The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-04
REPORT IS BUSY
"tx0NERATIhG" OFFICIALS
Everything Fine and Dandy Ac.
COTdIng 10 Majority Com
mlItee Lep0TtS
DIV Associated pressl

Washington, d. G., Mar 3-The
admin stration of lands in the phil
ippine lslards has been fairly and
honestly conducted and charges and
insinuations to the contrary directed
against officers either Of the Philip
pine government or of the govern
ment OF the United States, are unwar-
ranted ana unjust-this is the con-
clusion Of the majority OF the house
committee on insular affairs, In its
report Of an exhaustive investigation
OF these matters, made public today
by the chairman OF the committee,
Representative Olmstead, of Pennsyl-
yania The report expressly exon
crates W. Cameron Forbes, governor
general; Charles II Sleeper. director
Of lands. Frank w Carpenter, eX-
ecutive secretary and Dean G. Wor-
cester secretary of the interior Of the
Philippine government, Of any impro-
prietes in the management of the
Philippine lands, and describes them
as able, earnest, patriotic men, hon
estly performing their duties under
more or less trying circumstances.
The report reviews at length the al
legged violations Of law governing the
sales Of land and the issuance OF
leases, ara lays its principal stress
Hpon the intricate legal problem In
yolyed in the question Of the status
of the so-called 'friar lands which
were PURCHASED by the Philippine
government from the religious orders
with funds raised by bond issue
Radical differences of opinion have
existed as TO whether these friar
lands were governed in the matter OF
sales and leases by the restrictions
clearly imposed by the organic law"
Of the islands upon transactions con-
cerring the public or crown lands
purchased by the United States gov
ernment from the government Of
Spain.
Representative Martin, of Colorado
the investigation now re-
ported upon, by various charges he
made on the floor of the house In the
latter part of the session OF l909-10,
in which he alleged improper sales
and leases OF the friar lands, especi-
ally to persons who, he charged de-
sired the land for the benefit Of the
so-called sugar trust. And SO, while
the report undertakes to refute mum
Der OF charges connected with the
sale and lease OF lands in the islands,
il Is devoted largely to discussion of
a transaction by which ne n. l..
Poole bought $1,000 of the 100000
acres of the friar lands.
Representative Martin contended
that under Che organic law Of 1902,
which gave a civil government TO
the Philippine Islands, and which de-
fnitely limited the amount Of pub
lic' land that might be sold to indi-
yiduals and to corporations, Pools
could lawfully obtain only 40 acres as
an individual and only 1000 acres as
representative of corporation. With
this convention the majority OF the
explicitly disagrees. It con
cludes that the .'friar' lands were
not subject as d matter OF law, and
ought not to be subject as a matter
1f practical expediency, to the restric-
tons upon public lands. In support
Of this position as to the legal sta
-us Of the ffiar lands, the report cites
opinions OF George r. Harvey. sollci-
Tor general approved by lgnatio VII
lamor, attorney general; Louis G.
knight, attorney for the bureau Of
public lands, of the islands, and OF
Attorney General Wickersham. and |
Includes also controyerting opinion
1T Moorefield Storey Of Boston The |
point here made is that the Philippine |
officials ip their course were abund-
lntly sustained, and we're bound to
be guided by, the opinions Of the law
officers of their government.
The transaction Of Poole, to which |
the larger part of the discussion IS
was the purchase Of the |
San Jose estate.
There has not been disclosed the |
report says OF this transaction, the |
slightest irreguiarlty or impropriety
IN the part OF Dean G. Worcester, the |
secretary OF the interior. Capt Chas. |
II. Sleeper. tile director OF the bureau
of lands, In the Philippines. the far
department. of the bureau Of insular |
affairs at Washington, or any other
official either OF tne Philippine govern |
ment Of the United States government |
n connection with the purchase or
sale of the San Jose estate 1t was
! perfectly plain and square business |
Even II Il SHAH be der
that the law prohibited the
air cf moro thar 10 cores, Tic off !,
cials who made the sale can not be
)lamed, as they acted in pursuance Of /