanced municipal govern
ments throughout the group. outside of the
Sulu Islands. the friar, as a dominant ele-
ment has been eliminated, saving In mat
tiers purely religious.
Approval Not Doubted.
1t is not doubted that the President and
Secretary Root will approve Gov Taft'e
arrangement, particularly as it appears that
the people of the United States are not to
be charged with any Of the money required
to buy the friars' lands.