Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-04

J. Welch and Charles HI Senff. "wh,
furnished him the money with which
he paid for the property" The ma
jority report says of this, in part:
"The familiarity Of the public will
the names of Havemeyer and Senff fo
a number of years in connection will
the American Sugar Refining Co., gave
rise to the impression widely circulat
ed, that the purchase Of the San Jose
estate was made by, or either directly
or indirectly in the interest or the
sugar trust 1t appears, however, from
the emphatic and uncontradicted testi
mony in the case, that the American
Sugar Refining company, was not in
any way whatever, directly or in
directly, concerned in the purchase.
1T would seem from the evidence
that, with the exception of Horace
Havemeyer, the directors of the Amer.
lean Sugar Refining Co., had no
knowledge Of the purchase of the San
Jose estate until they read of it a the
newspapers, when they expressed dis
satisfaction that one of the directors
should have been concerned in the
purchase.
In reviewing the incidents which
estate the report makes mention OF
the fact that John Henry Hammond
testified before the committee that in
his inquiry on behalf of his clients,
Havemeyer and WEIGH, as to the
title of certain lands in the Philippines
he was unconnect;d in the matter
with the other members of his law
firm, among whom is Henry w. Taft,
brother of the president. This cir
cumstance of indirect relationship 20
the administration. the report de-
clares, led Mr. Hammond to withdraw
as counsel for Messrs. Havemeyer and
WEIGH
Poole Acted as Agent Only.
Mr., Poole, the report adds, had no
interest in the, purchase, aching solely
as the agent of Messrs. Havemeyer,
WEIGH and Senff, land no other person
now has or has had any interest
therein except the said Havemeyer,
WEIGH and Senff." They caused to be
chartered under the laws of New
Jersey corporation known as the
Mindore Development Co., but the re-
port declares this company cannot
hold more than $500 acres of land,
and as matter of fact it does own
only 200 hectares or 500 acres; the
balance Of the estate still stands in
the name of Edward l.. Poole. but it
appears from the evidence before the
committee that he executed a deed OF
trust setting forth that he was acting
as the agent of Horace Havemeyer
Charles J Welch, and Charles H. |
Senff who furnished him the money !
with which he paid for the property, |
and in which he agrees to convey the |
said property to such persons, nrms or
as the said persons shall !
from time to time Direct"
Speaking of recent operations on the
lands bought by Poole, the erection OF
locks and piers and the construction
If big sugar mill, the report says:
There seems to have been some
feeling that the erection of the i'm
proved mill would be preiudical to the
interests of the owners Of old fashion
I'd mills. Considerable opposition was
aroused because of the supposed pur-
chase by the sugar trust; but
principal objection there exists among
hose who are DESTROYS of the imme-
late independence of the islands from
American control in view of their be-
ief that the investment of American
,apital in the islands will tend to de-
ay perhaps indefinitely, such indie
,endence. With that question we are
lot called upon to deal in this re-
)Ort
"Sai Jose Sale Wise Transaction"
From purely business point OF
lew, the sale of the San jose estate
vas wise transaction for the Phil
ppine government. The purchase
rice was about $4,000 in excess OF
he original price paid for the estate.
he government is relieved of an in
um, putting $4,000 in the sinking
landing friar land bonds, and the
state, which has heretofore been nom
Productive and nontaxable, is now
ubject to taxation for all government
| purposes.
"That it could not have been sold
D advantageously in small quantities ,,
nder the restrictions applicable to
ublic lands is manifest from the fact
nat the government has been unable {
} sell single acre of the public i
,nds Immediately adjoining. which
re offered at 50 an acre in 40 acre
acts. subject to the provisions of oc- (
upation. cultivation, and nonaliena- {
on or encumbrance for a period OF / |
We years"
A list is presented of unoccupied t
lar lands available for lease or sale 9
| large blocks, but while their sale . {
| quantities larger than 40 acres is /
ivocated, the fact that title may be |
uestioned is suggested. The report t
eclares that the sales Of friar lands
| large quantities could not be con- /
dered as establishing or favoring I
olicy for the acquisition Of the island q
r any considerable portion thereof, t
Y few corporations, trusts or in {
ividuals." f
Taking up various sales of land i
yainst which criticism has been di- v
scted, the report comments on the d
ansaction in which E. L. Worcester, {
nephew Of Dean c. Worcester, secre- \
Iry of the interior Of the Philippines, o
cured. The report says t
Dean c. Worcester the secretary G
the interior. had not and has not a
ly interest whatever in this lease il
g has, however, been very unjustly
iticised for permitting it to be made i,
ls a