The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-03
House Committee on Insular Al
fairs Files Reports
On Sale of the Friar Lands i'm
the Philippines.
FINDS ALL REGULAR.
But Suggests That Present
Practices Should Stop.
One Concern Has Secured Body
of $4,000 Acres.

Washington, March 3-CompIete
exoneration of the officers of the
Philippine islands, government of all
charges of irregularity or impropriety
in connection with the administra-
ton, sales, or leases of lands in the
philippines, yet on the other hand
pointed criticisms of the inadequacy
OF present laws to prevent monopo-
lies in what was known as the "friar
lands" are expressed in both the ma
Joflty and minority reports of the
mouse committee on inSular affairs
submitted to the house today. The
charge made on the floor of the
house a year ago by Representative
Martin of Colorado, that the socalled
sugar trust had acquired 5000 acres
OF the 'friar lands led to an inves-
tigation of the entire question of the
administration of public lands as we'll
as 'friar lands
Both reports concur in the opinion
that the organic act of 1902 in limit
ing individuals to forty acres and
corporations to $500 acres in the
amount of public land that may be
acquired does not impose the same
restriction on the disposition of the
''friar lands
The majority report argues that as
a practical expedient the "friar lands
should be disposed of in larger quan-
titles to attract buyers while the min
or1ty claim that the sale of the friar
lands in large tracts may develop a
system of absentee landlordism as OBJ
noxious to the Filipinos as that of
the friars against whom they once
rebelled. The latter also suggest that
a friendly proceeding be begun in the
courts by the officers of the Philip
pine government to determine the
exact legal status of the friar lands
with respect to public lands regula-
tions.
AS to the acquisition by E. L. Poole
of $4,000 acres of the friar lands on
behalf of Horace Havemeyer, Chas.
]. Welch and Charles S. Senff, both
reports declare the public officials in
volved were not culpable, being guild
ed by the best available interpreta-
tions of the law.
The majority members however,
deny that the land was obtained by
the sugar trust while the minority as
Sert that If the sugar trust did not
acquire it, 1.-The next door neighbor to
the sugar trust" did, and that there
is apparent "a community of interest
evidencing holding by one person Of
upwards of $4,000 acres of land. The
minority accepts the situation as un-
avoidable but holds the incident up as
a warning against further exploita-
ton of the lands by American capital
ists'' and suggests that no more sales
of large tracts of the .'friar lands" be
consummated pending the action of
congress. or the outcome of court pro-
ceedings that might be instituted by
the Philippine officers.
The majority report was signed by
Representative Olmstead of Pennsyl-
vania, chairman of the committee End
Representatives Crumpacker of In
diana, Hamilton of Michigan, Fuller
of Illinois, Graham of Pennsylvania.
Parsons of New York. Mckinley of
California Douglas of Ohio and
Fornes of New York. The minority
report was submitted by Representa-
tives Madison of Kansas, Hubbard and
Davis of Minnesota.