Estimated municipal income and expenditures, province of Sorsogon, 1905—Continued. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF SURIGAO. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO, SIR: I have the honor to submit to you the following report, embracing the period from July 1, 1904, to June 30, 1905, inclusive, in accordance with the provisions regulating this matter. ADMINISTRATION, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL. In August, 1904, the provincial board submitted a memorial to the Philippine Commission relative to the advisability and necessity of consolidating the municipalities of this province, based upon the fact that the majority of them could not be self-supporting nor conduct the municipal administration in a fairly good manner, either because of want of revenue or of persons capable of holding municipal offices. The Philippine Commission enacted Law No. 1241, reducing the 29 municipalities then organized in the province of Surigao to 12, and when the order for the elections, which were to take place in December, 1904, was transmitted the municipalities of Taganaan, Mainit, Bacuag, La Paz, Tago, Bislig, Loreto, and Nasipit sent protests against the consolidation, alleging reasons more or less well founded, but nearly all of them did so through fear of the absorption or tyranny of the people living in the seat of municipal government. This fear, however, disappeared in view of the action taken in the matter by the provincial officers. In September, 1904, the provincial board passed a resolution to establish a mail system for the interior of the province, sustained by the municipalities in accordance with the schedule and recommendations made in the resolution. This measure was a necessary one to the pueblos situate on the east coast of the province, inasmuch as communication with them was made difficult during the northern monsoon, and the mails at that time were considerably delayed. The presidents of the consolidated municipalities are displaying zeal and activity in the compliance with their duties, and on April 8, 1905, they passed a resolution at their convention soliciting from the Philippine Commission the privilege of the free cutting of timber from land of the State for a period of two years in order somewhat to improve the condition of the needy inhabitants. The administration of justice in so far as the justices of the peace are concerned leaves much to be desired. The majority of these officials lack sufficient education to assume the responsibilities inherent to the office; not that the municipalities are absolutely wanting in persons capable of holding said office, but that the persons who have the requisite capacity refuse to accept it because the fees to which they would be entitled for their work do not compensate the harm done to their own interests because of their having to neglect them. AGRICULTURE. In addition to the fact that agriculture in this province has suffered a considerable decline through lack of work cattle and want of the proper elements to replace them, the rice crop this year has been extremely small, owing to there having been planted a very small amount of rice because of no rain having fallen, so that the harvest in this cereal has been very much smaller than is ord narily gathered. Looking at the matter from this point of view, famine will be inevitable in this province, and therefore the provincial government has addressed a circular letter to the municipal presidents earnestly urging them to take proper measures in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 517 to forestall future calamities, with instructions to send monthly reports of the results obtained to this government. The pueblos of this province also produce hemp, copra, tobacco, cocoanut, corn, sugar cane, plantains, and edible tubers, such as sweet potatoes, ube, etc. Many of the inhabitants, seeing that the larger portions of their lands are not worked because of the want of cattle and agricultural implements to replace them, have decided to plant hemp, believing that thereby they will be able to meet their wants and even live in comparative ease where extensive plantations are made. INDUSTRY. The manufacture of nipa wine is the only industry worthy of mention in this report; others, such as fishery, the manufacture of textiles and mats, etc., are of no importance. TRADE. It can be stated that the wholesale business in this province is in the hands of foreigners. The principal products, such as hemp and copra, are engrossed by them, and it is they who import the articles of general consumption in the province, such as rice, beverages, groceries, textiles, etc. In some of the pueblos there are natives engaged in the hemp trade, but owing to the competition from Chinamen the former subsequently became mere buyers for the latter, they being in many cases obliged to sell their stock of hemp to the Chinese in order to be able to continue in business. FINANCIAL CONDITION. Owing to the active administration conducted by the intelligent supervisor-treasurer, Mr. Benedict, the collection of taxes has been effected with regularity. Public order, tranquillity, and the welfare of the inhabitants have suffered no changes through the exploits of the robber bands scattered through the neighboring provinces. The murder of the municipal president of Lianga, which occurred in September, 1904, had no political significance whatsoever. The assassins were under prosecution in the court of first instance, which had ordered their capture, and after the crime fled toward the mountains, where they were annihilated by the constabulary. Aside from this fact, in all of the municipalities complete peace has reigned. PUBLIC EDUCATION. The study of the English language in the public schools by the native youth during the school year 1904-5 is highly interesting. The province is divided into twelve school districts, and each one of them, except Surigao, has an American teacher as supervisor. The province contains the following: Public schools...... Municipal 81 4, 957 14 10 95 The municipalities and the people cooperate in the progress of education in this province. The majority of the former have appropriated all of the proceeds of the land tax for school purposes, leaving not one cent of these funds for general expenses. The people, following the initiative of the municipality and placing their hope in the future welfare of their province, voluntarily labor in the building and repair of schoolhouses, besides contributing to the erection of a high school in the provincial capital. The attendance at the provincial school was also large. The pupils at this school, thanks to the efforts of the professors, are far advanced, some of them having begun their first term in the high school for the school year 1905–6. Respectfully submitted. DANIEL TORIBIO SISSON, Governor, Province of Surigao. The GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF TARLAC. