Supreme Court of the United States June 10, 1918, 189 (Philippine Sugar Estates Development Co. v. Government of the Philippine Islands)

Mr. Justice Brandeis

delivered the opinion of the ‘ court.

When Spain ceded the Philippine Islands to the United States large tracts of agricultural lands were owned by the great religious orders.. For political Reasons it was deemed advisable that our Government should acquire the Friar lands and sell them to tenants in Small holdings on easy terms.