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Show How Philippine Question Was Settled. Bishop Thomas 0'Gormaiiof Sioux .Falls, S. D., who conducted the exercises ot the retreat held last week at St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore for the clergy of ihe archdiocese, told of some hitherto unpublished facts about the appointment of 'the Taft commission by President 3McKinIey. for the purpose of treating with the Vatican authorities in reference to coalitions in the Philippine islands. ' Bishop O'Gorman took "Justice" as a topic for one of his daily conferences, and in urging the priests to be always careful to ascertain all the facts in a case before pronouncing judgment-Tie spoke of the appointment of the commission, not thinking that his words would ever appear in print. Bishop O'Ctorman was a member of the Taft commission com-mission which was appointed by President AIcKin-Icy. AIcKin-Icy. and what he said must therefore be regarded as having been spoken with full knowledge of the sub-jet. sub-jet. His version of the manner in which President MeKinley and Pope Leo agreed to a conference on the Philippine question was most interesting, showing, as it did, that both the president and the Pope took the initiative at the same time and without with-out any knowledge of the action of the other. Ho said that a letter from Pope Leo XIII to President MelCinley and one from the president to the Roman Ro-man pontiff, each asking if something could not be done, to solve the vexed problems growing out of the change of sovereignty over the islands in. the Pacific, crossed each other on ihe Atlantic oc.nan. For reasons deemed prudent to President ilo-Kinley ilo-Kinley and the officials of the United States government, gov-ernment, these letters were not made public; but as an outcome of them the Taft commission was appointed with plenary power to act for the United Unit-ed States. The commission was In fact a diplomatic diplo-matic representation, and was so received and regarded re-garded at the Vatican. . Bishop OXiorman summarized the different points taken up and acted upon at Rome between the commission, of which Governor W. II. Taft was the head, and the Congregation of Extraordinary Extra-ordinary Affairs, one of the congregation of the RoN'Hn curia. , The first question -referred to ihe lands held by the several religious orders. . After some discussion dis-cussion the Pope was willing that the hinds should be sold to Ihe United States government, a commission com-mission to determine upon a fair price. . The second question referred in part to the first, and had to do with settling ihe matter of en- ' do'wineiils. It was discovered that hore exist in -the Philippines numerous endowment; for chapels, . hospitals and other institutions, hut that the titles ;j to these endowmens were hopelessly mixed up. In f some eases the state held the title, and in others j! a corporation. To solve all these questions would ; require the wisdom of Solomon and the patience j of an angel. It was therefore agreed that all tlui : titles made out in the name of the state shouJ.I I be held by the state, and that all ihe titles' martc l out -in the name of the church shoidd be. held by ff the church. " l - - s The third question was what to do with the friars or members of the religious orders. During the revolution which had just preceded the American Ameri-can occupation of the islands, many of the friars were forced to leave their parishes. They went to 3Ianila. When the affairs of the islands became move settled the friars wished to return to their parishes, and they asked "the protection of the United States government. This the government, refused. Governor Taft held that the friars might return, but that no soldiers of the United State should be sent to protect! them. This question was considered at great length' and several propositions propo-sitions wore made. One of these was to replace the Spanish friars by members of their orders from other countries. Finally the Pope did something which was never undertaken before. He said he would have the bishops in the island resign; that' he would reorganize the hierarchy, and that he would appoint citizens of the United States to the vacant sees. This has been done and some of the new bishops are now on their way to their sees. The question, then, of tilling the vacant parishes would be left to each bishop, just as in the United States. In this connection, the ownership of all church property was taken up. Heretofore the title to all ihis property was in -the name of the king of Spain. It was mutually agreed that the title to church property should be transferred to the bishops bish-ops of the dioceses or to the head of the religious order to which it belongs. Finally the commission and the congregation took up the question of ho occupation ' of the churches and other religious braidings by the United States army during the war with the Filipinos. Fili-pinos. The United States government signified its willingness to pay for all damages done to such property. Bishop Q'Gorman said he thought the United States government meant to be perfectly fair in all transactions relating to the Philippines. |