Third Philippine Legislature. First Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1912. The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Commissioners Worcester, Luzuriaga, Araneta, Palma, Sumulong, Branagan, and the Acting President. Absent: The President and Commissioner Elliott (on leave). READING OF JOURNAL. The Journal for Monday, November 18, 1912, was read and approved. UNFINISHED BUSINESS-CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION BILL NO. 35 IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. The Commission then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for the purpose of continuing consideration of Commission Bill No. 35, entitled "An Act providing that on and after the first day of January, nineteen hundred and thirteen, the register of deeds for the city of Manila shall perform the duties of commercial register in said city, and validating the acts performed by the present commercial register of the city of Manila since the passage of Act Numbered Twelve hundred and eighty-eight." After some consideration the committee rose and reported with the recommendation that the bill pass with the following amendment: Strike out the following: "Section 1. On and after the first day of January, nineteen hundred and thirteen, Enrique Barrera y Caldes shall cease to act as commercial register of the city of Manila, and shall deliver all books, papers and documents pertaining to that office to the register of deeds of the city of Manila, who will from said date perform the duties of commercial register of the city of Manila, as provided in section one of Act Numbered Twelve hundred and eighty-eight," renumbering subsequent sections accordingly. The amendment recommended by the Committee of the Whole was adopted and the bill ordered on file for third reading. THIRD READING OF BILL. Commission Bill No. 36. An Act making appropriations for public works and permanent improvements in the Provinces of Agusan, Nueva Vizcaya, the Mountain Province, and the Moro Province. Commission Bill No. 36 was read the third time. The Acting President moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 1, Province of Agusan, lines 8 and 9, strike out the words "fifteen thousand pesos;" line 10, strike out the words "five thousand pesos;" line 11, strike out the words "ten thousand pesos;" line 12, strike out the words "three thousand pesos;" line 13, strike out the words "one thousand pesos;" line 14, strike out the words "three hundred pesos;" line 15, strike out the words "eight hundred pesos," line 18, and page 2, line 1, strike out the words "six thousand pesos;" and page 2, lines 1, 2, and 3, strike out the words "one thousand eight hundred pesos. In all, for the Province of Agusan." The motion prevailed. The Acting President moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 2, Province of Nueva Vizcaya, line 8, strike out the words "forty-one thousand two hundred pesos;" line 9, strike out the words "four hundred pesos;" and lines 10 and 11, strike out the words "fifteen hundred pesos. In all, for the Province of Nueva Vizcaya." The motion prevailed. Commissioner Worcester moved the following amend ment: Section 1, page 2, Mountain Province, lines 14 and 15, strike out the words "from January first to December thirty-first, nineteen hundred and thirteen." The motion prevailed. Commissioner Branagan moved the following amend ment: Section 1, page 2, Department of Commerce and Police, lines 20 and 21, strike out the words "to be allotted in the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce and Police, ten thousand pesos," and insert in lieu thereof the word "and;” and in lines 23 and 24, strike out the words "ten thousand pesos" and insert in lieu thereof the words "twenty thousand pesos." The motion prevailed. The Acting President moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 2, Bureau of Public Works, lines 27 and 28, strike out the words "for the improvement of sanitary conditions in Baguio, ten thousand pesos" and insert in lieu thereof the words "for the construction and improvement of septic vaults, drains and other sanitary works in Baguio, ten thousand pesos." The motion prevailed. Commissioner Worcester moved the following amend ment: Section 1, page 3, Bureau of Health, lines 7 and 8, strike out the words "doctors' quarters." The motion prevailed. The Acting President moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 3, Bureau of Forestry, lines 22 to 25, strike out the words "For the construction of ranger's quarters at Baguio, one thousand eight hundred pesos; for laborers' quarters at Baguio, two thousand two hundred and fifty pesos. In all, for the Bureau of Forestry," and insert in lieu thereof the words "For the construction of rangers' quarters and laborers' quarters at Baguio." The motion prevailed. The Acting President moved to strike out the following section in its entirety, renumbering subsequent sections accordingly: SEC. 2. The road and bridge fund available for expenditure by the provincial board of any province exclusively under the control of the Philippine Commission, shall be expendable for the construction or maintenance of roads, trails, and bridges; but adequate provision shall first be made for the maintenance of existing roads, trails and bridges, and only the amount available after such maintenance has been provided for shall be expended for new construction. The motion prevailed. The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and the bill was unanimously passed and the title read and approved. Ordered, That Commission Bill No. 36 be enrolled and printed as an Act, the enactment of same being within the exclusive general legislative jurisdiction of the Commission over all that part of the Philippine Islands inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes. REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE. [Committe Report No. 28.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice, to which was referred on November 11, 1912, Commission Bill No. 31, entitled “An Act providing certain special proceedings for the settlement and adjudication of land titles," has examined the same, and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That the bill be passed with the following amendment: Section 9, page 7, strike out all after the words "his behalf, and" in line 3, until the words "shall state” in line 13. Strike out section 10 and insert in lieu thereof the following: "SEC. 10. The governor of the province shall, upon the request of the court, detail an officer or employee of the province to assist the defendants in any action brought under this Act in the preparation of their pleadings and evidence, without cost to them: Provided, however, That the court may, in its discretion, detail any of its employees to perform such service, and in case of the failure of the provincial governor to make suitable provision for the assistance of the defendants as above set forth, the court may, with the approval of the Secretary of Finance and Justice, employ for such purpose the necessary personnel, to be paid out of provincial funds. The officer or employee detailed, or the person employed to assist the defendants, shall prepare their answer, which shall be sworn to before such officer, employee or person. No fees shall be charged for the preparation, acknowledgment and filing of the answer, nor shall a documentary stamp be required. The court shall, at some convenient date prior to the expiration of the time for filing the answer, cause such general notice to be issued to all persons interested as may be necessary fully to inform them of the purposes of this section and their rights with respect thereto. The court shall permit private counsel to appear for the defendants or prepare their answer only upon written request signed by said defendants, which shall bear the certificate of the counsel that said defendants have been personally informed by him of their rights to the services of the officer or employee detailed or person employed as herein provided, and that they preferred to employ said private counsel." Strike out section 17 and renumber the succeeding sections accordingly. In section 19, page 12, line 24, after the words "apportioned by the Court," insert the words "the city of Manila to be considered for this purpose both as a province and as a municipality." In the same section 19, page 13, strike out the proviso beginning in line 5 and ending in line 9. Page 13, line 30, strike out the word "further." Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, GREGORIO ARANETA, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report was accepted and the bill ordered on file for second reading. EXECUTIVE SESSION. The Commission then proceeded to the consideration of executive business. After the consideration of executive business, the Commission returned to regular session. (For appointment confirmed in executive session see p. 822.) ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 11 o'clock and 10 minutes antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Branagan, The Commission adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock and 30 minutes antemeridian on Wednesday, November 20, 1912. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. |