The American authorities are hopeful of a satisfactory solution of a very per-pleasing problem in the Philippines—the disposition of the friars who are so cordially hated by the natives. It is true that the negotiations just completed by Judge Taft at Rome led to no definite agreement, but they at least provoked no definite refusal to agree to the American programme, and further consideration is provided for by the transference of negotiations to Manila.
At Washington there is a strong feeling that within a fow months a majority of the Spanish friars now in Manila will be withdrawn, and the way opened for the renewal of the negotiations for the purchase of the church lands. It will be some time before the Vatican will be able to supply the Philippine government with the requested information relative to lands it is willing to sell and its title to them, damages to churches and convents claimed, and facts as to charitable and educational institutions.
Meanwhile, there is reason to believe that the Spanish friars will be gradually replaced by other Church representatives, and that by the time the negotiations begin in earnest the friar problem will have been solved by the voluntary withdrawal of the objectionable representatives of the four orders, namely, the Augustinians, Dominicans, Ricollettos, and Franciscans. In this way the object of the negotiations will have been accom plished and at the same time the Vatican Wil be spared the embarrassment of givin any definite assurances to the Unite States that this will be done.
The attitude of the United States, as explained by an oficial, is that it is merely endeavouring, to carry out the expressed wishes of the Filipinos, who have an implacable hatred for the Spanish friars, whom they have driven from their parishes and forced to take refuge in Manila. These friars are unable to return to their parishes owing to the hostility against' them unless military 2 protection by the United States is given them. It will necessitate an armed interference by the United States to reinstate them in their parishes and this, in the opinion of the officials in the Philippines, would certainly result in another insurrection.
The lands formerly controlled by the friars are now tenanted by Filipinos. In substance Governor Taft's mission to Rome carried with it the assurance that the Philippine government would pur-phase the lands in dispute at a valuation be determined upon by both sides to the transaction. A condition of such an agreement was that the friars be withdrawn.
Had the church authorities accepted these propositions there would be no difficulties in the way of disposing of the lands, but failing to et the definite assnrince asked for, Secretary Root determined to let the negotiations take a different course, and instead of azreeing to purchase the lands, he has now walled for information regarding the _and condition of titles before saying what lands will be purchased.
There is no objection to other representatives of the Catholic church taking the place of the objectionable friars: in fact, the suggestion as to withdrawal docs not contemplate disturbing the friars who are persona grate in their parishes. A small number of friars have been able to remain in their parishes, and so long as they are wanted by the Filipinos they will be permitted to remain.
The withdrawal proposition, as _explained officially, is meant {0 include only those friars who, as the reprosentatives of the Spanish government, administered the Spanish laws rigorously, and are held responsible by the natives for their suffering and oppression during the Spanish control of the islands.
The United States Steel Corporation, mown as the Steel Trust, has recently lo public a detailed statement. of its affairs, in which it shows its assets to amount to $1,400,000,000, and its earnigs for the year past to be $140,000,000.
The Coal Miners' Strike has just closed its tenth week and settlement seems now as remote as it did at the beginning. The 150,000 miners who are out profess to be as determined as and the employers still di arbitration. The losses to both during the ten weeks are estimated at $55,000,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.