tions, including one on the south side of the river, which latter was the plan presented by the engineer in charge of the sewer system. ters which must be settled prior to the commencement of the work. tem is practically approved as presented by the city engineer. incorporated in These are mat- It is likely that the board will take action looking to the early issuance of the bonds authorized by Congress for the purpose of raising money to begin work on these two very important and very urgently necessary systems. At the same time that the bond issue for these purposes is considered it is deemed advisable to investigate the possibility of securing the privilege of additional municipal bonds for general public improvements. In addition to the enormous amount of routine and repair work, which exhausts practically all the reasonable revenue which might be expected from a city of this size and commercial position, all public improvements of a general and permament nature have been paid out of these current revenues. When this is considered it is little short of extraordinary that so much has been accomplished in the short period of civil government in the way of new and costly buildings urgently needed for the various departments, the large areas of street extensions, park improvements, and extensive development of the water service. The widening of Calle Nueva, Ermita-Malate, was commenced, and at the end of the fiscal year nearly all the property owners on both sides of the street throughout its entire extension have been seen and interested in the movement, and about 10 per cent of the property owners have made agreements to sell the strips necessary for widening at stipulated prices. The original committee appointed for the purpose of considering and making recommendations concerning the widening of this important street was composed of Señor Infante of the advisory board, C. H. Dutton of the city engineer's office, with Member McDonnell as chairman. Detail plans of each piece of property to be cut by the widening, showing thereon the extent of the property to be taken and, in various cases, fences or portions of houses to be removed, were sent to each property owner for his information. These plans contain the names of the owners and the assessed valuation. A separate letter was sent in each case explaining the project to the property owner, and notice was given that a meeting would be held one month later. On January 30, 1904, a meeting of all property holders interested was held in the school building of Ermita and, after the general scheme of widening had been explained, those present were requested to express their opinions. While there were some who objected to the widening of the street at all, the majority were heartily in favor of the improvement, and by vote it was decided that the street should be widened to 15 meters instead of 13 meters, which was the width originally proposed by the board. This action of the property holders and their interest in the work is an encouraging sign and is indicative of the character of development of streets which is being carried out on a smaller scale in many districts of the city. The committee established office hours, and received property owners almost every day. Innumerable questions were brought up regarding special damages, loss of rent, estimates of value of fences, gardens, removals of sections of houses, etc., and the residents throughout the northern half of the street promptly manifested interest and expressed themselves as willing to accept the assessed valuations of property and reasonable damages in case of the destruction or removal of improvements. It is the intention of the city to lay out sidewalks and set out trees as fast as the blocks are widened. On February 19 the chairman, being about to go on vacation, was succeeded by Member Sleeper, who has carried out the work with success and energy and is fast nearing the point where one or two model blocks can be prepared, which will be an example for the entire city. The method in dealing with property owners has been to reach an agreement, which is recorded on a typewritten form, wherein the property owner agrees to sell to the city the necessary ground, improvements, etc., as the case may be, at the price stated, and, furthermore, agrees to the amount of damages. This provisional agreement is presented to the board for final approval, and in case of approval the necessary papers are prepared and the city purchases the property and settles the damages. It is a satisfactory and expeditious method of handling these numerous small strips which are necessary for the widening. One of the most important pieces of work in the general scheme for improvement of streets is the approved plan for the consolidation of the parallel calles Dulumbayan and Salcedo, made possible by the removal of the seven uneven blocks of buildings between those two streets and bounded by Calle Carriedo and Calle Iris. The total value of improvements which must be purchased and removed is 151,000; the total value of the land to be purchased and converted into street area is 63,678, making the total cost of the necessary ground and the removal of buildings, etc., 214,678. Two lots have already been purchased, and the work will proceed as fast as possible with the available appropriations, advantage being taken of the condemnations of old buildings or the destruction of any buildings in this section. When the work is completed there will be a splendid street 30 meters in width through one of the busiest sections, largely inhabited by Filipinos and Chinos and very valuable for commercial purposes. This street will give direct access, through the extension of Calle Dulumbayan known as Calle Cervantes, to the general street system on the north side of Calle Iris, which is largely embraced within the limits of the San Lazaro Estate. The work of installing cement curbing on Calle Cervantes from Bilibid to Quiricada was commenced during the month of May, 1904, and is still in progress; 1,539.6 linear meters of cement curbing have been installed at a cost of P3,205.24, or 2.08 per linear meter; 12,606 square meters of the roadway of this street have also been resurfaced at a cost of P3,725.16, or P0.28 per square meter. The work of straightening Calle Oroquieta from Lopez de Vega to Quiricada was commenced during the month of May, but it had to be abandoned on account of the rainy season. A contract for 6,000 cubic meters of earth filling for the streets in this district was let on June 24, 1904, at a price of P2 per cubic meter. When this