Mr. SLEEPER. Prior to the submission of this lease application to the secretary of the interior he had in conversation with me stated that his nephew had made an application to lease some public land, and that he did not desire to act on that lease on account of the relationship existing, and suggested that I submit it to the Governor General for his action. I looked over the matter, and it seemed to me it was compulsory that the secretary of the interior under the law should act on that lease, and I therefore forwarded the matter to the private secretary of Mr. Worcester, secretary of the interior, inviting his attention to that fact. The CHAIRMAN. Have you that letter? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Hand that letter to the stenographer to be inserted in the record at this point. Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. (The letter referred to is in the words and figures following, to wit:) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LANDS, DEAR MR. ZINN: The inclosed is a report on the lease application of Mr. Worcester's nephew, and Mr. Worcester desired me to invite his attention to this report so that he might have the Governor General approve it, but under the provisions of section 26 of Act 926, it appears to be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to act on same, so I send this memorandum to you for your consideration. C. W. SLEEPER, Director of Lands. Mr. SLEEPER. I then forwarded to the secretary of the interior at the same time the regular form of presenting such applications for leases of public lands to him. The CHAIRMAN. Is that the form you have already handed to the stenographer? Mr. SLEEPER. No, sir; that is another form. The CHAIRMAN. Have you a copy of that form to which you now refer, which you will hand to the stenographer to go into the record at this point? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. This form consists, however, of the valuation of the land and the lease rate, which was the minimum rate. (The document referred to is in the words and figures following, to wit:) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LANDS, The honorable the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, Manila, P. I. SIR: In accordance with section 26, act No. 926. I have the honor to state that I have examined the application of E. L. Worcester, of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. to lease 977 hectares, 38 ares, and 3 centares of public land situated in the sitio of Mataas na Cahoy, barrio of Cabucbucan, Province of Nueva Ecija. and have determined therefrom and from the certificate of the director of forestry as to the character of the land, that the applicant is entitled to lease the land in question, which appears to be unoccupied, unappropriated, unreserved, nonmineral, agricultural public land. The land applied for has been appraised at #10.00 per hectare, in accordance with section 27 of the public-land act, and should therefore be leased at the rate of fifty centavos per hectare per annum. Very respecfully, L. A. 65. J. H. SLEEPER, The DIRECTOR OF LANDS, Manila. SIR: You findings in the above-entitled application to lease public lands are hereby approved, and you are directed to proceed with the lease as provided in Chapter III of the public-land act. Very respectfully, MANILA, P. I., March 15, 1909. DEAN C. WORCESTER. Mr. SLEEPER. Mr. Worcester approved and returned the documents through the honorable Governor General in these words, inviting his attention to the matter and saying: In view of the fact that the lessee in this instance is a nephew of the Secretary of the Interior, the fact of the issuance of this lease is called to the attention of the Governor General so that no claim may ever be made that due publicity did not attach to it. The rental charged is that which has been charged invariably for public land of similar character. DEAN C. WORCESTER, This was then forwarded to my office by the Governor General, with the following indorsement: Respectfully returned to the director of lands; contents noted. The lease was accordingly issued. The CHAIRMAN. Have you a copy of that lease? Mr. SLEEPER. I have not; no, sir. I thought it was here with other public-land leases, but I find that there were nine public-land leases that were not put in my files when I left there. I can cable and have those forwarded on right here. The CHAIRMAN. You will have them forwarded? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Can you tell us whether or not, now, that lease contained any special features? Mr. SLEEPER. It did not. It was made out on the regular form of lease, a copy of which I have here, and was just exactly the same as other leases to individuals. The CHAIRMAN. Have you put in the record that form of lease? Mr. SLEEPER. I have not; no, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Will you hand that to the stenographer now, to be inserted in the record at this point? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. (The form of lease referred to is in the words and figures following, to wit:) B. L. Form No. 54. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. GOBIERNO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS. LEASE. CONTRATO DE ARRENDAMIENTO. Lease No.... Contrato de Arrendamiento No. Bureau of Lands No. Oficina de Terrenos No. This lease made and entered into, in duplicate, this .... day of ....., 19, by and Este contrato otorgado por duplicado, hoy día between de entre Director of Lands, acting herein for and on behalf of the Govern- ment of the Phillipine Islands, as authorized by the provisions of section 70 of act Islas Filipinas por virtud de la autorización que le conceɗen las disposiciones del articulo 70 de la Ley numbered 926 of the Philippine Commission, as amended by act numbered 979, No. 926 de la Comisión de Filipinas, reformada por la Ley No. 979, y and authorized to execute this lease by the provisions of act numbered 1525 of the autorizado por las disposiciones de la Ley No. 1525 de la Philippine Commission, hereinafter known as the party of the first part, and misma Comisión para otorgar este contrato, en el cual se le designará en lo sucesivo como primera parte, hereinafter known as the part...... of the second part y á quien se designará como segunda parte. Witnesseth: That the party of the first part, for and in consideration of the Hace constar: Que la primera parte, en consideración á los rents, covenants, and agreements hereinafter contained, to be paid, kept, and acquileres, convenios y estipulaciones aquí consignados y que han de pagarse, observarse y performed by the part of the second part, has demised, leased, and let, and does cumplirse por la segunda parte, dá en arrendamiento á ésta los hereby demise, lease, and let, unto the said part of the second part the following siguientes lands, with the appurtenances thereunto of right belonging, lying and being in the terrenos, con sus pertenencias, sitos en el Philippine Islands, being a portion of the public domain, the property of said Government, and described as som de dominio público y propiedad de dicho Gobierno y se describen como sigue: follows, to wit:.... ........ and containing an area of ...... hectares, comprendiendo una extensión superficial de hectáreas, y ares, áreas, and ...... centares, according to the official plat of the survey thereof on file in the centiáreas, de acuerdo con el plano oficial de la medición de los mismos, archivado en Bureau of Lands, Manila; la Oficina de Terrenos en Manila; To have and to hold the said described premises unto the said part...... of Para que la segunda parte posea dichos terrenos the second part for the full term of por el término de day of de years from and including the años á contar desde pesos, el día 19......, at a yearly rental of P................) to be paid annually, on the ...... day of de in each and every year de cada año, mientras during the continuance of said term, at the Office of the Bureau of Lands, Manila, dure el plazo de este contrato, en la Oficina de Terrenos del estado en Manila, ó al or to the Provincial Treasurer of the Province of .................. Tesorero Provincial de la Provincia de That the said part...... of the second part hereby covenant...... to and with Que la segunda parte conviene por el presente con la the said party of the first part to pay the said rent to the said party of the first primera parte en pagar á ésta, ó á su part, his successor or duly authorized agent, at the time and in the manner herein sucesor ó representante debidamente autorizado, dicho alquiler en la época y de la manera en el pre set forth. sente documento consignadas. It is specially covenanted that the said part...... of the second part shall not Queda especialmente convenido que la segunda parte no sublet the whole or any part of the premises herein described, or assign this lease, subarrendará en todo ni en parte la propiedad aquí descrita, ni traspasará este contrato a nadie, without permission, in writing, of the party of the first part, and of the Secretary sin previo permiso por escrito de la primera parte y del Secretario of the Interior, first had and obtained; and it is expressly understood that this lease de lo Interior, y se hace constar expresamente que este shall terminate and expire on the ...... day of arrendamiento expirará el día de 19.., and that no presump y que no se presumirá tion of renewal or continuation beyond that day can arise otherwise than as provided renovado ni prorrogado más allá de dicho día á no ser con arreglo á lo dispuesto en el artículo 28 in section 28 of said act numbered 926, as amended by act numbered 979. The part... de la referida Ley No. 926 según está reformada por la Ley No. 979. La of the second part hereby waive.. all right in this respect conferred by the provisions segunda parte renuncia por el presente á todos los derechos que le confieren las disposiciones del of article 1566 of the civil code. The part.... of the second part hereby waives... all artículo 1566 del Código Civil rights to notice or demand for the payment of rent provided in section 80 of the y las del artículo 80 del Código de Procedimiento Civil por lo que se refiere al requerimiento al pago de Code of Civil