The total official disbursements from funds derived from all sources of the Philippine exhibit to December 1, 1904, amount to $1,431,807.58. Crediting the receipts to December 1, 1904, amounting to $525,367.80 and deducting $189,423.18 furnished by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, leaves a difference of $717,016.60 as the net cost of the exhibit to the Philippine treasury to December 1, 1904. SUMMARY. Total disbursements from all funds to December 1, 1904.. Net cost to December 1, 1904.. Amount contributed by Louisiana Purchase Exposition....... Net cost to Philippine treasury to December 1, 1904 Subsequent to the closing of the exposition there were some revenues accruing, principally from the sale of remaining exhibits which have yet to be accounted for, and disbursements were made for the final settlement of outstanding bills and claims. Within a short time all pending accounts will be liquidated and a final showing made of the affairs of the Philippine exhibit. THE PHILIPPINE CIVIL SERVICE. The harmonious cooperation of the United States Civil Service Commission with this Bureau, mentioned in the last annual report, has prevailed throughout the year. Although appointments continue to be made to many different classes of positions, there has been a material lessening in the number of vacancies open for those having only ordinary clerical ability. CHARACTER OF APPOINTMENTS. In November, 1904, the authorities at Manilla estimated that the number of resignations at the end of the school year would be such as to necessitate the appointment of some 200 teachers. The general superintendent of schools deemed it desirable to raise the standard of the appointees and accordingly this Bureau was instructed to take the necessary steps to have the examinations held and the papers of eligibles sent to Manilla from which 140 college graduates, including twenty polytechnic, and twenty agricultural, and sixty normal school graduates could be selected. The examination papers were forwarded to Manila as soon as available, but the number of vacancies occurring was much smaller than had been anticipated, as a comparatively small percentage of the teachers who had served their contract period resigned. A total of 69 teachers have been appointed and, with 11 reinstated, have sailed since November 1, 1904. During the same period there have been appointed and sailed, either as the result of examination, by transfer, or reinstatement, a total of 134 persons, including teachers, of which number 7 were civil engineers, 13 stenographers and typewriters, and 4 employees of the bureau of printing, 4 bookkeepers, 4 veterinarians, and 5 forestry employees. In addition to the foregoing, appointments not subject to the requirements of the civil-service rules have been made during the report year to the following positions, but, as in previous years, strictly in line with the principles of the merit system: One telegraph operator, 11 third lieutenants, Philippines constabulary, and 1 consulting architect. TRANSPORTATION OF CIVIL EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF FAMILIES. This Bureau has during the past year continued to arrange for the transportation of not only appointees to the Philippine service, but also of insular employees who after a leave of absence in the United States are entitled to the benefit of the special rate for their return journey, and of the members of the immediate families of such employees and appointees. The capacity of the limited number of army transports now in service has continued to be heavily taxed during the year by the requirements of the military establishment. Transportation arrangements were again made with the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads and the allied steamship lines operating from San Francisco, and with the northern railway lines and the Boston Steamship Company and the Great Northern Steamship Company from Seattle. This arrangement is substantially a renewal of that described in my last annual report. Under the regulations governing the matter in the Philippines, when an employee obtains leave of absence with permission to visit the United States he may apply for the privilege of purchasing his return transportation at the reduced rate, but in order to secure the advantages of such rate it is necessary for him to deposit the required amount with this Bureau, or under certain conditions as to the length of service this amount may be advanced to him and deducted from his salary after his return to duty. Such applications are forwarded to this office by the executive bureau at Manila, whereupon the persons entitled to the benefit of the special rate are communicated with and the transportation orders issued. The following number of persons sailed since October 31, 1904, on transportation orders issued by this Bureau: Appointees (original, by transfer and reinstatement).. 149 138 Insular employees returning to duty after a leave of absence in the United States. 192 Unclassified (including the members of the party accompanying the Secretary of War to the islands) 99 A total of 578 persons were thus given the benefit of the special arrangement, and the amount saved by the government of the Philippine Islands since the introduction of the present method has been sufficient to be worthy of note. FILIPINO STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. There are now 178 Filipino students being educated in the United States at the expense of the Philippine government, 100 having been appointed for the fiscal year 1903, 40 for the year 1904, and 38 for the year 1905. The health and physical condition of the Filipino students has been good and no serious case of illness-except in one instance, resulting in death-has been reported. The 1905 students, 35 boys and 3 girls, arrived in San Francisco on the steamship Manchuria on September 14, 1905, and after being provided with suitable clothing were immediately distributed to the several institutions selected. Students supported by the Philippine government are now distributed as follows: They are taking the following courses: Music, textiles, painting, photo-engraving, architecture, and lithography, 1 student in each; Coast and Geodetic Survey, 2; domestic science, 7; medicine, 16; law, 18; business, 8; letters, 6; agriculture, 27; normal, 36; engineering, 52. It is a pleasure to record that the Manila Jockey Club has provided, after a competitive examination, for the education of two Filipino students selected in this country. These, as well as a number of other Filipino students at the expense of their parents, and others at the expense of philanthropic Americans, are under the supervision of Mr. Wm. Alex Sutherland, the superintendent of the Government students, who exercises over them the same care he gives to those supported by the Government. 