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. 975.) ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 11 o'clock antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Worcester, The Commission adjourned to meet at the call of the Chair. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. Second Philippine Legislature. Second Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1911. The Commission met at the call of the Chair at 11 o'clock antemeridian. Present: Commissioners Gilbert, Worcester, Luzuriaga, Araneta, Palma, Sumulong, Branagan, and Elliott. Absent: The President. Commissioner Gilbert in the chair. READING OF JOURNAL. The Journal of Thursday, December 7, 1911, was read and approved. REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. CONFERENCE REPORT NO. 26. The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Commission to Assembly Bill No. 795, entitled "An Act to fix the amount of the gold-standard fund, created under Act Numbered Nine hundred and thirty-eight, authorizing the deposit of the excess of the amount so fixed to the credit of the general fund of the Treasury, and authorizing the investment of a portion of the said gold-standard fund," having met, after full and free conference have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows: That the Assembly recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Commission to section 1. That the Commission substitute for its amendment to sections 3, 4, and 5, the following: "SEC. 3. Of the gold-standard fund, as fixed in section one of this Act, not to exceed fifty per centum may, with the prior approval of the Governor-General, be invested by the Insular Treasurer, all other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, in loans for periods not exceeding ten years to provinces and municipalities to aid in the construction of public works, particularly those of a revenue-producing character, at three per centum interest per annum: Provided, however, That one-half of such fifty per centum may also, with the prior approval of the Governor-General, be invested temporarily by the Insular Treasurer in loans on approved security to the Manila Railroad Company to complete sections of railroad, on the LucenaPagbilao, Ragay north and south, Legaspi-Tabaco, and LegaspiNueva Caceres lines, of not less than twenty continuous miles, as provided in section four of the Act of Congress approved February sixth, nineteen hundred and five, entitled 'An Act to amend an Act approved July first, nineteen hundred and two, entitled "An Act temporarily to provide for the administration of the affairs of civil government in the Philippine Islands, and for other purposes," and to amend an Act approved March eighth, nineteen hundred and two, entitled "An Act temporarily to provide revenue for the Philippine Islands, and for other purposes," and to amend an Act approved March second, nineteen hundred and three, entitled "An Act to establish a standard of value and to provide for a coinage system in the Philippine Islands," and to provide for the more efficient administration of civil government in the Philippine Islands, and for other purposes.' The interest on such loans shall be five per centum per annum, and the time for the total payment thereof shall not exceed six months from the date of issue of the bonds of the corresponding twenty-mile section, and in no case shall exceed thirty months from the date of the loan. "SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the Insular Treasurer at the opening of each regular session of the Legislature to submit to the Governor-General a report containing a detailed account of all transactions during the preceding year under the provisions of this Act. Upon approval by the Governor-General he shall transmit a copy of the same to each House of the Philippine Legislature.” And that as so amended the Assembly concur therein. That section 6 be renumbered section 5. NEWTON W. GILBERT, GREGORIO ARANETA, C. B. ELLIOTT, Managers on the Part of the Commission. J. FUENTEBELLA, V. SINGSON ENCARNACION, Managers on the Part of the Assembly. On motion by Commissioner Worcester, it was Resolved, That the Commission agree to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Commission to Assembly Bill Numbered Seven hundred and ninety-five, entitled "An Act to fix the amount of the gold-standard fund, created under Act Number Nine hundred and thirty-eight, authorizing the deposit of the excess of the amount so fixed to the credit of the general fund of the Treasury, and authorizing the investment of a portion of the said gold-standard fund." Ordered, That the Secretary notify the Assembly thereof. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. [Committee Report No. 308.] MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Municipal and Provincial Governments, to which was referred on the first of December, 1911, the bill (A. B. No. 809) providing for the repeal of Act No. 1625, with respect to the municipality of San Juan del Monte, Rizal, and extending the provisions of the Municipal Code and amendments thereto to said municipality, has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: The purpose of this bill is not very clear. It proposes the repeal of the provisions of Act No. 1625, in as far as they relate to the municipality of San Juan del Monte, Rizal, and at the same time to provide for the extension to said municipality of the provisions of the Municipal Code and amendments thereto, and that is proposing two things that are incompatible. Act No. 1625 provides for the reorganization of the pueblo of San Juan del Monte as a separate municipality by making it independent of the municipality of San Felipe Neri; and the repeal of the provisions of the said Act with respect to the municipality of San Juan del Monte would result in making the said separation ineffective and in the reincorporation of San Juan del Monte with the municipality of San Felipe Neri. That being so, when San Juan del Monte shall again have been consolidated with San Felipe Neri, the provision of the bill regarding the extension of the provisions of the Municipal Code and its amendments to the municipality of San Juan del Monte would be of no use as by that time San Juan del Monte will have ceased to exist as an independent municipality. It follows, therefore, that the only point of the bill left to be considered is that relating to the reconsolidation of San Juan del Monte with San Felipe Neri, and as the determination of all such questions is left to the Governor-General by virtue of Act No. 1748, 110355-14 1 there is no necessity for legislative action in this case. Therefore, it is recommended that the bill be laid on the table. Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, JOSE R. DE LUZURIAGA, Chairman, Committee on Municipal and Provincial Governments. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report and the recommendation contained therein were adopted. [Committee Report No. 309.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Taxation and Revenue, to which was referred on December 6, 1911, a copy of resolution No. 47 of the convention of municipal presidents of Pangasinan Province, adopted November 11, 1911, petitioning for the enactment by the Philippine Commission of Assembly Bill No. 361, first session, Second Philippine Legislature, entitled "An Act to repeal Act Numbered Six hundred and eighty and reënact section three of Act Numbered Six hundred and fifty-five, to extend the time for the redemption of land and improvements forfeited for delinquency in the payment of the land tax, and to authorize the provincial boards to suspend the collection of said tax or remit it in any municipality or municipalities of their respective provinces, under certain conditions, and for other purposes," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the recommendation that it be laid on the table. The bill referred to passed the Philippine Assembly at the first session of the Second Philippine Legislature, and when received by the Commission was laid on the table upon the recommendation of your committee. Your committee sees no reason for now taking the bill from the table, and recommends that the petition be tabled, for the reasons stated in your committee's report on the bill, to which reference is hereby made. (Report No. 209, 4 Journal, 688.) Respectfully submitted. FRANK A. BRANAGAN, GREGORIO ARANETA, NEWTON W. GILBERT, RAFAEL PALMA, Committee on Taxation and Revenue. To the Honorable, the PRESIDENT of the Philippine CoMMISSION. The report and the recommendation contained therein were adopted. |