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The Extraordinary Session of the Philippine Legislature, and the Work of the Philippine Assembly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

James Alexander Robertson
James Alexander Robertson
Affiliation:
Philippines Library
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Extract

Early in 1910 it was rumored in Manila that an extraordinary session of the Philippine legislature was to be called, in order that the necessary appropriations might be made for the fiscal year 1910–1911. These rumors received no direct confirmation until the proclamation issued by the Governor-General on February 28, calling an extraordinary session to convene on March 28.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , November 1910 , pp. 516 - 536
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1910

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References

1 Another proclamation of the Governor-General, issued on March 28th, set the hour for convening on that date at 3.30 p.m.

2 The present Governor-General of the Philippines is distinctly the apostle of public and industrial improvement. See his inaugural address, in which he states clearly his position.

3 The apportionment of representation is one for each 90,000 of population or fraction thereof.

4 Estado de las Islas Filipinas en 1842. Madrid, 1843. The third volume is given almost entirely in Blair, and Robertson's, Philippine Islands, vol. lii.Google Scholar

5 See Blair and Robertson, ut supra, lii, p. 87.

6 See the excellent chapter on caciqueism or bossism, in LeRoy's Philippine Life in Town and Country. Osmeña has denied the charge of caciqueism in a long speech at San Miguel, Bulakan, May 7.

7 See ante.

8 The title of this act (enacted May 18, 1909) is “An act authorizing the Governor-General to direct that any unexpended balances of appropriations be returned to the general fund of the insular treasury and to transfer from the general funds moneys which have been returned thereto.

9 Artesian wells are proving of great benefit in the Philippines because they provide pure drinking water and thus tend to lessen diseases, especially dysentery.

10 Harbor improvements are under way in Cebú and Iloilo; the port of Dagupan also needs considerable improvement.

11 The last session of the legislature appropriated 3,275,000 pesos for purposes of education as against 3,182,720 pesos for the fiscal year 1907–1908. The first session of the legislature provided 75,000 pesos by act 1866 for assistance in the barrio schools, and the second session appropriated a like sum. Many schools were established in consequence of this action of the legislature. For the present fiscal year, the Governor-General pointed out, the continuing expenses of these schools were not provided for. From this and from other causes the Bureau of Education had a deficit of 404,000 pesos at the end of 1909. But since any money received under operation of Act No. 1761, known as the “Opium Law,” was by law available for purposes of education, the Governor-General had allotted 500,000 pesos for education on September 10, 1909. Under the new management of the Bureau of Education, and with the Department of Public Instruction under guidance of Vice-Governor Gilbert, the present rate of education could be maintained with a saving of 150,000 pesos per annum over the cost of last year. All this saving could not be effected, however, this year, so that the administration was confronted with the alternative either of closing immediately about 1,200 schools and of depriving some 75,000 children of the privileges of education, or of asking for a deficiency appropriation of 300,000 pesos. The Governor-General stated that he could appropriate 150,000 pesos from the “Opium Fund,” and asked a like amount from the current revenues to cover the deficit. Further, he asked that the total appropriation for education in the fiscal year be increased from 3,275,000 pesos to 3,525,000 pesos. Otherwise the Bureau of Education could not continue its work and would be compelled to close 800 schools.

12 The appropriation for the present fiscal year was only 18,500 pesos, but it was deemed best at that time to ask only for a sufficient appropriation to enable the bureau to perfect its organization. The appropriation had done scarcely more than pay the personnel. The bureau has done efficient work in preventing strikes and has obtained employment for many men.

13 The Constabulary has been a source of much thought and of considerable friction in the Philippines, as any police body must naturally be. During the last year, it has been reorganized and reduced to the extent of 460 men or nine companies. By the creation of a greater number of majors and the dropping of some captains and lieutenants, a saving has been obtained. The Governor-General requested that the 200,000 pesos be appropriated annually. The Assembly would only agree to allow 50,000 pesos.

