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SECOND READING OF BILL.

Commission Bill No. 18. An Act to repeal section three of Act Numbered Eighteen hundred and fifty-five entitled "An Act appropriating the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pesos for the purchase and preparation of land for cattle quarantine stations in the cities of Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo, and making provision for the reimbursement of the Insular Treasury for the said amount with the proceeds of the sale of the Singalong experimental station, Malate, Manila," and directing the Director of Agriculture to take charge of that part of the Singalong experimental station not already sold. Commission Bill No. 18 was read the second time 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 and the bill ordered on file for third reading.

INTRODUCTION OF BILL.

The Acting President introduced the following bill:

Commission Bill No. 19. An Act to provide for the acquisition of Philippine citizenship.

By unanimous consent Commission Bill No. 19 was read the first time by title only and referred to the Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice 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. 819.)

ADJOURNMENT.

Thereupon, at 11 o'clock antemeridian,

On motion by Commissioner Luzuriaga,

The Commission adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock and 30 minutes antemeridian on Saturday, October 26, 1912.

Attest:

GEO. C. SCHWEIKERT, Secretary.

Third Philippine Legislature.

First Session.

JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 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 Friday, October 25, 1912, was read and approved.

THIRD READING OF BILL.

Commission Bill No. 18. An Act to repeal section three of Act Numbered Eighteen hundred and fifty-five entitled "An Act appropriating the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pesos for the purchase and preparation of land for cattle quarantine stations in the cities of Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo, and making provision for the reimbursement of the Insular Treasury for the said amount with the proceeds of the sale of the Singalong experimental station, Malate, Manila," and directing the Director of Agriculture to take charge of that part of the Singalong experimental station not already sold. Commission Bill No. 18 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 approved.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEE.

[Committee Report No. 6.]

MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Public Instruction, to which was referred on October 16, 1912, an excerpt from the message of the Governor-General to

the Third Philippine Legislature headed "Philippine University," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz:

That the request which has been incorporated in the Public Works and Permanent Improvements Bill which will be submitted to the Legislature at its present session, that 250,000 be appropriated for a building to be known as "Rizal Hall," together with #61,000 for permanent improvements at the College of Agriculture at Los Baños, receive the support of the Commission.

Respectfully submitted.

To the Honorable,

NEWTON W. GILBERT,

Committee on Matters Pertaining to the
Department of Public Instruction.

the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The report was accepted and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

[Committee Report No. 7.]

MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Public Instruction, to which was referred on October 24, 1912, a resolution of the Bar Association of the Province of Albay, recommending that the use of Spanish as official language be extended until January 1, 1920, in the courts of justice and in all branches of the Government of the Philippine Islands, has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz:

That this recommendation be not acted upon favorably.

In view of the many times that this matter has been before the Legislature for consideration, it is believed that any extended review of the reasons against the taking of so backward a step as a favorable consideration of this recommendation would be is unnecessary in this report. Your committee has recently reported that Commission Bill No. 5, amending the present law so that the change from Spanish to English may be made without working hardship upon any judge or litigant, should be passed, and attention is invited to that report. Respectfully submitted.

To the Honorable,

NEWTON W. GILBERT,

Committee on Matters Pertaining to the
Department of Public Instruction.

the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The report was adopted.

[Committee Report No. 8.]

MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Public Instruction, to which was referred on October

16, 1912, an excerpt from the message of the Governor-General to the Third Philippine Legislature on October 16, 1912, headed "Official language," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission inviting attention to Commission Bill No. 5, which has to-day been favorably reported by your committee.

Respectfully submitted.

To the Honorable,

NEWTON W. GILBERT,

Committee on Matters Pertaining to the
Department of Public Instruction.

the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The report was accepted.

[Committee Report No. 9.]

MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Public Instruction, to which was referred on October 21, 1912, Commission Bill No. 5, entitled "An Act amending section twelve of Act Numbered One hundred and ninety, entitled 'An Act providing a code of procedure in civil actions and special proceedings in the Philippine Islands,' as amended, by providing for the use of the Spanish language in certain cases after the first day of January, nineteen hundred and thirteen, 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 this bill be passed.

Unless the present law which makes English the exclusive language of the courts after January 1, 1913, is amended it will undoubtedly work considerable hardship on many judges and litigants. The present bill, while adhering to the principle that English shall be the official language in all branches and departments of the Government, is sufficiently broad in its scope to make the change from Spanish into English without in any way embarrassing or interfering with the administration of justice and the prompt dispatch of business.

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Commission Bill No. 5 was thereupon read the second time 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 with the following amendment:

Strike out all beginning with "Sec. 12. Official language'" to the end of the bill and insert in lieu thereof the following:

"SEC. 12. Official language.-The official language of all courts and their records shall be the Spanish language until the first day of January, nineteen hundred and thirteen. After that date English shall be the official language: Provided, That the Supreme Court, any Court of First Instance, or Court of Land Registration, justice of the peace court, municipal court, or any other court which may hereafter be established may in its discretion order the record to be made in the Spanish language; that any party or his counsel may examine or cross-examine witnesses or make an oral argument in Spanish which shall then and there be clearly interpreted into English by a court interpreter whenever the judge shall so require and have the examination, cross-examination, or oral argument, if made in English interpreted in Spanish by such court interpreter, and the party or his counsel may submit any petition, motion, pleading, brief, document, or evidence in Spanish without an accompanying English translation: And provided further, That in cases in which all the parties or counsel so stipulate in writing, the proceedings shall be conducted in Spanish."

The amendment recommended by the Committee of the Whole was adopted and the bill ordered on file for third 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. 819.)

ADJOURNMENT.

Thereupon, at 11 o'clock antemeridian,

On motion by Commissioner Araneta,

The Commission adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock and 30 minutes antemeridian on Monday, October 28, 1912.

Attest:

GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary.

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