Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/546

526 to encomiendas, and in favor of the new laws, prominent among whom, it is claimed, was the provincial Francisco de Soto. Among the many representations to the crown concerning the Indian policy there was one which came neither from the religious orders nor from any government official. It was proposed to abolish the system of personal taxation, and let public tributary lands be granted to Indians and Spaniards alike, subject to the payment of a tax assessed according to the value of the land; these assessments to be made by competent Indian commissioners not residing in the towns or near vicinity of such grants. To successfully carry out this plan the titles to all lands hitherto sold by Indians to Spaniards, including friars, should be carefully examined, and annulled if found to be defective. This latter request was made because it was known that great frauds had been committed in obtaining possession of large tracts of the best lands. These suggestions were, of course, too radical to be acted upon by the government, as the majority of the colonists, and particularly the religious orders, would oppose a project to despoil them of their possessions.

In the mean time Mendoza and Tello reflected seriously over the inconveniences which might attend