New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22
LAND LAWS WORK HARM.
BLOCK ISLAND GROWTH
fres'de"t's Atlomta Speech Cheers
Friends of Philippines.
from The Tribune Rurea,, !

washington, Oct. 21.-Presiden+ po.,
- IN MS speech in Atlanta Ge +b..
llie misguided effort of legislators q, +L
oliiteu states is checking 'corporatA so+,,,i+..
III 'he philippines and Porto Rfco erd h
- 80 nSIiPered and retarded the development
me iSiaHos is regardede here as significant
eii' OF mis- views regarding the need of
d more open policy on the part of this govern
fnent to encourage the investment ~ ooD,+aI -
our territorial possessions
The particular phase Of PhfIinrree I,, 49,.
Which President Roosevelt has IN ,,,a "a :,
peheVed here, is the clause contained in ceo
uon 10 Of the Public Lands act oP 1900 ,,b,ob
Iofolds the sale TO corporation of more than
Two thousand acres Of land. or to an individual
VI more than forty acres. The Philippines Com
mission, in its last report attacked this nro
VISION vigorously on the ground that it prac-
ucaliy closed the door to American capitsl
which would otherwise pour in for the develop
ment OF sugar cane. tobacco plantations. etc
The commission recommended that the limit
on the amount Of land to be acquired and used
Tor agricultural purposes by any Individual or
corporation be extended to twenty-five thousand
acres When Congress. at it's last session,
passed certain amendments to the Philippines
laws giving greater freedom in the matter Of
obtaining mining grants and franchises an
effort was made to have similar concessions
given to investors purposing to establish panta-
tons- The proposed legislation was defeated
on the ground that it would open too great
field for adventures TO exploit the lands without
regard to the interest of the people Of the islands
themselves.
Renewed agitation in favor Of larger land
grants to capitalists has begun, and those
who advocate this important legislation are
much encouraged by President Roosevelt's refer
{Ia cold iy,b
speech:
There is nothing that the islands need
than to have their great natural resources devel-
oped, and these resources can be developed only
by the abundant use of capital, which, of course,
will not be put into them unless on terms sur
fciently advantageous to offer prospects of good
remuneration. We have made the terms not
merely hard, but often prohibitory. with the re
suit that American capital goes into foreign
countries like Mexico, and is there used with
immense advantage to the country in It's de-
yeIopment while il cannot go into pos
sessions or be used 10 develop the lands under
our own flag
It is expected. in view of this declaration that
the President will make an effort to secure iegis-
lation which will remedy the defect he refers to.
The views of the Philippine Commission on
this subject contained in the last annual report
are as follows
We also again wish TO call attention TO the
desirability of repeating the limitations con.
tanned in Section 10 of the act OF congress OF
Tll Ia 1902 which fOrDld the sale Ol any PO+
tion of the public domain to an individual IN an
amount exceeding sixteen hectares, and TO any
cornorafion or association of persons 10 an
amount exceeding 1,024 hectares. Perhaps the
greatest need existing at the present time is lhe
introduction of capital properly directed, IN tne
deIeIonnent of the agricultural resources OF the
ielands The laying out of sugar and cocoanut
nIantations operated by UP TO date men WIN
Tnodern machinery. would be of incalculapie
heneft to the people. 1t is idle to expect olsl-
oass men with capital, however altrulstlc, 10
enpa pc in these occupations merely for the ecu
cation and profit Of others. The motive Wnich
INDUCED these restrictions was doubtless the IeaF
thar men of large means would buy up great
trscrs of land for exploitation and thereby pre-
1-er+ the native Filipinos from utilizing Tor their
own benefit the public domain Such pur-
nose ia undoubtedly most commenda ole, put
TIpbep II Is understood that the present naiVe
ncnnIatjon occupies only a very small proportion
oF ftha lands of the islands and that there are
,oz- MANY millions of acres of unoccupled puonc
lands which will probably so remain for all tlrn9
Unless offered to purchasers in large blocks, II
is believed that no reasonable ground Tor these
faore unon investigation will be found 10 exist.
1Jan Who are thus given opportunity TO engage
;,1 apricuI+11re on an extensive scale 1ar from
taine a menace to the native population pecoILle
y, +rI,tb their real benefactors for they not only
boI,, them how to use their lands to the greatest
ody@ntage but afford opportunity for labor at
increased wages.