The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-22
SEC. TAFT
ANSWERS
inquiry

Washington, Jan. 22.-Secretary Taft to-
day sent to the senate a statement in re-
sponse to a resolution calling upon him
for information as to whether any mem
Der Of the Philippine commission, or any
officers Of the army or navy of the United
States. directly or indirectly owned. on
Dec. /. 1905, or now owns any land in the
Philippine Islands. or had at any time or
now has any interest or right in such land
OF any character and II so. what such
ownership. interest. or right Is, where
the land1 situated, particularly with ref
erence TO location of proposed railroads
In said islands and who said officials are
The secretary stated that he brought
the resolution 10 the attention of Governor
General Wright and Commissioner Forbes.
both of whom are now in Washington, and
cabled to the members OF the commission
In Manila for statements the replies from
all being transmitted.
Mr.. Taft then said:
Il may add that when was civil gov
ernor OF the islands, an article was pub
lished in a Manila newspaper containing
an insinuation that some members Of
the commission were interested in invest
ments I'm the Philippine Islands, whicn
would be affected by legislation Of the
commission On the publication of this
article | challenged the truth OF it's state
ments by letter, and asked for specitca-
tons
THE insinuation was withdrawn by for
NAL retracton In the newspaper. This
was the occasion OF an investigation
which / instituted to ascertain whether
any member of the then commission
which was constituted at that time OF
Luke Wright. Henry G. Ide, Dean c.
Worcester. Bernard Moses and myself,
has made any investment In land or
otherwise in the Philippine Islands at that
time and ] learned by personal inquiry
and investigation that no American mem
Der of the commission had made such in
vestment in the Philippine Islands OF
course the Filipincs Of the commission
were known when appointed 10 be the
owners OF landed estates.
with reference to the question wheth-
er any OF the army have any interest in
lands or have obtained an option for the
purchase Of them along the line OF pro-
jected railroads or elsewhere I beg to
say that certainly 70 per cent Of all the
officers of the army have been at some
time or another. since American occupa-
ton on duty in the Philippines. and that
inquiry directed 10 the question, whether
any OF these officers, who number some
5000 have the interests mentioned In the
resolution OF the senate, could not be
each officer OF the army. under four
months. II 1t be suggested that land rec
ords In the Philippines might be consult
ed. beg TO say that the land records are
TO be found in - or 3e provinces OF the
archipelago. and that II would require
further investigation to identify the land
owners shown there as army officers"
The secretary then quoted circular IS
sued by Gen Macarthur at Manila. In
May. 1900 while commanding the army in
the islands, during military government.
saying Il Is presumed that It's injunction
was obeyed.
General Macarthur IN the circular
quoted the following article from I'm
structlons for the government OF armies
In the field"
Neither officers nor soldiers are allowed
to make use Of their position or power in
the hostile country for private gain not
even for commercial transactions other
wise legitimate. Offences TO the con-
trary, committed by commanding offi-
GERS will he punished with cashiering OF
such punishment as the nature OF the Of
fence may require: II ny soldiers they
shall be punished according TO the ma
turc OF the ofrense"
Mr.. Taft said in conclusion:
I'm view OF the very burdensome char
acter OF the investigation necessary TO dis
cover whether among three thousand
persons there may be any one who has an
Interest in land I'm the Philippine Islands
respectfully request the further instruc-
ton of the senate with view OF possibly
narrowing the scope OF the inquiry In ac-
cordance with the Information OF report
upon which the resolution was presuma-
bly, based. so that fun answer may be
made I'm quicker time than four months.
So far as the Investigation into the own
crshlp OF lands In the Philippines nv Of
fcers of the navy Is concerned beg 20
point out that 7 have no jurisdiction 20
make inquiry with respect 10 them and
have accordingly forwarded n copy of
tho resolution 90 the secretary OF the
navy for such action as may be deemed
proper"
naulIInIn YIaN IuYcnnIInYrn