Procedure, as well as all other periods of grace. The part.... of the los alquileres, así como á todo término de gracia. Asimismo renuncia la segunda parte á cualquier second part hereby further waive.... any right.... may acquire under the derecho que pudiera tener con arreglo á las disposiciones del artículo 1575 del Código Civil, á la provisions of article 1575 of the Civil Code to any reduction of rent on account of reducción de alquileres por motivo de pérdidas ó daños sufridos por casos fortuitos extraordinarios é any loss or damage suffered by reason of extraordinary unforeseen fortuitous events. imprevistos. The part.... of the second part fully understand.... and agree.... that the Las segunda parte se dá por enterada y conviene en que quedan arrendados los premises herein described are leased and demised subject to the provisions of terrenos aquí descritos con sujeción á las disposiciones de los sections 19, 50, and 51 of the Act of Congress of the United States entitled "An Act articulos 19, 50 y 41 de la Ley del Congreso de los Estados Unidos, titulada “Ley disponiendo temporarily to provide for the administration of the affairs of Civil Government provisionalmente la administración de los asuntos del Gobierno Civil in the Philippine Islands, and for other purposes," approved July 1, 1902, and en las Islas Filipinas, y para otros fines," aprobada el 1.6 de Julio de 1902, y of sections 28, 30, 31, 73, 74, 75, and 76 of the Public Land Act Numbered 926. de los artículos 28, 30, 31, 73, 74, 75 y 76 de la Ley de Terrenos del Estado, No. 926, And it is further covenanted and agreed by and between the parties hereto that, Y queda además pactado y convenido entre las partes otorgantes de este contrato que en el caso de on default in the payment of rent, or a breach of any of the covenants herein, by que la segunda parte dejare de pagar los alquileres en cualqueira de las épocas fijadas, ó infringiera the said part.... of the second part, the said party of the first part may elect to cualquiera de las cláusulas de este instrumento, podrá la primera parte declarar caducado y rescindeclare this lease forfeited and void, and, after having given ...... days' notice in dido este contrato, y, después de avisar por escrito á la segunda parte con ...... dias de anticipa writing to the said part.... of the second part, may enter and take possession of the said ción tomar posesión de los terrenos en cuestión, de los que la segunda parte le entregará la quietaypremises, and said part.... of the second part hereby covenant.... and agree.... pacífica posesión; y que los convenios, disposiciones, cláusulas y condiciones de este contrato serán to give up the possession thereof; and that the covenants, provisions, clauses, and obligatorios para el sucesor ó sucesores de la primera parte y para los herederos, albaceas, adminis conditions of this lease shall extend to and be binding upon the successor or suctradores ó representantes legales de la segunda parte. cessors of the party of the first part, and to and upon the heirs, executors, administrators, or legal representatives of the part.... of the second part, and they are legally bound thereby. In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands. En testimonio de lo cual han firmado dichas partes el presente instrumento de su puño y letra. Signed and delivered in the presence of: Firmado y otorgado en presencia de: Approved: Secretary of the Interior. Secretario de lo Interior. Mr. PARSONS. I asked for that regular form of lease yesterday, and I would like to know whether these papers are to be put into the record at the time I ask for them. The CHAIRMAN. If they are produced in time they will be. Mr. PARSONS. I asked for that yesterday. Mr. SLEEPER. I thought it was the form of lease of friar lands you asked for. Mr. PARSONS. You put in the form of lease of friar lands in your testimony yesterday? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Did you say the lease to Mr. Worcester was made in the precise form of the lease which you have just handed to the stenographer to incorporate in the record? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. With no special or added feature whatever? The CHAIRMAN. Can you state what the consideration was, the annual rental? Mr. SLEEPER. The minimum rental authorized by law, 50 centavos per hectare per year. The CHAIRMAN. What kind of land was it? Mr. SLEEPER. From the report of the inspector of my bureau it was very ordinary land, poor land. The CHAIRMAN. Will that appear from the report? Mr. SLEEPER. Yes, sir; that appears from his report. I have never been on the land, but I think Mr. Worcester, the secretary of the interior, has been. The CHAIRMAN. How far is it from Manila? Mr. SLEEPER. I do not know, without finding out from the plat. The CHAIRMAN. State, if you know, whether Mr. Worcester, the secretary of the interior, has any interest in this land or in this lease! Mr. SLEEPER. No, sir; I think he has no interest, absolutely none. from what I know of it. It is between 80 and 100 miles from Manila. I find. The CHAIRMAN. How reached? By rail or water or wagon roads? |