The sanitary condition of the province is at present satisfactory. There are 13 pueblos at present having boards of health, the presidents of which are charged with the duty of safeguarding the health of the inhabitants and looking after the sanitation of the town. The number of lepers which exist in the province of Tayabas is 25; of insane, 273; blind, 193, and of helpless old people, 570. RECOMMENDATIONS. MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION. The striking out of the words "or the local dialect" in subsection (b) of section 14 of the municipal code. The reason is obvious. A president who knows no language other than the dialect of his locality may have many very good qualifications for governing a people, but will surely be ignorant of the legislation affecting his office, and will be unable, without great difficulty, to find himself in condition to determine many questions of different character presented to him for consideration. He has no knowledge of the problems which arise from day to day in administrative matters, inasmuch as the real education of the Filipino has been acquired through the Spanish language. It is for this reason that in those municipalities where the president lacks education the real president is the secretary, who is better educated than he, and it is for this reason also that at some of the presidential conventions held in some of the provinces this year the increase of the salaries of the municipal secretaries was recommended. PUBLIC EDUCATION. Provision for insular teachers, if Americans can not be furnished. The granting of a loan of P12,000 of insular funds to the municipality of Lucban for the reconstruction of its old tribunal, the upper part to be used as an intermediate school. The municipality is deserving of this on account of the very great interest demonstrated by it in public education. AGRICULTURE. (a) Assistance from the insular government to secure the establishment of a system of irrigation to serve as a model in order to improve the conditions under which cultivation is carried on in the province. In the municipality of Santa Cruz, island of Marinduque, there is a very extensive area fit for the cultivation of rice, bordered by a large river. The said municipality having been scourged by famine on account of the failure of crops upon several occasions, its municipal council has presented a grand project to the provincial board, upon the realization of which the inhabitants of that locality have placed their hopes. It is planned to construct an irrigation dam at said place by setting aside 5,000 for this purpose. In my opinion this is the best opportunity which could present itself for the introduction in that pueblo, at least, of the system of irrigation which is giving such excellent results in America and Hawaii. The first steps taken in this regard will surely be followed by the other pueblos and a radical change will have been brought about in the defective methods of agriculture at present followed in this country. (b) To establish a model farm on a small scale where American agricultural implements shall be used and improvements in the method of agriculture shall be introduced. The municipality of Sariaya, one hour's journey from Lucena, offers to give free of cost all land that may be necessary for this purpose. (c) To station a veterinarian in each province in order to prevent the constant mortality of work animals by means of inoculation and other methods which science prescribes in each case, and also to direct the work of the extermination of locusts annually appearing. PUBLIC WORKS. To order the improvement of the port of Lucena if this pueblo is to continue as capital of the province. The necessity for this is explained at the end of the section of this report devoted to public works. Respectfully submitted. R. PARÁS, Governor, Province of Tayabas. The GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF LA UNION. SIR: I have the honor, in compliance with the provisions of section 1 of Act No. 1044, to submit the following report for the fiscal year 1904–5: PROVINCIAL BOARD. The provincial board has performed its duties with regularity, holding regular and special sessions. Among the matters that have been passed upon by the board which deserve mention is a resolution relative to the establishment of the boundaries of the different pueblos of the province, the purpose of this resolution being to avoid the many annoyances and controversies to which they have heretofore been subject, and to establish a rule by which they can be guided in the settlement of this vexatious question. It is hoped by this measure satisfactory results will be obtained and harmony reestablished among the pueblos. Another resolution passed by the board was embodied in a circular letter sent to the municipalities and referred to the maintenance of roads. Practice has demonstrated that any work accomplished toward this end will be useless so long as the abutting property owners do not assist in the proper maintenance of the roads by building ditches on either side, properly reenforced, and prevent their becoming clogged during the rainy season, in order to provide for the disposition of surplus water and avoid injury to the road from this source. Very recently the board made a recommendation to the Philippine Commission asking for an extension of time to July 31, 1905, for the payment of the