6 6 1 The progress of the Filipino students has been uniformly creditable and in certain instances remarkable. The spirit of seriousness and of intelligent and persistent effort which pervades this student body promises success for this undertaking. Payment of all expenses connected with maintenance and education of these students is made through this Bureau on vouchers duly certified by the superintendent, and when it is remembered that board, room rent, clothing, books, stationery, and miscellaneous expenses for each student are necessarily paid on separate vouchers the work involved is apparent. The cost of educating these students during the period from November 1, 1904, to October 31, 1905, is shown under the head of disbursements. GAZETTEER. Thorough and painstaking work has been done during the past year on the new or revised edition of the Gazetteer. Many changes in provincial and municipal boundaries have been made since the original edition was published. The new work will contain accurate and detailed information as to these changes, and inaccuracies in the original edition due to lack of information at the time of its preparation will be corrected. In addition, new features contributing to its value for official purposes and public utility will be introduced. PUBLICATIONS. LIBRARY OF INSULAR DOCUMENTS. The compilation of public documents relative to Cuba and Porto Rico, the Philippines, and other insular possessions, mentioned in the last annual report, has been continued throughout the year. The library now numbers 305 volumes, made up entirely of Congressional documents and publications issued by the various Executive Departments of this Government and those of the several insular governments. The usefulness and, one might say, the necessity of a compilation of this character is being more fully demonstrated daily, and it is thought that the future will be fruitful of testimony as to the wisdom of its undertaking. A comprehensive index of the first 215 volumes was prepared in the Bureau, and upon the recommendation of the Secretary of War a concurrent resolution for the printing and binding of 500 copies of the same was passed by the Senate on March 17, 1904, but failed to be acted upon by the House. A supplementary index covering the additional volumes up to the latest possible date is in course of preparation, and it is urgently recommended that 500 copies of both the original and supplementary index be printed and bound as early as possible. An index of this kind if printed and properly distributed will be of value not only to those possessing this library, but to all interested in insular affairs, as it contains not only the titles of the documents but information as to their sources, numbers, and designations, and in this way will afford a ready reference to data otherwise almost impossible to locate. In addition it should be mentioned that the Manila daily newspapers received by the Bureau are from time to time assembled and bound in semiannual volumes available for reference. REPORTS OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. The fifth annual report of the Philippine Commission, containing over 2,500 pages, in three volumes, was issued during the current year, the work incident to its publication, proof-reading, indexing, and distribution having been performed by the Bureau. In addition the acts of the Philippine Commission, numbered from 950 to 1251 and enacted from October 21, 1903, to October 20, 1904, were prepared for printing, indexed, and distributed, the public resolutions and extracts from minutes of proceedings of the Philippine Commission from September, 1900, to August 1904, together with the executive appointments made during that period appearing therein. The distribution of 2,000 excerpts from the last report of the Commission has also been made during the past year. COMPILATION OF ACTS, TREATIES, AND PROCLAMATIONS. The compilation of acts of Congress, treaties, and proclamations relating to insular and military affairs from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1903, referred to in my last report, having proved its usefulness, an appendix, including, in addition, similar information as to Panama, covering the period to March 4, 1905, the close of the Fifty-eighth Congress, has been undertaken. LAWS RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS IN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. The many inquiries concerning public lands in the islands suggested the preparation of a pamphlet embodying the laws and regulations on the subject, and there was prepared in the Bureau and issued during the year a publication bearing the above title. The area of the public domain in the islands, that of individual islands, and the percentage of agricultural lands is first treated of. This is followed by the acts of Congress and those of the Philippine Commission governing the homesteading, selling, and leasing of the public domain, as well as the laws of those bodies concerning mining claims. There is also included the acts of the Commission governing the use of the public forests and forest reserves, and regulations concerning the same, as well as much information as to the tree species of the islands. There also appears the act of the Commission concerning the acquiring of title to public coal lands. As it contains all the laws, forms, and regulations bearing on these subjects, it will prove an invaluable compendium to those contemplating settlement in the islands, as well as to capital devoted to land, timber, and mining enterprises. DOCUMENTS. During the last year there have been distributed by the Bureau 47,325 documents, consisting of publications issued mainly by the several departments of the Philippine government and of various reports and documents having their origin in this country. In addition, 2,000 copies of The Summary of Commerce of the Philippine Islands are issued monthly and mailed to the business interests and to others as requested. The distribution of the volumes of the recent WAR 1905-VOL 10- -3 |