The following table shows the effect of the use of polished rice at the Culion Leper Colony: When beriberi had been practically eliminated at Culion through the use of unpolished rice, it became necessary in November, 1911, to resume the use of polished rice. The disease reappeared. In February, 1912, it was possible to resume the use of unpolished rice, whereupon beriberi promptly disappeared. The following table shows the prevalence of beriberi in the prison at Poulo-Condore in French Indo-China prior to and subsequent to the discontinuance of the use of polished rice: The disease promptly disappeared completely when the unpolished article was used exclusively and it is reliably stated that there have been no deaths from this cause since. The conclusion that the occurrence of beriberi is intimately associated with the consumption of too great an amount of polished rice has been referred to in the committee report as my opinion. I desire to call attention to the fact that others, whose opinion should carry much more weight than mine, long since reached the same con clusion. I quote the following resolution passed at the last meeting of the Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine: That the accuracy of the opinion of this association, recorded in 1910, has received further and more complete confirmation by investigators in Japan, China, French Indo-China, the Philippine Islands, Siam, Netherlands-India, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States, namely, that "beriberi is associated with the continuous consumption of white (polished) rice as the staple article of diet.” It is therefore again desired to bring this opinion to the notice of the various governments concerned and to recommend international action. Also to the following resolution passed by the Philippine Islands Medical Association, held in November, 1912: Resolved, That in the opinion of this association, sufficient evidence has been produced in support of the view that beriberi is associated with the continuous consumption of decorticated rice as a staple article of diet; that this association strongly recommends to the Philippine Legislature the passage of suitable legislation which will have for its object the bringing about of the general use of unpolished rice among those who use it as a staple article of diet. The close relationship between the use of polished rice and the prevalence of the dreadful disease known as beriberi has been conclusively established. The usual procedure is to prohibit the use of food stuffs known to be dangerous. Such a measure in connection with the use of polished rice would doubtless be extreme at this time but its use should be penalized. Sooner or later this is certain to be done in all civilized countries where rice forms an important part of the diet of the people. The question before the Philippine Commission is whether it will now do what it can toward having this country march in the van in this campaign or will, through failure to take the initiative, allow it to lag in the rear. In my opinion the effect of the proposed legislation would be that the majority of the inhabitants of these Islands would promptly accustom themselves to the use of a safe rice and that only a comparatively limited number of wellto-do people with whom rice is a comparatively unimportant article of diet, and who would therefore not be seriously harmed by eating polished rice, would continue to pay its increased cost, which they could well afford to do. I do not think that the interest of the many should in a matter like this be sacrificed to the convenience of the few. After some further discussion, Commissioner Araneta moved that the report of the standing committee be adopted. The motion prevailed, Commissioners Worcester, Branagan, and the President voting in the negative. ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 1 o'clock and 15 minutes postmeridian, The Commission adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock antemeridian on Monday, February 3, 1913. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. Third Philippine Legislature. First Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1913. The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Commissioners Gilbert, Worcester, Luzuriaga, Araneta, Palma, Sumulong, Branagan, and the President (after roll call). Commissioner Gilbert in the chair. READING OF JOURNAL. The Journal for Saturday, February 1, 1913, was read and approved. MESSAGE FROM THE ASSEMBLY. JANUARY 30, 1913. MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on January 30, 1913, laid on the table the following Commission Bill No. 23, entitled: An Act to amend Act Numbered Eleven hundred and eighty-nine, known as "The Internal Revenue Law of Nineteen hundred and four," so as to require every person engaged in any business, trade, or occupation, subject by the provisions of said Act to a license or occupation tax, to register with the provincial treasurer or the Collector of Internal Revenue on the date on which he engages in such business, trade or occupation, his name, residence, name of business, trade, or occupation, and place where same is to be carried on; and to require all merchants, manufacturers, and common carriers, subject to any of the taxes imposed by Article XVI of said Act, with certain exceptions, to keep in the English or Spanish language certain records of their transactions, and for other purposes. Very respectfully, To the Honorable, TEODORO M. Kalaw, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. Ordered filed. THIRD READING OF BILL. Commission Bill No. 77. An Act to amend paragraph eight of section one hundred and forty-four of Act Numbered Eleven hundred and eighty-nine, known as the Internal Revenue Law of Nineteen hundred and four, so as to prohibit the issue of internal revenue licenses to practice medicine, surgery, and dentistry to persons not duly authorized by law, and for other purposes. Commission Bill No. 77 was read the third time. The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and the bill was unanimously passed and the title read and appproved. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. [Committee Report No. 138.] MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Public Instruction, to which was referred on January 29, 1913, Assembly Bill No. 199, entitled "An Act appropriating the sum of fifty thousand pesos, out of any funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the construction of a schoolhouse to be denominated 'Jose Rizal's School Building,' in the municipality of Calamba, Laguna," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That this bill be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. To the Honorable, NEWTON W. GILBERT, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report was adopted. [Committee Report No. 139.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of the Interior, to which was referred on January 29, 1913, Assembly Bill No. 87, entitled “An Act amending in part Act Numbered Eleven hundred and twenty, relative to the administration, temporary leasing and sale of certain haciendas and parcels of land commonly known as 'Friar Lands,' by providing for the manner of administration, maintenance, and improvement of the irrigation systems appurtenant to said lands, and for other purposes," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That the bill be laid on the table. If passed, it would completely reorganize the present system of administering friar lands; would largely turn over their administra : |