filling is completed it will be possible to gravel the roadways so as to make them passable to light traffic. As promised in the annual report of 1903, the municipal board, with the cooperation of the civil-service board and the officers of the police department, considered at length the subject of an increase of pay based on length of service for all grades to the rank of second-class lieutenants and first-class sergeants. The officers in the respective branches above these positions have not been increased. The recommendations of the municipal board were presented in detail to the Commission, and the following schedule of service pay was adopted and is now in force: First-class patrolmen: First year, $900; second year, $1,000; third year, $1,080; fourth year, $1,140. Second-class patrolmen: First year, $300; second year, $375; third year, $412; fourth year, $450. Third-class patrolmen: First year, $240; second year, $300; third year, $330; fourth year, $360. The number of patrolmen who have been affected by the increase of pay are as follows: First-class patrolmen: Second year, 55; third year, 51; fourth year, 83; making a total of 189. Second-class patrolmen: Second year, none; third year, 12; fourth year, 7; total, 19. Third-class patrolmen: Second year, 57; third year, 70; fourth year, 99; total, 226. Increases in other positions were as follows: First class: Sergeants, from $1,200 to $1,300 per annum; roundsmen, from $1,020 per annum to $1,200. Second class: Lieutenants (3), from $1,200 to $1,300 per annum; sergeants, from $450 per annum to $600; roundsmen, from $375 to $480 per annum. It is believed that this material increase of pay will greatly benefit the department and provide an incentive to continuous service which has hitherto been lacking. The record of appointments and separations in the department were as follows: For sickness exceeding six months and not in accordance with present law in force, Americans Deaths Americans Natives.. Total..... Grand total of discharges 6 7 1 42 6 432 In order that the commissioned officers of the department should be thoroughly familiar with duty in all districts of the city, and for many other good and sufficient reasons, a general change in precinct commanders was made at the beginning of the present year. The transfers were as follows: Capt. Mark Scott, precinct 2 to precinct 4; Capt. Jack Dawson, precinct 1 to precinct 2; Captain Crowley, precinct 3 to precinct 1; Captain Wilson, river and harbor police to precinct 3; Sergt. William E. Wichman, precinct 3, placed in command of river and harbor police. These changes in no way reflect upon the past services of the officers concerned; and good results are already being observed. The study of English has been continued in all native precincts, and six night schools are at present maintained; 207 American patrolmen possess a working knowledge of Spanish; 79 have a working knowledge of Tagalog, and 47 are familiar with both languages. As an incentive to the study of Tagalog the department offers a reward of 5 per cent increase of pay for American members who pass satisfactory examinations in Tagalog; on the same principle a 5 per cent increase of pay is granted to Filipinos who acquire a satisfactory knowledge of English. As the work of the entire force is largely among Tagalog-speaking people a knowledge of this language is of the greatest benefit. Fourteen native patrolmen have been detailed as sanitary inspectors to assist in the prosecution of the work of the board of health, and the service has been satisfactory. During the fiscal year there were 17,383 arrests, divided as follows: Males, 14,858; females, 2,525-a decrease of 135 over the fiscal year 1903. There were 3,484 arrests for gambling and 256 for conducting a gambling house, both of which totals are slightly in excess of the record in 1903. The prosecution of gamblers was carried on most vigorously until the more important rings were broken up, and in many cases the members were forced to leave the city. This vigorous action of the police, combined with severe punishment by the government, has served to materially decrease the number of employees who formerly frequented the gambling games. There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of seditious plays which have been presented in the thickly populated native districts, which is partly due to the vigorous campaign carried on against the presentation of these plays and partly to the waning of the spirit which prompted them, by reason of the changed conditions and the increased general quiet of the city. Plans and specifications were prepared by the city engineer's office and approved by the board, and a contract has been awarded for a model police station of brick and stone in the district of Tondo at a cost of 125,400. This building is well under way, and it will be possible to vacate the present unsatisfactory quarters in July or August of this year. The building contains ample provision for a dormitory, schoolroom, clean and sanitary cells, and commodious offices. The station is being erected on a piece of ground which is sufficiently large to provide a good drill ground and convenient space for installation of athletic appliances. The installation of a fire pump and sufficient hose on the police launch Bucky O'Neill has proved a success, in many cases the launch being able to render valuable assistance to craft in the bay and river and to cooperate with the fire department in cases where the fire was on a street near the water front. It will be seen in the detailed report by precincts of the operations of the department that the police have frequently extinguished small fires before the fire apparatus arrived. In most of these cases the proper action by the occupants of the house would have prevented the necessity of turning in an alarm, and the police by prompt action have been able to control the situation or direct the efforts of the natives toward extinguishing the blaze before it had reached any serious proportions. WAR 1904-VOL 11—5 The chief of the secret service reports a material decrease in the number of arrests as compared with the fiscal year 1903, but declares there has been no decrease in the actual work, as the cases, as a rule, have been of much importance, necessitating. close attention and detail work. The actual numerical decrease is found in the smaller number of arrests for such minor offenses as vagrancy, gambling, and petty larceny. During the year stolen property and money were recovered by the secretservice bureau as follows: Property recovered.... Money recovered....... Total.. 