land tax, without penalty, in order to make it easier for the taxpayers. This recommendation was based upon the fact that the inhabitants of this province must rely upon the sale of their tobacco for the payment of their obligations to the state. Great satisfaction is felt and much gratitude expressed by the people concerned over the fact that the Commission not only granted the request of the board, but made the time for the payment of the land tax on July 31 a permanent measure. Only four protests were filed with the board against the elections for councilors held in December 1904, which the board, upon investigation, learned were without foundation, and therefore approved the elections as held. The following municipal officials were suspended during the past fiscal year: Francisco Bautista, municipal president of Bangar, charged with general incompetency and neglect of duty; his case is still pending. Francisco Alban, justice of the peace of the pueblo of San Isidro de Tubao, suspended on account of having been sentenced by the court of first instance of this district for the crime of bribery to serve a term in the provincial jail, said sentence having been confirmed by the supreme court. The board passed a resolution appropriating the sum of 2,000 for the purchase of a tract of land measuring from 16 to 20 acres, in order to aid in the construction of a provincial school; and this appropriation was additional to that of the department of public instruction for the same purpose. PROVINCIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE. The provincial board held 45 regular and special sessions between July 1, 1904, and July 1, 1905, and passed 253 resolutions during the period mentioned. The provincial secretary dispatched 98 telegrams, letters, and communications. The provincial board of health held 13 regular and special sessions during the same period. Five conventions of municipal presidents were also held during the time mentioned. The above figures furnished by the provincial secretary seem to show that the sessions and conventions mentioned were regular in their operations. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. The office of the provincial treasurer has displayed the necessary activity in its operations. The collection of taxes has been made with regularity, all of the municipal treasurers and deputy treasurers having cooperated to this end, much to the satisfaction of the provincial treasurer. The action taken with regard to the appointment of municipal treasurers other than natives of the town where they held office has given very favorable results. The condition of the provincial treasury is improving day by day to a remarkable degree, and although the internal-revenue law has not given favorable results to the province because of the scarcity of industries it taxes, the revenues have notwithstanding been more than sufficient to cover the expenses. Our obligations amount at present to the sum of 37,000, but I confidently hope that if things go on as they have to date by the end of the year we will have reduced this amount. Favorable results have been obtained by the municipal treasurers, as in a comparatively short time many of them have discharged their obligations, and I trust that the rest will be able to cover their deficits soon. It is worthy of note that these good results are due in a large measure to the care and to certain restrictions exercised by the provincial treasurer. I greatly fear that the depression in business, to which I shall refer further on, will interfere with the collection of the land tax this year, for though agricultural lands are widely distributed among the inhabitants of the province many taxpayers are without funds, some of them not having sufficient money to live. PUBLIC WORKS. Public works have been carried on in the measure allowed by the funds available for this purpose. During the year 3.39 miles of road have been constructed, 5.83 repaired, and 3 bridges built and 9 repaired. The expense of this work, added to repairs of provincial buildings and the purchase of material and tools, amounted to the aggregate sum of P13,973.64. The labor employed amounted to 13,030 days' work for Filipino laborers and 92 days' work for Americans. It is planned to construct during what is left of this year 1 bridge at Carlatan 229 feet long, with 5 trusses, situate about 2 kilometers from this city, 1 bridge in the district of the pueblo of Agoo 75 feet long, and 5 other bridges of minor importance. OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL FISCAL. The work performed by the provincial fiscal during the year is detailed hereunder. Eighty-three complaints were filed, 35 tried, and 37 dismissed; 50 opinions were furnished to justice of the peace courts and 136 for the court of first instance; 13 causes were dismissed in the justice of the peace courts; 118 communications and 35 indorsements were written and 18 consultations answered. MUNICIPALITIES. The operations of the municipalities of this province have been carried on with regularity. Regular and special meetings have been held and ordinances passed for the advancement of education, the fostering of agriculture, the improvement of sanitation and hygiene, the maintenance of local roads, dams, and irrigation canals and the construction of buildings for municipal purposes, schools, and markets. The municipal school of the pueblo