Third Philippine Legislature. First Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 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 Thursday, November 21, 1912, was read and approved. MESSAGES FROM THE ASSEMBLY. NOVEMBER 19, 1912. MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on November 19, 1912, passed the following Assembly Bill No. 10, in which it requests the concurrence of the Commission: An Act appropriating the sum of two hundred thousand pesos for the construction of a custom-house and the installation of an arrastre plant in the Port of Iloilo. Very respectfully, To the Honorable, TEODORO M. KALAW, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. By unanimous consent, Assembly Bill No. 10 was read the first time by title only and referred to the Committee on Appropriations for report and recommendation. NOVEMBER 19, 1912. MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on November 19, 1912, passed the following Assembly Bill No. 156, in which it requests the concurrence of the Commission: An Act appropriating the sum of fifty thousand pesos, Philippine currency, out of any funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the extermination of locusts in accordance with the provisions of Act Numbered Twenty-one hundred and twenty one. Very respectfully, To the Honorable, TEODORO M. KALAW, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. Assembly Bill No. 156 was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee of the Whole. It was considered in committee and reported back to the Commission with the recommendation that it pass. The report and recommendation of the Committee of the Whole were accepted. On motion by the Acting President, unanimously carried, The bill was considered urgent under the provisions of Rule XIV, Rules of the Commission, and read the third time by title only. The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and the bill was unanimously passed, and the title read and approved. SECOND READING OF BILL. Commission Bill No. 28, entitled "An Act amending Act Numbered Nine hundred and twenty-six, entitled "The Public Land Act,' by providing that persons, associations, and corporations may acquire by purchase certain public lands not exceeding sixteen hectares in extent for purposes of trade, manufacture, or other productive industry, and that provinces, municipalities, or other municipal corporations may acquire by purchase certain public lands for cemetery or park purposes not exceeding sixteen hectares in extent, and for other purposes," appearing on the calendar for second reading on this date, was passed on file. REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE. [Committee Report No. 30.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice, to which was referred on October 16, 1912, an excerpt from the message of the Governor-General to the Third Philippine Legislature recommending the passage of a law to relieve provincial governors from acting as sheriff, has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That the accompanying bill be passed. Following the recommendation of the Governor-General, this bill relieves provincial governors from their duties as sheriff and confers such duties upon the clerks of court and such deputy sheriffs as may be necessary. In drawing up this bill your committee has kept in mind the successful experience in the Court of First Instance of Manila, where the clerk has been given the additional duties of sheriff. Undoubtedly deputy sheriffs will be needed, It being difficult at this time to fix the number of deputy sheriffs and their salaries, the Attorney-General is authorized to appoint, with the approval of the Secretary of Finance and Justice, as many deputy sheriffs as may be necessary, at a salary of not less than three hundred and sixty nor more than twelve hundred pesos per annum. To meet this expense, the bill provides that sheriffs' fees shall be paid into the Insular Treasury and credited to the appropriation for the Judiciary. In order to compensate the clerks of court for their additional responsibilities until such time as a salary is provided for the combined positions of clerk of court and sheriff, it is also provided that the Attorney-General, with the approval of the Secretary of Finance and Justice, may pay the clerks of court who act as sheriff an additional compensation not exceeding twenty-five per cent of their respective salaries as clerk of court. Act No. 1739, which created the fidelity bond premium fund, provides in section 15 that the provisions of said Act shall not be applicable to sheriffs of provinces. In practice it has been found difficult for sheriffs to give bond. To obviate this difficulty it is provided in this bill that the provisions of Act No. 1739 shall be applicable to deputy sheriffs. The Auditor and the Insular Treasurer have been consulted in regard to this provision, and they see no objection to it. 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 following bill accompanying the same was taken up and considered: Commission Bill No. 38. An Act providing that clerks of the Courts of First Instance in the provinces shall perform the duties of sheriff; providing for sheriffs' bonds, and for the disposition of sheriffs' fees in the provinces; amending accordingly certain sections of Acts Numbered One hundred and thirty-six, One hundred and fifty-two, Four hundred and ninety-six and Seventeen hundred and thirty-nine, and repealing all contrary provisions. By unanimous consent Commission Bill No. 38 was read the first time by title and referred to a Select Committee consisting of Commissioners Paima and Sumulong for report and recommendation. 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 appointments confirmed in executive session see p. 822.) ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 11 o'clock and 10 minutes antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Worcester, The Commission adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock and 30 minutes antemeridian on Saturday, November 23, 1912. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. Third Philippine Legislature. First Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1912. The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Commissioners Worcester, Luzuriaga, Araneta, Palma, Sumulong and Branagan. Absent: The President (on leave), the Acting President (on official business), and Commissioner Elliott (on leave). Commissioner Worcester in the chair. READING OF JOURNAL. The Journal for Friday, November 22, 1912, was read and approved. SECOND READING OF BILL. Commission Bill No. 28, entitled "An Act amending Act Numbered Nine hundred and twenty-six, entitled "The Public Land Act,' by providing that persons, associations and corporations may acquire by purchase certain public lands not exceeding sixteen hectares in extent for purposes of trade, manufacture, or other productive industry, and that provinces, municipalities or other municipal corporations may acquire by purchase certain public lands for cemetery or park purposes not exceeding sixteen hectares in extent, and for other purposes," appearing on the calendar for second reading on this date, was passed on file. REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE. [Committee Report No. 31.] MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of the Interior, to which was referred on October 16, 1912, an excerpt from the message of the Governor-General to the |