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PROVINCE OF TARLAC, SIR: In accordance with the provisions of section 7 of Act No. 83, I have the honor to transmit the following report for this province corresponding to the year 1904—5— that is to say, from July 1, 1904, to June 30, 1905. The nine municipalities at present composing the province, whose history, location, conditions, and general characteristics of the inhabitants and of their cultivated lands were described by me in my last report to your office, have administered their interests during the period covered by this report with diligence and skill. Public education has progressed as much in the municipalities as in the high school of this provincial capital, as, according to data furnished by the indefatigable and upright division superintendent of schools, 9,907 pupils of both sexes have attended the municipal schools and 241 the provincial high school, which is a larger number than last year. It is worthy of note that in the municipality of Camiling, whose local authorities take a great deal of interest in education, a secondary school has been established, which is attended by numerous children of both sexes. Although rinderpest has twice appeared in this province during the year, causing ravages among the caribao, a necessary element in agricultural work in the Philippines, agriculture has been relatively prosperous in comparison with former years, both because the plantations have suffered no damage from injurious insects of any sort and because of the pronounced efforts of the farmers, who have been encouraged by the good prices offered for their products. As a result of an abundant harvest, trade has been better that in other years. Notwithstanding the rinderpest and floods, the financial condition of the province is not precarious. A proof of this is the fact that the provincial government as well as the municipal governments have not been compelled to appeal for assistance in order to meet their obligations. The condition of public health has notably improved, as is demonstrated by the monthly increase in the population, the increase for the fiscal year just ended having been 2,308 inhabitants, which represents the excess of births over deaths. It is true that between February and May several cases of smallpox, followed in some instances WAR 1905-VOL 10-27 by deaths, were recorded, but vaccination has continued uninterruptedly, and, further, all necessary sanitary measures regarding isolation of the sick and tending to avoid the spread of the disease have been taken. The condition of the province is one of tranquillity, there having occurred very few and isolated cases of carabao theft, although during the month of last May the discovery was made of a secret association at Camiling, which, however, was composed entirely of ignorant people, who, on account of their very ignorance could give the association no importance aside from that of its mere existence, and who were unable to and did not create any disturbance of the public order. I will not finish this report without first presenting for your consideration a certain improvement, the realization of which in this province I consider of urgent necessity: that the idea of establishing judicial districts for justices of the peace be carried out and that a monthly salary be assigned to incumbents, who shall be required to possess the degree of bachelor or doctor of laws, in order that they may have the requisite capacity to administer justice and conduct the procedings in connection therewith. If this measure is carried out both the administration of justice and the public will be better served. The municipalities in the province having been reduced to nine, but three of these justices of the peace will be necessary. Respectfully submitted. ALFONSO RAMOS, Governor Province of Tarlac. The GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF TAYABAS. SIR: In compliance with the provisions of Act No. 1044, I have the honor to submit my report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1905. GENERAL CONDITIONS IN THE PROVINCE. When the first news of the bold attacks upon towns by the bands under Felisardo in the province of Batangas was received at the beginning of this year, it was naturally feared that the active pursuit to which these bands were being subjected would compel them to cross the frontier and penetrate the forests of Tayabas, seeking refuge, and it was then that such measures as were thought necessary to obviate this danger were adopted, and thus the province was kept completely free from the effects of brigandage. The killing of Chief Mariano Leonesto, alias José Roldan, and three of his principal followers by the inhabitants of the municipality of Guinayangan at the place called Cagascas on the night of September 9, 1904, can not be cited as a case of brigandage inasmuch as Roldan was there as a refugee, in order to free himself from the pursuit to which he was being subjected by the authorities of Ambos Camarines. He certainly made a mistake in the selection of a place of safety, as instead of security for him and his satellites, he found there an end to his exploits. Other than this act nothing has been recorded having relation to ladrones, hence it can be confidently asserted that Tayabas is one of the provinces of the archipelago where public order has undergone the least disturbance during the period embraced by this report. In my tours of inspection to the different municipalities I have never required an armed escort of any sort for my personal protection. Desiring thereby to demonstrate to the pueblos the confidence that they inspire in me, they, on their part, responding fully to my confidence by giving proof that their inhabitants think only of their welfare, each of them working within his sphere and to the measure of his capacity to assist the government in its work of regeneration and advancement of the Philippines. The people in the fields arm themselves not with deadly rifles and bolos but with agricultural implements, which help to sustain life; the municipalities erect schools that are filled with children; commerce, in spite of the meager yield of the lands under cultivation, successfully supports itself; industry is gaining ground, though slowly, and it is all because of complete peace, the result of the sensible conduct of these people and of their mutual regard for one another and between them and the authorities. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. The province contains 104 schools, classified as follows: The Christian population of the province, according to the census, amounts to 201,936, and the total population, including non-Christian, 204,439. The school population is estimated to be 40,387, so that there is a daily school attendance of 35 per cent of the children of school age and of 7 per cent of the total population, exclusive of non-Christian. Had the province more teachers and greater resources available it would easily secure a proportionate increase between the two years cited and the 1905-6 term, increasing the enrollment to 32,283 and the daily attendance to 23,568, or to 58 per cent of the school population. The following municipalities have constructed new buildings out of school funds: Atimonan, Lucena, and Sariaya. Tayabas has just acquired the old building used by the provincial government during the past rule by purchase from the government, for the sum of P10,000, P6,000 of which it has already paid out of school funds. It will be used as a municipal school, this being required by the number of children at present attending. The municipalities of Catanauan, Mulanay, Torrijos, and the barrios of San Narciso, Bondoc, San Andrés, Unisan, and Macalelon have put up their |