No. 2616. An act on salvage and rendering of assistance to vessels and cargoes. No. 2617. An act to amend sections 67 and 71 of Act No. 136, as amended, and section 5 of Act No. 1450, as amended, by providing for the salaries and duties of the justice of the peace of the capitals of Mindoro, Palawan, and Batanes, limiting the jurisdiction of the ex-officio justices of said Provinces, and for other purposes: Provided, however, That special provisions contained in Acts Nos. 2409 and 2418 shall be continued in full force and effect.

No. 2623. An act appropriating P10,000 for the establishment and maintenance of a conservatory of music.

No. 2626. An act amending section 24 of Act No. 1698, so as to provide an allowance of vacation leave to messengers, deputy provincial and municipal treasurers, deputy provincial and township treasurers, and telegraph operators, under certain conditions.

No. 2628. An act creating a Philippine Red Cross, designating its powers and duties, and for other purposes.

No. 2629. An act conferring certain powers upon the director of education for the purpose of stimulating and encouraging the manufacture of handicraft products in the Philippine Islands, and providing for the establishment of provincial industrial departments to cooperate with the bureau of education, and for other purposes.

No. 2633. An act appropriating the sum of P1,000,000 for certain work in relation to the protection of early infancy in the Philippine Islands, including the establishment of Gotas de Leche.

No. 2634. An act authorizing the reimbursement to municipalities of customs duties paid on material used in the construction of municipal waterworks and sewer systems.

No. 2635. An act authorizing the Governor General to reserve for public purposes land belonging to the private domain of the government.

No. 2636. An act amending section 1 of Act No. 648, entitled "An act authorizing the civil governor to reserve for civil public purposes, and from sale or settlement, any part of the public domain not appropriated by law for special public purposes, until otherwise directed by law, and extending the provisions of Act No. 627 so that public lands desired to be reserved by the insular government for such uses, may be brought under the operation of the land registration act," by authorizing the Governor General to revoke a previous executive order reserving public land, or amend the same by changing the purpose of the reservation by means of another executiveorder.

No. 2639. An act to amend Act No. 2159, entitled "An act to regulate motorvehicle traffic in the Philippine Islands, to provide for the registration of motor vehicles, and the licensing of operators, and to require all vehicles on highways to carry lights, and for other purposes,' as amended by, regulating the use of headlights on motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

No. 2640. An act to amend sections 256 and 569 of Act No. 190, known as the code of procedure in civil actions and special proceedings in the Philippine Islands.

No. 2641. An act authorizing provincial and municipal governments to make appropriations from their general funds to defray the expenses of local fairs, or to send exhibits to any other provincial fair in the Philippine Íslands.

No. 2645. An act amending section 618 of Act No. 190, entitled "An act providing a code of procedure in civil actions and special proceedings in the Philippine Islands," prescribing additional requirements in the execution of wills.

No. 2646. An act empowering the Governor General to extend the time for the payment of the land tax without penalty in any Province or municipality which had been devastated by the recent typhoons.

No. 2648. An act amending subsections (g) and (h) of section 184 and section 192 of Act No. 2427, entitled "An act revising the insurance laws and regulating insurance business in the Philippine Islands."

No. 2619. An act appropriating P10,000 for the reforestation of uncultivated public lands.

No. 2650. An act authorizing the investment of "the immunized cattle insurance fund," established by Act No. 2548.

No. 2651. An act appropriating funds for the immunization of cattle and carabaos by virtue of the provisions of Act No. 2548.

No. 2653. An act to amend subsection (d) of section 7 and section 12 of Act No. 2238, entitled "An act to provide for the revision and correction of

land-tax assessments, the valuation of newly declared real property for the purposes of taxation, and for other purposes,' as amended.

No. 2655. An act fixing rates of interest upon loans and declaring the effect of receiving or taking usurious rates, and for other purposes.

No. 2656. An act making the penalties for delinquency in the payment of the personal cedula tax less onerous to the taxpayer, and providing for the manner in which a current cedula may be paid at the same time as cedulas for former years: Provided, That the special provisions contained in Act No. 2396 shall be continued in full force and effect: And provided further, That when the public interest requires the governors of the Mountain Province and of Nueva Vizcaya may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, order a cedula to be issued free of charge to any resident in any locality in their respective Provinces.

No. 2152. An act to provide a system for the appropriation of public waters, and for the determining of existing rights thereto; for the public registration of all water rights; for the creation and use of water power; for investigations for and the construction, maintenance, and operation of irrigation systems by the government of the Philippine Islands; for the repayment of money expended therefor; for the construction, maintenance, and operation of irrigation systems by private persons; for the inspection and regulation of all works pertaining to the use of water; and providing penalties for its violation; and for other purposes.