of Tubao has been rebuilt by voluntary subscription, while the pueblo of Bacnotan has added another story to its schoolhouse, in order to accommodate increased attendance. Santo Tomas is building a schoolhouse, to cost 5,000, by the voluntary contributions of its inhabitants, the old building having been destroyed by fire in 1898. The action of the people of this town constitutes a veritable sacrifice on their part, considering the scarcity of resources at their command. In all of the barrios where schoolhouses were needed the inhabitants of two or three barrios have combined and put up buildings of light materials sufficiently spacious to accommodate the attendance, all of these houses having been constructed in accordance with the general plan furnished by the division superintendent of education at the request of the citizens. The schoolhouse of strong materials put up by the municipality of Naguilian was destroyed by the fire which occurred on the 23d of last April and as a result of which some forty families were left homeless. To relieve the distress of the latter the honorable governor-general and the Philippine Commission contributed P1,000 for the purchase of food, while the honorable the secretary of the interior granted them the privilege of the free cutting of timber for the rebuilding of their houses. As soon as this government heard of the anxiety felt in other provinces over the presence of malefactors, I issued orders to all of the municipal presidents relative to the policing of their districts and specially the remote barrios, and as a result of this a service was organized by the inhabitants of the pueblos which deserves some mention and which is called the patrol service. Owing to it the interests of the inhabitants were safeguarded, nor have they experienced the least disturbance of the tranquillity that they enjoy. To forestall any disturbance which might occur as a result of those in adjacent provinces, the provincial government kept a close watch through its agents over every person counted as a suspicious character, because of his ideas or membership in some sect. I regret to state that the Philippines Constabulary made some arrests which proved groundless upon investigation, and it was owing to the tact and activity of Colonel Scott, the constabulary chief of this district, that the persons arrested were acquitted and turned over to the undersigned governor who immediately ordered their release, not, however, without first counseling them and making them understand the respect and obedience they owed the law. I have remarked some defects in the government of the municipalities, due to ignorance of the law on the part of some officials and to certain enmities existing among them, but I trust that this will disappear as they learn the laws and the necessity of uniting their efforts for the common good, by which procedure they themselves will be mostly benefited. Although the registration of cattle has not been conducted with the energy that we would have desired, a larger number of cattle than was expected has been registered and branded. Up to June 30, 1905, 6,136 carabaos, 827 cattle, and 758 horses were branded and registered, it being estimated that some 4,800 animals have still to comply with these requirements. The undersigned governor, in order to comply with the recommendations made by the executive secretary relative to this matter, ordered the municipal presidents to report weekly from July 1, 1905, the number of cattle branded and registered, so as to see to the compliance of the law and expedite it as much as possibie. At my request the Philippines Constabulary has established a station at the barrio of Rosario, a dangerous strategic point on the borders of the provinces of Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija, and another one at the sitio of Rabon, on the general highway leading to Pangasinan and to Zambales. Telegraphic communication is established between this city and Namacpacan; with Bangar and Balaoan, on the northern extremity of the province; with Ñaguilian, a mountain town in the eastern part of the province, and on the road to Benguet, and with Agoo, a pueblo in the southern part of the province, which is the central point for the towns of Tubao, Aringay, and Santo Tomas, the latter of which is 5 kilometers distant from Agoo. From Rosario to Agoo a telephone line is stretched, which connects with Rabon and Santo Tomas. Having these lines of communication established, the forces upon which this province can count can be speedily transferred to any place where there is danger. MUNICIPAL POLICE. Recently the question relative to the work done by this organization has been discussed with growing interest. In the opinion of the undersigned governor the services rendered by this organization, considering its small numbers, has been efficient, and the organization has performed its duties to the satisfaction of the provincial and municipal authorities. Since June, 1904, the municipal police have been reduced to one-half of their former numbers (204 men), as the undersigned governor and the members of the provincial board decided upon the measure, taking into account the condition of the municipal treasuries, which were unable to stand the expense, the conditions of peace and good order in the province having also been taken very largely into account. The following shows the personnel of