Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-03

Iowa, and Davis, OF Minnesota.
Washington, March 3.-The admin
istration Of lands in the Philippine Is-
lands has been fairly and honestly con-
Quoted, and charges and insinuations
20 the contrary. directed against Of
hcers either OF the Philippine govern
United States, are unwarranted and
unjust-this Is the conclusion Of the
majority Of the house committee on in
s,ilar affairs. in its report Of an ex-
haustive investigation Of these mat
tsrs, made public today by the chair
man Of the committee. Representative
Olmsted, Of Pennsyivania.
The report sxpressly exonerates w.
Cameron legbe0. goveFnor.geoeeal;
Charles n. Sleeper. director OF lands;
Frank W. Carpenter. executive secre-
tary. and Dean G. Worcester. secretary
OF the interior Of tho Philippine gov
srnment, Of any improprieties In tho
manaremsnt Of the Philippine lands,
aud describes them as "able. earnest,
patriotic men. honesty performing
their duties under moro o. less trying
olres1n nncoQs 4sa 4s - 4
le0als ousseioas lnvsivs6. - -
4116 resort reviews at length the al
OSSOSS1seeo
sales Of land and tho issuance Of
leases. and lays its principal stress
upon the intricate legal problem in.
volyed in the question Of the status Of
the so-called '.friar lands" which were
purchased by tho Philippine govern
m.ent from the religious orders. with
.unds raised by bond issue. Radical
tda6erences OF opinion have existed a.
20 whether these friar lands were gov
erned In the matter OF sales and leases
by the restrictions clearly imposed by
the .orkanic law" Of tho islands upon
traneactions concerning tho public or
crown lands purchased by the United
states government from the govern
ment Of Spain.
Martin erinss Charges.
Representative Martin. OF Colorado
precipitated the investigation now re-
ported upon. by various CHARGES mace
on tho floor Of the house IN the latter
part Of the session Of 1s09-1o. IN which
he alleged improper sales and leases OK
the friar lands. especially to persons
who. he charged. desired the land 1or
fhe benent OF the so called sugar trust.
Ana no. while the report undertakes TO
refute = number Of charges connected
vith tho sale and lease Of lands In the
ISLANDS. IL 10 devoted largely to dis
cussion Of q transaction by which ono
+: L. Poole bought $4,000 OF tho 4oo'Voo
acres Of the friar lands.
representative Martin contended that
y under tho 'sorganic law" OF 1902. wnlcn
rave =. civil government to the Pnihp-
nine Islands. and which definitely limit.
"A the amount Of public" land that
mirht be sold TO individuals and to
corporations, Poole could lawfully OBJ
tain only forty acres as an Individual
and only $500 acres as representative
OF a corporation.
1 Martin Not Sustained.
e with this contention the majority OF
the committee explicitly disagrees; 1t
concludes that the "friar' lands were
not subject AZ q matter OF law. and
ought not to be subject as q matter OF
practical expediency. to the restrictions
::Sc: s..rnhlsc" lands. The point hero
made Is that the Philippine officials In
their course were abundantly sustain
"a. ana were hound to be guided by, tho
opinions OF the aaw-officers Of their
government. The transaction Of Poole.
60 which the larger part Of the discus
/, sion - addressed. was the purchase of
the 'San Jose estate."
No lrvsguiarity Disclosed.
There has not been disclosed" the
report says Of this Transaction, "the
slightest irregular4ty or improperly on
the poet of Dean G. worcester. the Sec
retary of the interior; Capt. Charles II.
sleeper. the director Of the bureau Of
laads, IN the Philippines: the war de-
partuaent or the bureau o8 insular af-
1airs at Warrington. or any other Off
ae6l either Of the Philippine govern.
ssSSsnt or the United States government