132, 604. 71 11, 880.81 44, 485.52 The bureau has achieved much success in arresting and prosecuting the members of several organized bands of petty thieves who have infested various sections of the city. The bands were largely recruited with ex-convicts, but they contained many boys, who were thus literally enrolled in a school of crime. Many of the members of these thieving gangs would be proper subjects for a reform school, which institution is sadly needed. The practice of sending young lawbreakers to Bilibid has in many instances proved disadvantageous, as they have merely fallen into the company of more experienced criminals, and only await their freedom to indulge in experiments with their increased knowledge. The chief of the secret service again makes recommendations concerning the conferring of rank on the officers of the bureau. The receipts of the police fund for the year amounted to P5,442.67; the expenditures were 1,336.90, leaving a balance on hand of 14,105.77. This sum is deposited in the Chartered Bank. The committees on police and fire have drawn preliminary regulations providing for the formation of a police and fire relief association, which it is proposed to establish from the fines imposed in the two departments. Such an association would be of great benefit to the policemen and firemen. The health of the department has been excellent, there being only six-deaths during the entire year. The reports of the chief of police and the chief of the secret service herewith attached give an extensive and detailed history of the work of the department during the past year. LAW DEPARTMENT. The steady increase in the work of the law department in its different branches is in accord with the progress of the other city departments. Said department includes the following offices: OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. The most important work of this office in addition to the defense of the interests and rights of the city in the courts of justice is to draft and prepare contracts and ordinances, to perfect the legal title and procure the registration in the registry of property of the real estate belonging to the city as well as that acquired by the same, and to bring to light and investigate city property which is illegally held by others. The city attorney also gives legal opinions upon all matters which may be referred to him by the municipal board and the other departments. This office has represented the city in 80 suits in courts of justice, and, if we except the claims presented against it by the religious corporations of San Francisco and Santo Domingo for the purpose of obtaining for their property exemption from the payment of the land tax, in the majority of them the city has been successful. Seventeen ordinances have been prepared and 133 legal opinions have been given to the various departments of the city, and 85 contracts have been drafted and prepared. The amount involved in the suits pending in which the city is interested as plaintiff or defendant amounts to approximately 453,750 90, or $226,875.95 United States currency, as follows: City . Basa y Marifosque. Francisco Merchan r. The City. City v. Monte de Piedad. Ildefonso Tambunting . The City Application of city to register land in Paco Palacio Arzobispal . The City. The Jesuit Order v. The City Chang Tang Ling v. The City. Opposition of city to registration of land in Calle Vito Cruz The City v. Jover y Costas City v. Tuason et al.. Canuto Reyes v. The City Registration of land in block 82, Tondo City. Enrique Rodriguez.. City . E. B. Merchant.. City v. José Machuca Verisimo Vasquez v. The City. Esperanza Oteroy Trigas v. The City. T. M. Beech v. The City Antonio de la Riva v. The City Total...... $5,000.00 2, 812.00 4,500.00 5,000.00 67,000.00 2,500.00 6, 905. 00 1,604. 47 979.98 1,000.00 500.00 12, 500.00 5,000.00 500.00 40,000.00 2,596.00 75.00 50.00 2,460.00 7, 492.00 250.00 1,500.00 10.00 160.00 1,886.50 1,500.00 2,723.00 226, 875.95 The widening and opening of various streets has given rise to a large amount of legal work, including the examination of title papers, the remedying of defective titles, and the preparation of deeds for land taken. This, in many cases, has necessitated the appointment of guardians to convey property belonging to minors. In such cases this office has instituted and conducted the proceedings to completion. OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. Four thousand one hundred and thirty-four is the number of investigations conducted by this office, which have resulted in 534 complaints filed with the court of first instance and 801 filed with the municipal court. A comparison of the volume of business of this office during the past year with that accomplished during the year preceding it shows that in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, there were 472 cases instituted in the court of first instance, while during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904, there were 534 cases instituted, an increase of 13 per cent. During the fiscal year 1903 there were 270 convictions, while in the fiscal year 1904 there were 364 convictions. In the municipal court, during the first year mentioned, there were 592 cases instituted, while during the last fiscal year there were 801 cases instituted, an increase of 35 per cent. In the same court, during the first mentioned year, there were 279 convictions secured, while during the last fiscal year there were 560 convictions. MUNICIPAL COURT. The number of persons accused before this court for violation of the municipal ordinances or less grave offenses rises to 17,046, of which only 1,925 have been acquitted, 3,110 have been sent to Bilibid to serve sentence in prison, and the rest have been punished with fines, which were paid by them and which amount to the considerable sum of $75,274.20. Of the 3,110 persons sent to Bilibid 2,185 were for failure to pay fines; and adding this item to the sum of $75,274.20, which represents the amounts collected, it gives an average of more than $5 fine for each one of the defendants, which shows an excessive rigor on the part of the judges in the imposition of fines-a rigor which ought to be modified, inasmuch as the majority of the persons accused before this court are extremely poor and ignorant of the ordinances and laws for which violation they are so severely punished. Hence the general clamor existing on the part of the most numerous class of the people against the proceedings followed in this court and the excessiveness of the punishments which it imposes. |