the municipal police corps of the province: Two inspectors, 5 sergeants, 7 corporals, and 80 men, making a total of 106 police. The municipality having the largest number has 16, while that having the least has 4. The men of this organization are well uniformed and properly armed, the municipal councils having furnished bonds for said arms. AGRICULTURE. One of the principal duties of the provincial governor has been in connection with this source of public wealth. During the fiscal year I have made three visits of inspection, having the agricultural interests of the province solely in mind, giving preferable attention to the plantations in the barrios, and in the pueblos visited the circular letters and recommendations issued by the provincial government have found a faithful echo, if not with all, with the majority of the agriculturists. The barrio, or even the house, without its plantations of coffee, cocoa, and cocoanuts is rare indeed. The tenientes, or headmen of the barrio, inspect these plantations frequently in order the better to inform themselves as to their condition. Among the more well-to-do farmers the planting of maguey has received considerable attention, so much so that they have bought a great many shoots of this textile plant in the provinces of Zambales and Ilocos Sur, paying even as high as 10 per thousand. It is therefore not too much to predict that within a few years the production of this fiber will become a new source of wealth to the province. A close estimate of the production of tobacco in the year 1904 is some 82,000 quintals, and though the present year's crop will not rival in quantities that of the year before, as I estimate that it will reach but from 50,000 to 60,000 quintals, inasmuch as it has notably increased in quality, owing to the greater care exercised in its cultivation, harvesting, curing, and preparation for market, in accordance with the instructions that were issued by the provincial government and followed by the municipalities and by the planters, I trust that it will sell for as good a price as last year. The production of rice was fair-sufficient to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the province, who have not been obliged, consequently, to draw upon Pangasinan or Saigon. The great amount of rain spoiled many plantations and resulted in a falling off in the crop. Some 7,000 or 8,000 piculs of sugar were produced last year that were neither better in quality nor higher in saccharine matter than last year's product, owing to the same methods of manufacture having been followed. Hemp.-Some farmers have experimented with this textile plant, but it is too early to say what the results will be. At the request of several planters, I have inquired of the provincial governors of Camarines, Albay, and Sorsogon as to the price of young plants per thousand with a view to purchasing in these provinces, which enjoy the reputation of producing a good quality of hemp. At my request, and for the purpose of insuring better success for agricultural labors, an agricultural committee has been formed in each municipality composed of wellto-do persons having a knowledge and a love for agriculture. These members have taken upon themselves the obligation of visiting the plantations for purposes of inspection, and in order to hear and decide questions brought before them, and to make recommendations. COMMERCE. As stated in my last report, the trade of this province consists principally in leaf tobacco. Though there were no large transactions, the Compañia General de Tabacos bought up some 57,000 quintals, while the Chinese and other merchants took approximately 20,000 quintals. The former paid P9 per quintal and the latter a little less. The difference between the total of these two amounts and the 82,000 quintals representing the aggregate production for 1904 was either consumed locally or sold at retail in the province. I was somewhat alarmed at the beginning of the year over the fact that buyers would not venture upon the engrossment of this article because of pessimistic advices relative to this product and the demand for it in European markets, and that there were large stocks on hand in the capital of the archipelago; but about the beginning of April my fears were dispelled upon seeing that the Chinese merchants had started to buy, being subsequently followed by the Compañia General de Tabacos, who paid the same prices for the same classes as last year. In this manner they assisted the inhabitants in meeting their obligations to the province. The experiments that are being conducted by the Compañia General de Tabacos in this province with relation to the selection of leaves that on account of their quality and other properties will improve the product and put it on a basis to compete with that of other provinces, and that in the opinion of the undersigned will result in higher prices, are worthy of mention. Sugar was quoted at 25 per picul of 137 pounds in this province. Rice. The price of this article at present is from 5 to 6.50 the cavan, according to origin. Sales of foreign and domestic merchandise have diminished in comparison with former years, the total in this city for the six months ending June 30 having been but 170,000. The change in currency has encountered opposition among some of the holders of the old money and has had to be effected slowly, the loss occasioned by the exchange |