TREASURY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING, SIR: I have the honor to state that the act of March 27, 1908 (35 Stat. L., 319), providing for the erection of a new building for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, enabled the Secretary of the Treasury to acquire by purchase or condemnation all of the land in square No. 231 not now owned by the United States Government, together with all of squares Nos. 232 and 233, in the city of Washington, D. C. While the act provided for the purchase or condemnation of the above land, it did not provide for the closing of either C or D streets SW., in order that the building for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing might be erected thereon or use made of such land for bureau purposes. Subsequently the act of March 4, 1909 (35 Stat. L., 959), granted authority to close C street SW., between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, bounded on the north by block No. 231 and on the south by block No. 232, in this city. This still left D street SW., between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets and between blocks No. 232 and 233, open. In order, therefore, to make available the triangular piece of ground known as "Block No. 233," purchased as part of the site for the construction of the new building for this bureau, and to facilitate the erection thereon of a building in accordance with the proposed alteration of the plans therefor, it will be necessary to close D street SW. between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. I respectfully ask, therefore, that Congress be requested to pass the necessary legislation to close D street as stated, and that a paragraph for this purpose be submitted to Congress to be included in the sundry civil appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1911, as follows: Authority is hereby given to close D street southwest, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, bounded on the north by block two hundred and thirty-two, and on the south by block two hundred and thirty-three, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, for use in connection with the erection of the building for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. O J. E. RALPH, Director. A COPY OF A COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY SUBMITTING AN ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION FOR SATISFACTION OF CERTAIN JUDGMENTS OF THE COURTS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. MARCH 28, 1910.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a communication of the Acting Secretary of the Navy of March 21, 1910, requesting that the attention of Congress be again called to certain judgments of the court of first instance, Manila, P. I., for the value of cascos taken by the United States Navy in the year 1899, in order that opportunity may be afforded to have the claims favorably considered. The judgments referred to are as follows: Judgment awarding P700, equal to $350 in United States money, to Francisco R. Cruz, heretofore reported to Congress and printed in House Document No. 446, Fifty-ninth Congress, second session. Judgments in favor of Pedro Mangalindan, Basilio Baltazar, and Julio Lacsamana, also heretofore reported to Congress and printed ir House Document No. 500, Sixtieth Congress, first session, as follows: To Pedro Mangalindan, $1,049.07 and $336.15 interest at 6 per cent per annum from August 8, 1899, to December 10, 1904, a total of $1,385.22. To Basilio Baltazar, $617.13 and $197.84 interest at 6 per cent per annum from August 7, 1899, to December 10, 1904, a total of $814.97. To Julio Lacsamana, $740.74 and $273.47 interest at 6 per cent per annum from August 7, 1899, to December 10, 1904, a total of $978.21. An aggregate sum for appropriation of $3,528.40 in satisfaction of the four judgments described herein. Copies of House Documents Nos. 446, Fifty-ninth Congress, second session, and 500, Sixtieth Congress, first session, which contain the record and findings of the court in these cases, are inclosed herewith. Respectfully, CHARLES D. HILLES, Acting Secretary. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: On January 2, 1907, this department, in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 27, 1904, (33 Stat. L., 422), transmitted to the Treasury Department for presentation to Congress a certified copy of the judgment of the court of first instance, Manila, P. I., awarding to Francisco R. Cruz 700 pesos in settlement of his claim for a casco taken by the navy in 1899; and on April 12, 1907, there was transmitted a certified copy of a judgment of this court awarding to Pedro Mangalindan $2,266 (Mexican) with interest at the rate of 6 per cent from August 8, 1899; to Julio Lacsamana $1,600 (Mexican) with interest at the rate of 6 per cent from August 7, 1899; and to Basilio Baltazar $1,333 (Mexican) with interest at the rate of 6 per cent from August 7, 1899, for three cascos owned by them and taken by the navy in 1899, As the department is advised that no provision for the satisfaction of these claims was made by the Sixtieth Congress, I have the honor to request that this matter be brought to the attention of the present Congress, in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned act, in order that an opportunity may be afforded to have these claims favorably considered. Very respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. BEEKMAN WINTHROP, [House Document No. 446, Fifty-ninth Congress, second session.] TREASURY DEpartment, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, of January 2, 1907, submitting a certified copy of a judgment of the court of first instance, Manila, P. I., and accompanying papers, awarding P700 to Francisco R. Cruz in settlement of a claim of one casco taken by the United States Navy near Cavite, P. I., in 1899. 17 # * * Section 9 of the act of Congress of the United States approved July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 695), provides that the courts of first instance of the Philippine Islands shall possess and exercise jurisdiction as heretofore provided and such additional jurisdiction as shall hereafter be prescribed by the government of said islands," etc.; and by act No. 535 of the Philippine Commission, approved November 25, 1902, jurisdiction was conferred upon the court of first instance of the city of Manila to hear and determine this class of cases. The exchange value of the Philippine peso is fixed by law at 50 cents, act of March 2, 1903 (32 Stat. L., 952), which would make the judgment herewith submitted payable, when provided for by Congress, in the sum of $350 in United States money. Respectfully, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J. B. REYNOLDS, Acting Secretary. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 2, 1907. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, in order that the same may be duly presented to Congress in accordance with the act of April 27, 1904, a certified copy of a judgment of the court of first instance, Manila, P. I., and accompanying papers, awarding P700 to Francisco R. Cruz, in settlement of a claim for one casco taken by the United States Navy, near Cavite, P. I., in 1899. It is requested that the receipt of this communication, with its inclosures, be acknowledged. Very respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. V. H. METCALF, Secretary. UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that Señor Francisco R. Cruz, 146 Salcedo, Manila, P. I., has applied to me in person for information as to the proper course of procedure to obtain payment of award under the judgment of the court of first instance in the matter of his claim for the value of a casco found derelict in this bay some years ago, taken in possession by the navy, and repaired at this station, where it is still in use. 2. I suggested that he submit a letter on the subject. His letter has now been received and will be forwarded to you. 3. I also applied to the attorney-general, Philippine Islands, for a copy of the judgment of the court in this case, which has now been furnished with the statement that a copy has been sent to you. I will further request that he furnish you with a copy of Act No. 535 of the Philippine Commission, referred to in the judgment. It is provided in this act that no appeal from, or exception to, the judgment of the court of first instance shall be allowed in cases such as the present one. 4. Such examination of files here as has been practicable does not give information of importance concerning this matter. As the case appears to have been finally decided, exhaustive examination, which would take much time, has not been attempted. 5. The award of the court is small, I am informed, as compared with the claim submitted to it by Señor Cruz. 6. Payment of the award would appear to require action by the Navy Department and possibly by Congress. The question of further interest charges will be apt to G. H. PETERS, Commander, U. S. Navy, Commandant. arise. Very respectfully, The COMMANDER OF THE PHILIPPINE SQUADRON, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, Flagship Rainbow. MANILA, P. I., May 18, 1906. SIR: The owner of casco No. 19, navy-yard register, No. 21, of the old captain of the port, Manila, respectfully presents and declares: In that the matter between Francisco R. Cruz v. United States Navy in regards to the restitution of the casco above mentioned the judge of first instance of this city of Manila has caused to be dictated a decision in which he orders the Navy, as a party to the defendant, to pay the undersigned the sum of 700 pesos. In that there is no recourse remaining to the subscriber but to respect the decision and be contented with the payment of the 700 pesos as ordered, which is a singular indemnificatoin for the value of the casco, which I contracted to let and for which payment is due from the year 1899, I humbly lay before you a petition to arrange as soon as convenient, as I have agreed to settle for the sum of 700 pesos only, being an indemnification in your behalf, if you can pay this sum as soon as possible to avoid causing damage which would be occasioned by a long wait. Very respectfully, The COMMANDANT U. S. NAVAL STATION, FRANCISCO R. CRUZ, 146 Calle Salcedo, Manila, P. I. Cavite, P. I. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Manila, May 23, 1906. SIR: Replying to your communication of the 21st instant, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of Act No. 535 of the Philippine Commission with the request that you place same in the hands of the commander of the Philippine Squadron. Respectfully, L. R. WILFLEY, Attorney-General. Commander G. H. PETERS, U. S. Navy, Commandant United States Naval Station, Cavite, P. I. [Indorsement.] UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, Respectfully forwarded to the commander of the Philippine Squadron, United States Asiatic Fleet. Attention is invited to my letter of May 23, 1906, regarding the claim of F. R. Cruz, with reference to casco No. 19. G. H. PETERS, Commander, U. S. Navy, Commandant. No. 555.-An act authorizing the court of first instance of the city of Manila to take cognizance of certain claims made against the Government of the United States on account of cascoes seized in and about the harbor of Manila for the use of the navy at various times subsequent to May, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and of claims for rental for the use of such cascoes." By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, That: Whereas there are now pending before the Navy Department of the United States certain claims upon account of cascoes seized in and about the harbor of Manila, Philippine Islands, for the use of the navy at various times subsequent to May, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and claims for rental based upon the use of such cascoes by the navy; and Whereas the Secretary of the Navy has requested that the court of first instance of the city of Manila may be authorized to take cognizance of the claims aforesaid: SECTION 1. The court of first instance of the city of Manila is hereby authorized to take cognizance of all such claims against the United States Government or the Navy Department thereof upon account of cascoes seized in and about the harbor of Manila, Philippine Islands, for the use of the navy at various times subsequent to May, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and claims for rental based upon the use of such cascoes by the Government of the United States, as may be submitted to it by the senior officer of the United States Navy commanding in Philippine waters. SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of said court, upon due notice to the claimants and to the representative of the Nayy Department, as hereinafter provided, to determine the ownership, identification, and value of the cascoes in question, as well as their status and use prior to the time of seizure, and whether or not, under the guise of trading, they were so disposed as to be of service to or were actually used by the insurgents, and whether in any other manner they or their owners continued to aid the insurrectionary movement, and to determine what sums, if any, ought to be paid the several claimants. The court may receive all evidence heretofore taken |