the word appropriated: "to be available at the beginning of the fiscal year nineteen hundred and thirteen, and," and when so amended the bill be passed. Very respectfully, NEWTON W. GILBERT, To the Honorable, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. Commissioner Branagan entered the Session Chamber during the reading of the report. The report was adopted. By unanimous consent, Assembly Bill No. 620 was then read the second time by title only 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: Section 1, page 1, line 6, strike out the word "Doctor" and on page 2, line 12, insert the word "José" before the word "Rizal.” Strike out section 2 in its entirety. 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. The question then being upon its passage, the roll was called and Assembly Bill No. 620 was unanimously passed. Commissioner Elliott moved to amend the title by striking out the word "Doctor." The motion prevailed, and the title as amended was read and approved. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the Assembly in the amendment of the Commission. REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE. [Committee Report No. 258.] MR. PRESIDENT: Your select committee of one, to which was referred on October 30, 1911, Assembly Bill No. 648, entitled "An Act establishing and defining the legal rate of interest, and declaring the effect of usury upon contracts, 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 the bill pass with the following amendment: Insert between the present sections 4 and 5 the following new section: "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as in any way affecting any contract heretofore or hereafter made, whereby one of the parties thereto has advanced, or may advance money to be used in.business or other ventures, mutually determined upon, and whereby the other party thereto, the one receiving such money, has refunded, or agrees to refund the same, with interest thereon as stipulated (provided such interest does not exceed a lawful rate) and in addition thereto has shared, or agrees to share equally or otherwise, with the party so advancing the money, the profits, if any there were or may be, of the business or other ventures carried on, or undertaken in whole or in part with such money." Insert between the present sections 5 and 6 the following new section: "None of the provisions of this Act shall apply to the business of building and loan associations or to the business of duly licensed pawnbrokers." Renumber sections accordingly. Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, C. B. ELLIOTT, Committee. the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report was adopted, and the bill ordered on file for second reading. [Committee Report No. 259.] MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Matters Pertaining to the Department of Finance and Justice, to which was referred on October 23, 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 report on this resolution, copy of which is attached, rendered by your committee during the first session of the present Legislature and laid on the table pending further study of the hemp situation, be taken up and considered. Respectfully submitted. To the Honorable, GREGORIO ARANETA, Committee on Matters Pertaining to the the PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The report was adopted, and consideration of Committee Report No. 149 referred to therein postponed. REPORT OF JOINT COMMITTEE. MANILA, October 14, 1911. MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit the following report, covering the work performed by the Joint Committee from March eleventh of the present year, the date of its organization, to the 14th of this month, the date on which the Committee held its last session. The following matters were acted upon by the committee during the period mentioned: TYPHOONS. Indorsement by Special Agent Shearer, transmitting a resolution of the municipal council of Llorente, Samar, petitioning the GovernorGeneral to furnish to said municipality, in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 495, one thousand sacks of rice, for the reason that the inhabitants lack food as a consequence of the typhoon that occurred there on October 31, 1910. Denied by the committee. Resolution of the provincial board of Rizal, transmitting a resolution of the municipal council of Navotas, of July 25, 1911, petitioning for relief in the sum of 3,000 for the sufferers from the last typhoon. The committee resolved to lay it on the table. CHOLERA. Communication from Delegate Brimbuela, requesting relief in the sum of 300 for the maintenance of the persons under quarantine on Catanduanes Island, on account of the cholera prevailing there. The committee resolved to lay it on the table. ERUPTION. Communication from Delegate Tirona, forwarding, with recommendation of favorable consideration, resolution No. 21 of the municipal council of Alfonso, Cavite, requesting relief for the sufferers from the eruption of Taal Volcano. The committee resolved to forward the papers to Colonel Rivers, chairman of the relief committee created for this purpose. FAMINE. Resolution of the provincial board of Capiz, forwarding resolutions Nos. 31 and 34 of the municipal council of Jamindan, requesting relief in the sum of 500 to stay the famine suffered by many of the inhabitants as a consequence of the destruction caused by the last typhoon which visited that municipality. The committee resolved to lay this petition on the table. Indorsement by the provincial governor of Cebu, forwarding resolution No. 46 of the municipal council of Pilar, Cebu, recommending the petition for relief of the tenientes de barrio, to alleviate the critical situation of the barrios which lack means of subsistence. