The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-02
it is estimated more than 100000
Will be saved per annum in the cost
of administration.

1t is estimated more than $1,000, 900
Will be saved per annum in the cost
of administration.
Friar Lands.
At the time Of the last annual re.
port of the Commission, the govern
ment had received title and paid for
the estates of three of the religious DR.
ders, and the differences which arose
between the insular government and
the holding company of the lands of
the Dominican Order, after protracted
negotiations, have been settled, the
company agreeing to make titles to the
three of the eight haciendas which
they held and about which there was
some question, as demanded by the
government, and also agreeing to a
fair abatement in the matter of short
age of area The trade has been COM
pleted, conveyance made, the purchase
price paid, and the bureau of public
lands is now engaged in locating the
actual settlers upon the lands AMI
making temporary leases to them, the
rental charges being merely nominal.
The latter are given a, preferential
right in the matter of leasing and pur-
chasing their holdings and it is hoped
and believed that the great body of the
tenants of these lands will finally pur-
chase the same from the government.
Religious COntrOver.iex.
In the controversies which arose be-
tween the Independent Filipino
Church, Of which Bishop Aglipay is
the head, and the authorities of the
Roman Catholic Apostolic Church n
regard to the ownership of churches,
converts, and cemeteries in many To-
calities, the Commission has not felt
that it had the right, enthusiastically,
to change possession where the same
had been peaceably obtained, deeming
the question of title one for settle
ment by the courts Finally, in view
OF the bitterness, disorders, and
breaches of the peace consequent upon
the religious disputes of this nature,
the Commission, by act 1876 of July
"a. 1905, vxested original jurisdiction
in all cases of this character in the
supreme court of the Philippine Is
lands, and required that they should
have precedence over other litigation
pending in that court The act also
provides simple and speedy pro-
cedure, both in the matter of pleading
and taking proof, SO that no reason is
seen why these controversies may not
finally be ended in just and orderly
manner in a short time
Currency.
The new currency upon gold basis
has already taken the place of the old
fiuctuating Mexican, Spanish Filipino,
Chinese, and other foreign coins pre-
viously prevailing in the islands, and
commercial contracts, importing, ex-
porting, buying, and selling within the
islands are now all upon uniform
basis and fixed, known standard, and
the whole public and the government
are able to forecast results, so far rs
such results depend upon the iknd of
money to be paid or received, as the
case may be During the year 6,OOO,-
600 certificates of indebtedness have
been retired and only 100000 issued
in their place, which leaves only ST.
100000 worth of these certificates out
standing "a reduction of $4,000, 900
during the year,, which is ample and
sufficient to meet all requirements and
to maintain the parity of Philippine
currency with gold. These certificates
wer sold at premium and the pro-
ceeds deposited throughout the year
as portion of the gold-standard fund
and has earned interest at the rate of
not less than 2h per cent, so that the
maintenance of this fund has been on
the whole source of profit to the
lnsular government instead of a loss
In other words, the government has
made money by borrowing and issuing