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Show fcficers of the Philippine Is-fland Is-fland Government Exonerated R by House Committee. MONOPOLISTIC CONTROL K ALLOWED UNDER THE LAW Jrganic Act of 1902 Criticised I by Majority and Minority in Unmeasured Terms. ' "WASHINGTON, March 3. Complete Exoneration oC officers of tho Philippine islands government of all charges of xrepularities, or improprieties in con-Section con-Section ivith the administration, sales j'r leases of lands in tho Philippines, iret, on tho other hand pointed criti-lBmaof criti-lBmaof the inadeciuacy of tho present aws to provent "monopolies in what are inown as tho ".friar lands," are ex-jrcssed ex-jrcssed in both tlie majorit3' and minor-ty minor-ty reports of tho house committee on nsular affairs submitted to the house day. !The charge made on tho floor of the louse a year ago by Representative Martin of Colorado, that the so called iugar trust had acquired 56,000 acres if tho " friar lands," led to an investi-jution investi-jution of the entire question of ndimn 'ration of public lands as well as "friar ands." It Both reports concur in the opinion fiat the organic act of 1902 in limit-hp limit-hp individuals to forty acres and cor-jorations cor-jorations to 2500 acres in the&nmount )f public land that ma- bo acquired Iocs not imposo the same restrictions in the disposition of tho "frair lands." J? The majority report argues thai as a practical expedient the "friar lands" should bo disposed of In larger quantises quanti-ses to attract buyers, while the minority claim that the sale of "friar lands" In large tracts may develop a system of absentee ab-sentee landlordism as obnoxious to the Filipinos as that of the friars against whom they onco rebelled. The latter also suggest that a friendly proceeding bo begun In the courts by tho officers of tho Philippine government to determine the exact legal status of tho "friar lands" with respect to public lands regulations. As to tho acquisition by E. L. Poole of 56,000 acres of the "friar lands" on bo-half bo-half of Horace ITavemoycr. Charles Welsh and Charles II. Senff, both reports re-ports declare the public officials Involved were not culpable, being guided by tho best available Interpretations of tho law. The majority members, however, deny that the land was obtained by the sugar trust while the minority assert that if the sugar trust did not acquire It. "the next door neighbor to tho sugar trust' did, and that there is apparent "a community com-munity of Interest" evidencing a holding by ono person of upwards of 56,000 acres of land. Views of Minority- The mlilorlty accepts the .situation as unavoidable, but holds the Incident up as a warning against "further exploitation of the lands by American capitalists," and suggests that no moro sales of large tracts of tho "friar lands" be consummated consum-mated pending the action of congress, or the outcome of court proceedings that might bo instituted by tho Philippine officers. of-ficers. The majority report was signed by Representative Olmstead of Pennsylvania, chairman of the committee, and Representatives Repre-sentatives Crumpackcr of Indiana. Hamilton Ham-ilton of Michigan. Fuller of Illinois, Graham of Pennsylvania, Parsons of New York, MclClnlay of California. Douglas of Ohio and Fornes of New York. Tho minority mi-nority report wns submitted by Representatives Repre-sentatives Madison of Kansas. Hubbard and Davis of Minnesota There will be a third report of the Investigation, embodying the views of tho Democrats on tho committee, pro-pared pro-pared by Representative Jones of Virginia; Vir-ginia; but it Is not yet ready. Chairman Chair-man Olmstead, In presenting tho two reports re-ports today, obtained permission of the house to have the third report Hied at any lime beforo tho adjournment of congress. con-gress. It Is understood that the Jones report, like tho others, absolves the Philippine officials of wrongdoing and concedes that they acted within tho Interpretation of law laid down by tho law officers by whose opinion they were bound to bo f;uidcd, but holds that their action was n pursuance of a mistaken policy. |