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Resolution of the provincial board of Misamis, forwarding, with favorable recommendation, a resolution of the municipal council of Mambajao, in said province, requesting 500 sacks of rice, in the nature of relief, for distribution to the poor of said municipality, in view of the excessively high price of that staple. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Communication from the municipal secretary of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, forwarding a resolution of the municipal council of said municipality to the committee, through the Honorable Isauro Gabaldon, asking for relief in the shape of 500 cavans of rice, to be distributed, in exchange for labor on public works, among the poor who are threatened by famine, in view of the loss of over 25 per cent of the last rice crop, through lack of water. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Resolution of the municipal council of Pulilan, Bulacan, asking the Joint Committee for a sufficient sum to import rice, for sale at cost, until the first days of the next crop, to the provinces and municipalities. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Resolution of the municipal council of Bulan, Sorsogon, petitioning that certain municipalities of said province be furnished with rice, on account of the excessively high price of that staple. The committee resolved to refer this matter to the Rice Committee. FIRE. Resolution of the Joint Committee, allotting 2,000 to each of the districts of Tondo and Pandacan, for distribution, as relief, to the sufferers from the recent fires in said districts, in the discretion of the Municipal Board. Communication from Delegate Ilagan, forwarding, with favorable recommendation, resolution No. 70 of the provincial board of Tarlac, requesting the sum of P6,000 which, together with the sum appropriated for this purpose by the said board, is to be expended for the purchase of rice, bamboo, and nipa, to be distributed among the poor who suffered from the fire that occurred in said province on January 29, 1911. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Communication from the provincial board of Iloilo, forwarding, without recommendation, resolution No. 14 of the convention of municipal presidents of said province, requesting a sufficient sum for the relief of the sufferers from the fire that occurred on December 17, 1910, in the municipality of San Joaquin, Iloilo. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Communication from Delegate Apacible, forwarding, with favorable recommendation, a resolution of the municipal council of Balayan, Batangas, requesting the sum of 2,000 as relief, for the sufferers from the fire that occurred in the barrio of Canlurangbayan, of said province on April 2, 1911. The committee resolved to grant ₹300. Verbal petition of Delegate Gabaldon, asking for relief for the sufferers from the recent fire in the municipality of Licab, Nueva Ecija. The committee resolved to grant ₹300. Resolution of the municipal council of Olongapo, Zambales, forwarded by the provincial board of said province, asking for the sum of 1,000 as relief for the sufferers from the fire which occurred in said municipality on March fifth of the present year. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. Telegram from the provincial governor of Isabela, requesting the sum of $3,000 for the relief of the sufferers from the recent fire in the municipality of Ilagan, of said province. The committee resolved to deny this petition. Resolution of the municipal council of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, asking for relief for the eighteen families who suffered from the fire which occurred in the barrio of Aggay, of said municipality, on May 2, 1911. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. INUNDATION. Communication from Special Agent Shearer, transmitting a telegram from the provincial treasurer of Bulacan, stating that the provincial board of said province requests authority to expend the balance of the 400 allotted by the committee for the extermination of locusts, for relieving the famine sufferers. The committee resolved to grant this authority. Resolution No. 63 of the municipal council of Cauayan, Ilocos Sur, requesting relief for the sufferers from the last inundation in that municipality. The committee resolved to lay this matter on the table. LOCUSTS. Communication from Delegate Samson, transmitting, with favorable recommendation, the following telegram: “Delegate Samson, Manila. Proboard requests you to secure another relief one thousand pesos for work extermination locusts. Previous allotment already |