No. 2609. An act to penalize the theft and destruction of coconuts and to establish the penalties to be imposed in each case.

No. 2613. An act to improve the methods of production and the quality of tobacco in the Philippines and to develop the export trade therein.

No. 2652. An act amending Act No. 2152, entitled "An act to provide a system for the appropriation of public waters, and for the determining of existing rights thereto; for the public registration of all water rights; for the creation and use of water power; for investigations for and the construction, maintenance, and operation of irrigation systems by the government of the Philippine Islands; for the repayment of money expended therefor; for the construction, maintenance, and operation of irrigation systems by private persons; for the inspection and regulation of all works pertaining to the use of water; and providing penalties for its violations; and for other purposes, and prescribing the conditions under which a loan may be obtained from reimbursable funds for the government, and for other purposes.

Act No. 273 of the Legislative Council, entitled "An act to provide a system for the appropriation of public water and for the development and use of water power not exceeding 50 horsepower, and for the determination and protection of existing rights thereto, within the Moro Province; to provide for surveys for, and the construction, maintenance, and operation of irrigation projects by the government of the Moro Province, for the repayment of money expended therein, for the construction of irrigation projects by private persons, and providing penalties for its violation, and for other purposes," is hereby repealed: Provided, however, That in case of litigation or dispute as to any rights granted or acquired, or reservations made by executive order of the governor for the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, under the provisions of said act of the Legislative Council No. 273, the same shall be adjudged and determined in accordance with the provisions thereof. All applications for irrigation or water rights pending at the time this act takes effect may be acted upon in accordance with the provisions of general laws extended to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu by this

act.

No. 2664. An act making applicable to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu the provisions of the Administrative Code, with certain exceptions.

4. POLICY OF GOVERNMENT.

There has been no material change during the year in the general policy of the government in any of its activities. The development and carrying into effect of the government program are treated in the corresponding chapters of this report.

Pursuant to the government's policy of political and economic development there has been undertaken experimentally and with

distinct success the encouragement of immigration of agriculturists, both capitalists and laborers, from Luzon and Visayas to southern Mindanao. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated from department funds by the Administrative Council with the approval of the Philippine Commission, to meet the net expense of this undertaking for the year 1916. The organization which had been so successful in selecting agriculturists from the northern islands for the Cotabato colonies was utilized in coordination with the insular bureau of labor for propaganda, recruiting and shipment of immigrants. The department cutter Mindanao was utilized for transportation of immigrants. There was especially urgent need for laborers for government public-works projects in Davao Province, as practically all the laborers on these public works had abandoned such employment to work on the plantations, where they were able to earn as much as P70 per month stripping hemp. Also, there was great lack of plantation labor in the hemp districts of Davao due to the newly planted areas which were quickly brought to a highly productive state by the exceptionally favorable rainfall which has been not only adequate but well distributed since the early part of the year. While those planters whose operations are on a large scale have been able to finance their own labor agencies, in the majority of cases the smaller planters were without funds, credit, or other facilities to provide themselves with necessary laborers. A critical situation was clearly approaching due to the great extent of rapidly maturing hemp which if not prepared for market would be practically a total loss. Accordingly attention was first directed to recruiting laborers for government public works in Davao with the privilege for the laborer of cancellation of his contract with the government upon his entering into a new contract with a private planter under conditions approved by the government. These conditions were embodied in a printed contract form which gave due guaranties to the planter and protection to the laborer. The operations, while of an experimental character and requiring time for propaganda to produce results, have been eminently satisfactory. Although the work was not begun until October there were secured and delivered before the end of the year 418 laborers and 83 women and children of such laborers' families. The cost of transportation of laborers is paid by the government public works project or planter with whom the laborer contracts employment. Return transportation is not given, but the government transports without charge the families of laborers to the point of employment of the laborers. Upon completion of a laborer's contract he is assisted by the provincial government in securing an excellent location on public lands and in the preparation of the papers required by the bureau of lands in order to secure title to his homestead.

