"An Act amending Act Numbered Eleven hundred and eighty-nine, known as The Internal Revenue Act and Acts amendatory thereof, by exempting small manufacturers of, and merchants and dealers in tuba, bassi, tapuy, or like domestic beverages from the internalrevenue tax, and for other purposes." MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on December 11, 1911, passed the following Assembly Bill No. 611, in which it requests the concurrence of the Commission: The Irrigation Law. Very respectfully, To the Honorable, RAMÓN DIOKNO, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. By unanimous consent, Assembly Bill No. 611 was read the first time by title only and referred to the Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Commerce and Police for report and recommendation. DECEMBER 11, 1911. MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on December 11, 1911, passed the following Assembly Bill No. 655, in which it requests the concurrence of the Commission: An Act amending Act Numbered Seventeen hundred and ninety of the Philippine Commission, enacted October twelfth, nineteen hundred and seven, entitled "An Act to confirm certain rights and franchises of the Banco Español-Filipino and to amend its statutes," for the purpose of eliminating certain obsolete provisions of Act Numbered Seventeen hundred and ninety and to avoid future confusion in the interpretation of said Act, and also for the purpose of extending the corporate powers of the said Banco Español-Filipino. Very respectfully, To the Honorable, RAMÓN DIOKNO, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. By unanimous consent, Assembly Bill No. 655 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. DECEMBER 14, 1911. MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on December 14, 1911, passed the following resolution (A. J. R. No. 33), in which it requests the concurrence of the Commission: Joint Resolution requiring the committee on the construction of the Capitol created by Act Numbered Eighteen hundred and forty-one, to make its report to the Legislature as soon as possible. Very respectfully, To the Honorable, RAMÓN DIOKNO, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. By unanimous consent, Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 was read the first time by title only and referred to Commissioner Elliott, chairman of the Committee on the Construction of the Capitol, as a select committee for report and recommendation. EXECUTIVE SESSION. The Commission 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 pp. 978, 979.) ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 11 o'clock and 35 minutes antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Gilbert, The Commission adjourned to meet at the call of the President. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. Second Philippine Legislature. Second Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1911. The Commission met at the call of the President at 11 o'clock antemeridian. Present: Commissioners Gilbert, Araneta, Palma, Sumulong, Branagan, Elliott (after roll call), and the President. Absent: Commissioners Worcester (on official business) and Luzuriaga (excused). READING OF JOURNAL. The Journal of Monday, December 18, 1911, was read and approved. COMMUNICATION. The Secretary read the following communication for the information of the Commission: MANILA, December 19, 1911. GENTLEMEN: We are in receipt of the following cablegram from Mr. M. F. Loewenstein: "A powerful French syndicate will organize agricultural bank according to Act of Congress 1907, on condition that American banks will coöperate. Can secure coöperation Boston parties, who insist upon following conditions: That the Government will transfer the business of the present bank, and Legislature will give charter with full power authorized by Congress. Ascertain as soon as possible if it is possible.” In accordance with Mr. Loewenstein's request, we beg to inquire whether the Philippine Government would favor the establishment of an agricultural bank under the conditions proposed and in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Congress of March 4, 1907. We understand, of course, that legislative action will be necessary to carry into effect this or any other plan for the establishment of a private agricultural bank, but apparently it is the desire of the Boston capitalists interested in the matter to ascertain before proceeding further whether a proposal such as that outlined in the above cablegram would be favorably received. We have the honor to remain, Very respectfully, The Honorable GOVERNOR-GENERAL and PHILIPPINE COMMISSION, BRUCE, LAWRENCE, ROSS & BLOCK. Manila. Ordered referred to the Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice for report and recommendation. Commissioner Elliott entered the Session Chamber at this point. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. [Committee Report No. 313.] MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Public Instruction, to which was referred on December 16, 1911, resolution No. 153 of the convention of municipal presidents, Province of Antique, recommending the enactment of the bill providing for the free distribution of text-books to the pupils of the public primary and intermediate schools, has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That this resolution be laid on the table. This resolution merely indorses a law which appears to have been introduced into the Assembly. Until this law has been referred to your committee for study, it has no information upon which to base a report. Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, NEWTON W. GILBERT, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report and the recommendation contained therein were adopted. [Committee Report No. 314.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of the Interior, to which was referred on November 10, 1911, a copy of a proposed Act, entitled "An Act to amend section one hundred and twenty-one, as amended, of Act Numbered Eleven hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "The Internal Revenue Law of Nineteen Hundred and Four,' by providing that residents of provinces organized under Act Numbered Thirteen hundred and ninetysix, entitled 'The Special Provincial Government Act,' shall pay a cedula tax of two pesos, repealing subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section nineteen of Act Numbered Thirteen hundred and ninety-six, and for other purposes," has examined the same, has read the letter of the Collector of Internal Revenue written under date of August 22, 1911, transmitting said draft and recommending its passage, and has the honor to recommend that it be laid on the table. Your committee has already reported on Assembly Bill No. 577, covering substantially this same matter. Your committee has already reported its reasons for believing the public improvement tax to be of vital importance to the special government provinces and has recorded the reasons for opposing the substitution of this tax by the double cedula tax. Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, DEAN C. WORCESTER, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report and the recommendation contained therein were adopted. 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. 979.) ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 11 o'clock and 20 minutes antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Branagan, The Commission adjourned to meet at the call of the President. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. |