Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-13
SALE OF FRIAR LANDS
RECENT ENACTMENT By THD
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
Occupants to Be Given an Option %
Their Holdings-May Buy
in Installments.

The bureau OF insular affairs of the War
Department has just received a copy of an
enactment of the Philippine commission.
providing for the administration and tenn
porary leasing and sale of certain ha-
ciendas and parcels of land commonly
known "friar lands" for the purchase
of which the government of the Philippine
Islands has recently contracted.
This enactment provides that a careful
examination is first to be made to ascer-
tain the sufficiency and soundness OF the
titles to the lands, and the chief engineer
of the Philippine government is directed
to have careful surveys made of all hacien-
das and tracts of land in order to deter
mine with accuracy and certainty the
amount of land in each hacienda. After
the determination of these points payment
is to be made for the lands. whereupon
they are to be placed under the immediate
control and direction of the bureau Of
public lands of the Philippine Islands. the
chief of which, subject to the approval of
the secretary of the interior of the Phil
ippines. is to administer the land.
Desires Of Occupants.
lie is enjoned by the enactment to ascer-
tain the names and residences of the actual
bona fide settlers and occupants in posses
sion of these lands, or any portion of them,
together with the extent of their holdings
and the character and value thereof: and
to ascertain whether not said occupants
desire to purchase or lease their holdings
In case the present occupant does not de-
sire to purchase, but does desire to lease
he may do so for term not longer than
three years. at reasonable rental. TO be
fixed by the chief of the land bureau.
Purchase in Installments
If the present settler or occupant of any
portion of these friar lands desires to pur-
chase, he is entitled to do at the actual
cost to the government. and shall be al
lowed ten years from the date of purchase
within which to pay for the same in equal
annual installments If he so desires: all
deferred payments to pay interest at the
rate of four per cent per annum-
The present settler occupant is to be
given a refusal either to buy or lease.
above set forth, but all unoccupied lands,
or lands which the present occupants do
not desire to lease or buy, the chief of the
bureau may lease, or offer for sale To other
parties, as may seem for the best interests
of the government.
Control of Irrigation Works.
The act also provides that all canals.
reservoirs and other irrigation works. COM
mon to all the properties, shall remain
under the exclusive control of the govern
ment of the Philippine Islands. and the
government reserves, as a part of the con-
tract of sale, the right to levy an equitable
contribution or tax for the maintenance
of such irrigation works, based upon the
amount of benefits received.
The Philippine government is authorized
to designate any of these lands nom
alienable, II it 50 desires, and reserve the
same for public use
All money derived from the leasing
sale of these lands is to be promptly de-
DOSitei in the inSuar treasury to be held
separate and apart from general insular
funds, and is to constitute trust fund
for the payment of the principal and inter-
est of the bond issued by the Philippine
government for the purpose of raising
money to pay the purchase price of these
friar lands.