14 Considerable attention is given in the message to the subject of irrigation. The last session of the legislature passed a continuing per annum appropriation of 750,000 pesos. A Division of Irrigation has been created in the Bureau of Public Works and irrigation work has been begun. No method has been devised of collecting from the people benefited the cost and the expense of operation and the maintenance of the system, or of reimbursment of the original cost as provided under the terms of the law, so that the Philippine Islands are being deprived of early construction pending the completion of agreements with property-owners to take water and pay for the same at a rate fixed by the government. The government should be authorized to make such collections. The law was not intended to do away with anjr private rights.

15 Gomez is a man of great, though misused ability. As a boy he studied under the Jesuits in Manila. This was followed by two courses in medicine in the University of St. Towás, in Manila, with a further course in Madrid. He took part in the Cuban campaign where he attained considerable success and won twice the cross of María Cristina. He returned to Spain, where he became a member of the committee for reforms in the Philippines. In 1901 he returned to Manila, where he practiced medicine. In 1902 he founded a labor organization and was that same year leader of the Nacionalista party. He has been persona non grata with the government almost since his return.

16 Kalaw is representative for Batangas. He was director of the newspaper Renacimiento, which was prosecuted recently by Secretary Worcester for libel. Although Kalaw did not write the editorial, to which exception was taken, he refused to name the writer and stated that he as director was alone responsible. As a result of the proceedings, the paper suspended publication, but immediately reappeared under the name of Vanguardia. Several of the representatives objected to Kalaw's taking his seat because he had been indicted for libel, but this was overruled.

17 Enacted June 13, 1908, and entitled, “An act to authorize the appropriation of seven hundred and fifty thousand pesos annually for the promotion, establishment, and maintenance of irrigation systems in the Philippine Islands.”

18 Act No. 1801 was the first bill passed in the inaugural session of the Assembly (enacted Dec. 20, 1907) and is entitled “An act providing for an appropriation of one million pesos for the construction of schools in the barrios under certain conditions.” This act was amended by act No. 1914 on May 19, 1909, which is entitled “An act amending act numbered 1801, entitled … by reducing the required school attendance, and providing that buildings shall be erected under rules and regulations presented by the Secretary of Public Instruction.”

19 Enacted June 18, 1908, and entitled “An act for the purpose of founding a University for the Philippine Islands, giving it corporate existence, providing for a Board of Regents, defining the Board's responsibilities and duties, providing higher and professional instruction, and for other purposes.

20 This department of the University was founded in compliance with the request of many Filipinos. The Filipinos are artistic by nature, and attendance (tuition is free) has been very large. The work done has been of a high order. While it is recognized by the regents that the industrial and academic departments are just now of great benefit to the Filipinos, they have wisely yielded to the desire for esthetic culture.

21 See ante note 8. Act No. 1954, enacted May 20, 1909, and amending various other acts, provided for the issue of bonds for public works and improvements.

22 The appropriation was divided as follows: Board of Regents 1,500 pesos; College of Agriculture, 68,800 pesos; College of Fine Arts, 28,010 pesos; College of Veterinary Science, 18,100 pesos; College of Philosophy, Science, and Letters, 67,600 pesos; and College of Engineering, 6,000 pesos.

23 Since agriculture is the most important industry of the Philippines, it would seem that a new department, to be known as the Department of Agriculture, should be among the new creations of the near future.

24 This amends section 9 of Act No. 1407, enacted October 26, 1905, entitled “An act abolishing certain bureaus of the insular Government, reducing the number of bureaus by consolidating certain bureaus with others, prescribing the duties of the various bureaus and certain officials thereof, reorganizing the Departments of the Interior, Commerce and Police, Finance and Justice, and Public Instruction, assigning certain bureaus to the immediate and direct executive control of the Governor-General, and for other purposes.”

25 In his speech of May 7, at San Miguel, Osmeña discussed at length this question. He claimed that the Assembly has gained in power at the expense of the Executive, by the mere fact of having been asked to approve the Executive's action.

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