The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-03
Origin of the Cases.

Virgin OF the Eases.
Representative Martin, of Colorado,
precipitated the investigation now re-
ported upon, by various charges made
on the floor of the House in the latter
part of the session of 1909-1O in which
he alleged improper sales and leases
of the friar lands. especially TO persons
who, he charged desired the land for
the benefit of the so-called sugar trust
And so, while the report undertakes
to refute a number of charges connect
ed with the sale and lease of lands i'm
the islands, II is devoted largely to
discussion of transaction by which
one E. l.. Poole bought $4,000 of the
100000 acres of the friar lands.
Representative Martin contended
that under the organic law" of 1902,
which gave a civil government to the
Philippine Islands, and which definite
ly limited the amount of public land
that might be sold to individuals and
to corporations. Poole could lawfully
obtain only 40 acres as an individual,
and only $500 acres as representative
of a corporation. with this contention
the majority of the committee explic-
lily disagrees; 1t concludes that the
"friar" lands were not subjected as a
matter of law, and ought not to be
subject as a matter of practical expe-
diency, to the restrictions upon pub
lic'' lands.
Both reports concur in the opinion
that the gigantic act of 1902. limiting
individuals to forty acres and cor
porations to $500 acres in the amount
of public land that may be acquired
does not impose same restrictions on
disposition of friar lands. The ma
jority report argues that as a practic-
al expedient. the "friar lands" should
attract buyers, while the minority
claim the sale of friar lands in large
tracts may develop a system of alb
sentee landlordism. as obnoxious to
Filipinos as that of the friars, against
whom they once rebelled.
The minority also suggests that a
friendly proceeding be begun in the
courts by officers of the Philippine,
government to determine the exact
legal status of 'friar lands" with re-
spect to the public land regulations.
Where Reports Differ.
AS to acquisition by e. l.. Poole of
&c. 900 acres of friar lands on behalf of
Horace Havemeyer, Charles ]. Welch, |
Charles III. Senff both reports declare |
the public officials involved were not
culpable, being guided by the best
available interpretations of the law.
The majority members, however, deny |
that the land was obtained by the "su-
gar trust" while the minority assert |
that If the sugar trust" did not ac-
quire 1t, next door neighbor to the |
sugar trust" did and that there is ap-
parent "a community OF interest" evil |
dencing holding by one person of up |
wards to $4,000 acres of land.
The minority accepts the situation |
as unavoidable, but holds the incident
up as a warning against further ex-
ploitation of lands by American capi- |
talists" and suggests that no more |
sales of large tracts of friar lands be |
pending the action of
Congress or the outcome of court pro-
that might be instituted by |
Philippine officers.
The majority report was signed by |
Representatives Olmsted. Crumpacker |
Hamilton, Fuller, Graham, Parsons.
McKinlay, Douglas and Fornes. The
report was submitted by Rep
resentatives Madison. Hubbard, Davis.