Agriculturists having sufficient capital to provide themselves with necessary work animals and meet other expense incident to clearing and bringing the land under cultivation and to the harvest of the first crop desiring to emigrate from Luzon or Visayas and take up public lands in Mindanao-Sulu are given transportation for themselves and families and the advice of the government as to most favorable locations where public schools, field dispensaries, and the advantages of other public service activities may be assured by the

government. This class of immigrants are termed "homeseekers," and propaganda has undertaken their attraction to Cotabato and Davao Provinces and to the island of Basilan to engage in rice growing and the establishment of plantations of coconuts, hemp, and coffee. Transportation facilities have been extended to representatives of wealthy Filipino planters of Luzon, who have made extended investigations in southern Mindanao and have reported favorably to their principals, one of whom has already decided upon a location and begun work. A considerable group of families having sufficient capital to undertake cultivation of homesteads has definitely determined to locate in the Hijo River district in Davao and are now closing up their affairs preliminary to embarkation about February 1 from their home town in Visayas. Steps are also being taken by a group from one of the Ilocos Provinces to engage in rice growing in Cotabato.

The material results obtained at the very outset from propaganda which necessarily was of limited extent warrants the belief that a strong and continuing current of immigration may be developed from the densely populated agricultural districts in Luzon and Visayas to the great areas of highly fertile public lands in MindanaoSulu, which are so highly favored by climatic conditions, especially practical freedom from destructive typhoons. To this end the Philippine Legislature has appropriated the sum of P100,000 for expenditures during 1917, and there is every reason to anticipate complete success in the undertaking.

No effort is spared by the department and provisional governments in the locating of homeseekers and contract-released laborers, not only on first-class public lands, but where they will form mixed communities with Mohammedans and pagans. No other practical method seems to offer assurance of the rapid political as well as economic development of Mohammedan and pagan territory. The government is able to assure fair treatment and prompt payment of wages to contracted laborers, and to all immigrants security of life and property no less than the security enjoyed in the northern Provinces. At the same time due precautions are taken to safeguard the property rights of Mohammedan and pagan residents and otherwise assure the continuation of harmonious relations between them and Christian settlers.

5. ORGANIZATION.

Section 22 of the new organic act for the Philippine government establishes "a bureau, to be known as the bureau of non-Christian tribes, which said bureau shall be embraced in one of the executive departments to be designated by the Governor General, and shall have general supervision over the public affairs of the inhabitants of the territory represented in the Legislature by appointive senators and representatives." This statutory provision applies to all the territory comprised within the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. By virtue of Act No. 2666 of the Philippine Legislature, enacted on November 18, 1916, the bureau of non-Christian tribes is placed under the Department of the Interior. Advice has not yet been received of the reorganization of the insular government, whereupon the jurisdiction of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu will pass

from the immediate charge of the Governor General to the Secretary of the Interior.

The most important change during the year 1916 in the organization of the department government and its political subdivisions was the reorganization of the municipal district of Malaybalay as a municipal corporation. This municipality is the capital of the Province of Bukidnon.

The organization of new municipal districts has been effected during the year in the territory to which government control has been extended. Municipal district officers have been appointed as necessary, and their immediate supervision by provincial governors and their deputies has been rendered more effective. Municipal district officers continue to be selected from local native residents, and are therefore almost exclusively Mohammedans and pagans. Periodical meetings of municipal district officers have been held frequently by provincial governors and their deputies, and not only beginnings but encouraging progress made in the efficiency of district officers and their training in municipal government, especially through welldirected discussion of local affairs, of the purposes of government, and the duties of municipal district officers.

The department organization comprises the following Provinces and their subordinate municipal corporations and municipal districts as set forth in the following table:

PROVINCE OF AGUSAN.

MUNICIPALITIES.

1. Butuan.
2. Cabadbaran.

1. Amparo.

2. Azpitia. 3. Bahbah.

4. Bakinking.

5. Balete.

6. Basa.

7. Baylo. 8. Borbon. 9. Bunaguit. 10. Bunawan.

11. Concordia.

12. Corinto.

13. Cuevas. 14. Ebro.

15. Esperanza.

16. Gracia.

17. Guadalupe.
18. Halapitan.
19. Langasian.
20. La Paz.
21. Las Nieves.

22. Libertad.

23. Loreto.

24. Los Arcos.

25. Los Martires.

26. Maasin.

27. Mambalili.

3. Talacogon.

MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS.

28. Manila.

29. Manpinsahan.
30. Maygatasan.
31. Milagros.

32. Novele.

33. Nuevo Sibagat.
34. Nuevo Trabajo.
35. Patrocinio.

36. Prosperidad.
37. Remedios.

38. Rosario.
39. Sagunto.
40. Salvacion.
41. San Ignacio.
42. San Isidro.

43. San Luis.
44. San Mateo.
45. San Vicente.
46. Santa Ines.
47. Santa Josefa.
48. Santo Tomas.
49. Trento.
50. Tudela.

51. Verdu.

52. Veruela.

53. Violanta.

54. Waloe.