REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE. [Committee Report No. 245.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your select committee of two, to which was referred on October 17, 1911, Assembly Joint Resolution No. 14, entitled "Joint Resolution requesting the Congress of the United States, through the Resident Commissioners, for the enactment of a law to amend section thirteen of an Act of Congress passed August fifth, nineteen hundred and nine, so as to lower the export duty on abacá to five cents for each one hundred kilos gross weight," has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That the resolution be referred to the Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice, as it is a matter affecting the revenue. Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, NEWTON W. GILBERT, Committee. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report was adopted. EXECUTIVE SESSION. The Commission then proceeded to the consideration of executive business. After the consideration of executive business the Commission returned to regular session. ADJOURNMENT. Thereupon, at 11 o'clock and 15 minutes antemeridian, On motion by Commissioner Elliott, The Commission adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock and 30 minutes antemeridian on Tuesday, October 24, 1911. Attest: GEO. C. SCHWEICKERT, Secretary. Second Philippine Legislature. Second Session. JOURNAL OF THE COMMISSION. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1911. The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Commissioners Gilbert, Luzuriaga, Araneta, Palma, Sumulong, Branagan, and Elliott. Absent: The President, and Commissioner Worcester (on official business). Commissioner Gilbert in the chair. READING OF JOURNAL. The Journal of Monday, October 23, 1911, was read and approved. MESSAGE FROM THE ASSEMBLY. OCTOBER 24, 1911. MR. PRESIDENT: I have been directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on October 21, 1911, passed the following bill (A. B. No. 613), in which it requests the concurrence of the Commission: An Act establishing the office of provincial engineer, amending the Provincial Government Act and amendments thereto. Very respectfully, RAMÓN DIOKNO, Secretary, Philippine Assembly. To the Honorable, the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. By unanimous consent, Assembly Bill No. 613 was read the first time by title only and referred to the Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Commerce and Police. THIRD READING OF BILLS. Commission Bill No. 110. An Act defining habitual criminals and providing additional punishment for the same. By unanimous consent, Commission Bill No. 110 was read the third time by title only. Commissioner Elliott moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 1, line 10, after the word "punishment" insert the word "therefor." The motion prevailed. Commissioner Palma moved the following amendment: Strike out the word "additional" wherever it occurs before the word "punishment." The motion prevailed. Commissioner Elliott moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 1, line 11, after the word "punishment" insert the words "for the offense of being an habitual criminal.” The motion prevailed. Commissioner Araneta moved the following amendment: Section 1, page 1, line 16, strike out the word "petition" and insert in lieu thereof the word "complaint." The motion prevailed. Commissioner Elliott moved the following amendments: Strike out the words "No appeal will lie from the decision of the Court imposing such additional punishment" in section 1, appearing in line 17 of page 1, and line 1 of page 2. Section 4, page 2, line 22, strike out the words "for the purposes of this section;" and amend section 5 to read as follows: SEC. 5. The court in imposing the punishment provided by this Act shall take into consideration the number of previous convictions, the nature of the offenses committed and the length of the terms of imprisonment to which he was sentenced." The motion prevailed. The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and Commission Bill No. 110 was unanimously passed. Commissioner Elliott moved to amend the title to read as follows: An Act creating the crime of habitual criminality and providing punishment for the same. The motion prevailed, and the title as amended was read and approved. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the Assembly in the bill as passed. Commission Bill No. 113. An Act amending articles fifty-six, fifty-seven, one hundred and six, two hundred and fifty, two hundred and fifty-two, three hundred, three hundred and one, three hundred and three, and three hundred and sixteen of the Penal Code, by making certain changes in the penalties. By unanimous consent, Commission Bill No. 113 was read the third time by title only. The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and the bill was unanimously passed, and the title read and approved. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the Assembly in the bill as passed. Commission Bill No. 114. An Act authorizing the Secretary of Commerce and Police with the approval of the Governor-General to contract with any railroad company in the Philippine Islands for the construction and maintenance of joint railroad and highway bridges on its lines of railroad, appropriating the sum of five hundred thousand pesos to pay the Government's proportion of the cost of construction and maintenance of the bridges so contracted for, and providing for the apportionment by the Governor-General of the expense of maintenance of such bridges between the provinces and municipalities concerned. By unanimous consent, Commission Bill No. 114 was read the third time by title only, and after some consideration, further consideration was postponed until the next meeting of the Commission. REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE. [Committee Report No. 246.] MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice, to which was referred on October 16, 1911, that portion of the message of the Governor-General 110355-4 to the Legislature recommending the enactment of a law prohibiting slavery or involuntary servitude, has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That the accompanying bill be passed. To the Honorable, GREGORIO ARANETA, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report was adopted, and the following bill accompanying the same was taken up and considered: Commission Bill No. 115. An Act prohibiting slavery, involuntary servitude, peonage, and the sale or purchase of human beings in the Philippine Islands, and providing punishment therefor. Commission Bill No. 115 was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee of the Whole. It was considered in committee and reported to the Commission with the recommendation that it pass. The report and recommendation of the Committee of the Whole were adopted, and the bill ordered on file for third reading. REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE. [Committee Report No. 247.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your select committee of two, to which was referred on October 16, 1911, that portion of the Governor-General's message to the Legislature recommending the passage of an Act providing for the distribution between the Insular, provincial, and municipal governments of the percentage of gross earnings paid by public-service corporations in lieu of taxes, has examined the same and has the honor to report it back to the Commission with the following recommendation, viz: That the accompanying bill be passed. GREGORIO ARANETA, To the Honorable, the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. Committee. |