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REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

[Committee Report No. 271.]

MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Taxation and Revenue, to which was referred on November 7, 1911, Assembly Bill No. 668, entitled "An Act providing that the annual tax on the assessed value of the real estate of the city of Manila for the year nineteen hundred and twelve shall be one per centum thereof," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the recommendation that it be amended by inserting in line 3, after the word "one" and before the word "per" the words "and one-half," and by striking out the words "onehalf of" in line 7, after the word "that" and before the word "one," and when thus amended the bill is recommended for passage.

The city officials have extensive important public works in hand which were undertaken in anticipation of a 1 per centum levy and they will suffer greatly by abandonment or curtailment unless the bill is amended as recommended. If amended as suggested, the bill will read the same as Acts Nos. 1950, 1978, and 2013, for the years of 1909, 1910, and 1911, respectively. Respectfully submitted.

To the Honorable,

FRANK A. BRANAGAN,
GREGORIO ARANETA,

NEWTON W. GILBERT,

RAFAEL PALMA,

Committee on Taxation and Revenue.

the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The report was received.

Assembly Bill No. 668 was read the second time and, together with the report of the Committee on Taxation and Revenue, was referred to the Committee of the Whole.

It was considered in committee and reported back to the Commission with the recommendation that the amendments made by the committee be concurred in, and that as so amended the bill pass.

Commissioner Araneta entered the Session Chamber during the consideration of the bill.

The report and recommendation of the Committee of the Whole were adopted.

On motion by Commissioner Branagan, 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.

Commissioner Branagan moved the following amend

ment:

Strike out the following section:

"SEC. 2. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the same shall take effect on its passage, in accordance with section one of Act Numbered Nineteen hundred and forty-five of the Philippine Legislature."

The motion prevailed.

The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and Assembly Bill No. 668 was passed.

Commissioner Branagan moved to amend the title by striking out the words "one per centum" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "one and one-half per centum."

The motion prevailed, and the title as amended was read and approved.

Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the Assembly in the amendments of the Commission.

[Committee Report No. 272.]

MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of the Interior, to which was referred on October 20, 1911, Assembly Bill No. 586, entitled "An Act establishing a sugartesting laboratory in the city of Manila and fixing the powers and duties of the sugar chemist in charge thereof," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz:

That the bill do not pass.

The samples of sugar analyzed at Manila and at Iloilo, respectively, since January, 1911, are tabulated below:

[subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

It will be seen that during the height of the season in May and June, Iloilo polarized approximately five times as many sugars as Manila in its highest month. However, Manila polarizations for sugar exported from this port, are coming into favor, as is apparent from the rise in the last two months-yet much of this sugar represents one firm only.

It was necessary to establish a sugar-testing laboratory in Iloilo because no facilities were on hand in that important center. It is not necessary to establish a sugar-testing laboratory in Manila because such a laboratory already exists in the Bureau of Science which has on hand the facilities for sugar analysis. The Bureau of Science, should the polarization requests continue to increase as they have in September and October, would need to purchase an additional polariscope and some apparatus, and it would be advisable, if this increase continues, to add the sum of $1,200, the minimum provided for in the inclosed Act, to the salary of a chemist in the Bureau who now receives #2,800, so as to make this position one of 4,000 and enable the Bureau of Science to retain a first-class man to devote as much as is necessary of his time to the sugar business.

It is believed that the sugar laboratory in Iloilo should be developed and encouraged, because it is situated in a central location where other necessary work, such as soil analysis, cane analysis, etc., for the planters, can be undertaken advantageously and without the loss of time incident to sending samples to Manila. Sugar-cane · samples could not be sent to Manila because of changes in their composition. The Iloilo laboratory also can assist sugar planters in their mills by teaching them improved methods so as to obtain first-grade white sugar where they now obtain third-grade, and in other ways to assume the functions of a sugar laboratory such as exist in Hawaii, Java, and other places. To this end an addition of $15,000 to the appropriation of the Bureau of Science has been requested, and the Director of the Bureau believes that this sum to assist in developing the sugar industry is a very conservative The additions to the staff of the Bureau of Science in Manila, except the 1,200 mentioned above, have been taken care of in the appropriation request of the Bureau of Science.

one.

Sugar in the Philippine Islands should be bought and sold on polarization. Its purchase and sale and its arbitrary classification into "Number 1," "Number 2," and "Number 3," may be of some interest to the planter and merchant, but it cannot fix the price to be paid nor fix their acceptance of the grades. On the other hand a belief is growing among dealers that they should have Government polarization for their sugars. This is shown by the table given above. More slowly this feeling is growing among the planters. Eventually when all recognize that buying and selling on polarization is the proper way, the grading will fix itself, more especially when

"centrals" are adopted. Meanwhile the arbitrary fixing of the grades of sugar by the Bureau of Science will not affect the price the merchant is willing to pay or the grading which he will accept, nor will it enable the planter to force a grading on the buyer which the latter is not willing to accept. This can only come about when they are mutually willing to appeal to the Bureau of Science for polarizations and mutually agree to accept the polarization as fixing the price.

Respectfully submitted.

To the Honorable,

DEAN C. WORCESTER,

Committee on Matters Pertaining to
the Department of the Interior.

the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

On motion by Commissioner Gilbert,

Consideration of the report was postponed.

[Committee Report No. 273.]

MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Affairs Pertaining to the Moro Province, to which was referred Moro council Act No. 264, entitled "An act relating to contracts of personal service and advances thereunder; declaring certain offenses connected therewith misdemeanors, and prescribing punishment therefor," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the recommendation that it be amended by inserting in line 7 of section 3, after the words "agreed upon" and before the words "shall be," the words "or repay the money thus fraudulently procured to be advanced," and when so amended that the act be approved by the Commission.

Some members of your committee doubt the constitutionality of this measure, but recommend that it be approved as it is otherwise in proper form and the passage thereof deemed advisable and within the legislative authority of the Moro legislative council. Respecfully submitted.

FRANK A. BRANAGAN,
RAFAEL PALMA,

C. B. ELLIOTT,

Committee on Affairs Pertaining to the Moro Province.

To the Honorable,

the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

The report was adopted and it was

Resolved, That under and by virtue of the provisions of the Act of Congress of July first, nineteen hundred and two, and in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-two

of Act of the Philippine Commission Numbered Seven hundred and eighty-seven, Act Numbered Two hundred and sixty-four of the legislative council of the Moro Province, passed April twentieth, nineteen hundred and eleven, entitled "An act relating to contracts of personal service and advances thereunder; declaring certain offenses connected therewith misdemeanors, and prescribing punishment therefor,” be, and the same hereby is, approved with the following amendment:

Section 3, line 7, insert after the words "agreed upon" and before the words "shall be," the words "or repay the money thus fraudulently procured to be advanced."

(NOTE.—This action also disposes of A. L. C. No. 256 which is repealed by Act No. 264.)

COMMUNICATION.

The Secretary then read a telegram from the provincial governor of Pangasinan dated November 9, 1911, conveying to the Commission the greetings of the convention of the municipal presidents of that province opened on that date.

Ordered acknowledged and filed.

EXECUTIVE SESSION.

The Commission 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. 972.)

ADJOURNMENT.

Thereupon, at 11 o'clock and 18 minutes antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Branagan,

The Commission adjourned to meet at the call of the Chair.

Attest:

GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary.

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