public, and other officers and persons hereinafter mentioned, together with their assistants and deputies, to demand, receive, and take the several fees hereinafter mentioned and allowed for any business by them respectively done by virtue of their several offices, and no more: Provided, however, That any poor person, not having sufficient means to prosecute or defend an action, or special proceeding, may apply to the Court of First Instance in which the action or special proceeding is intended to be brought, or is pending, for leave to prosecute or defend as a poor person; the Court of First Instance, if satisfied upon full and careful investigation that such person has not sufficient means to pay the court or clerk's fees required to be paid for the prosecution or defense of the action, or special proceeding, as the case may be, may admit the applicant to prosecute or defend as a poor person, and may in its discretion make an order remitting, reducing, or postponing the payment of any court or clerk's fees or charges required by law to be paid for filing papers, for swearing witnesses on the trial, or for issuing process of the court, and thereafter all papers shall be filed, all witnesses on the trial shall be sworn, and all process shall be issued in accordance with such order, and all poor persons, whether plaintiffs or defendants, shall have the same remedies in such an action or special proceeding as are provided by law in other cases: Provided, however, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the remission, reduction, or postponement of the payment of sheriff's fees for the service or execution of process as at present required by law. "(b) If a person so admitted be guilty of any improper conduct or of any unjustifiable delay in the prosecution of such action or special proceeding, as the case may be, or it be made to appear that the allegation of poverty is untrue, or if the court be satisfied that the alleged cause of action is frivolous or malicious, the court shall annul such order and such party shall thereafter be deprived of all benefit of the order admitting him to prosecute or defend as herein provided, and such person shall be deemed to be guilty of contempt of court and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred pesos, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court. "(c) In the cases herein provided for, judgment may be rendered for fees and costs at the conclusion of such action or special proceeding as in other cases. "(d) Clerks of courts shall include in their reports to the Insular Auditor all actions or special proceedings brought or defended under the provisions of this section, stating that, by order of the court, the fees have been remitted, reduced, or postponed, as the case may be, and upon the conclusion of such actions or special proceedings shall, as in other cases, account for all fees that may be collected in such actions or proceedings as is now or may be hereafter provided by law." SEC. 2. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twentysixth, nineteen hundred. SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect on its passage. [No. 1587.] AN ACT Amending Act Numbered Four hundred and thirteen, entitled “An Act providing for the control and management of provincial jails and of the prisoners therein," so as to empower provincial boards to cause prisoners to clean, care for, or repair public buildings and grounds. By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that: SECTION 1. Section thirteen of Act Numbered Four hundred and thirteen, entitled "An Act providing for the control and management of provincial jails and of the prisoners therein," is hereby amended to read as follows: SEC. 13. The provincial board may in its discretion cause any or all able-bodied male prisoners, except such as are held as witnesses or awaiting trial, to work upon any of the public roads or highways or other public works, or to clean, care for, or repair public buildings and grounds, in the province where such prisoners are confined. Such work shall be done under the direction and control of the officer or officers in charge of such works, buildings, or grounds: Provided, That while so employed the prisoners shall wear the regular prison garb and shall continue to be sufficiently and properly guarded by the jailor or his deputies, or by the Philippines Constabulary if available for that purpose." SEC. 2. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred. SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect on its passage. [No. 1588.] AN ACT Increasing the number of municipalities in the Province of Bulacan from thirteen to fourteen, by separating from Polo the former municipality of Obando and giving the latter the territory which it comprised prior to the passage of Act Numbered Nine hundred and thirty-two. By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that: SECTION 1. The thirteen municipalities of the Province of Bulacan, as established by Act Numbered Nine hundred and thirty-two, shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, be increased to fourteen, by separating from Polo the former municipality of Obando, which is hereby reconstituted and shall consist of the territory of which it was constituted prior to the passage of said Act Numbered Nine hundred and thirty-two. SEC. 2. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred. SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect on August tenth, nineteen hundred and seven. Enacted, January 25, 1907. [No. 1589.] AN ACT Granting the Manila Suburban Railways Company an extension of time within which to complete that portion of its line eastward of Fort William McKinley; granting the right to build a branch line from any point along its present line eastward of the barrio of San Pedro Macati, in a southerly direction to the town of Taguig and to the Laguna de Bay; and granting the right to transport freight, express packages, baggage, and the mails over its lines, under reasonable regulations, and to make reasonable charges for the same. Whereas by Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and forty-six of the Philippine Commission, enacted January thirtieth, nineteen hundred and six, a franchise was granted to Charles M. Swift to construct, maintain, and operate an electric railway and to construct, maintain, and operate an electric light, heat, and power system from a point in the city of Manila in an easterly direction to the town of Pasig, in the Province of Rizal; and Whereas in accordance with section fourteen of the said Act the said Charles M. Swift did, on July twentieth, nineteen hundred and six, execute an assignment of the said franchise to the Manila Suburban Railways Company; and Whereas the said Manila Suburban Railways Company has made application for certain amendments and additions to the said franchise: Therefore, By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that: SECTION 1. An extension of time until January thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eight, is hereby granted to the Manila Suburban Railways Company to complete and put in operation that portion of its line east of Fort William McKinley to the town of Pasig. SEC. 2. The Manila Suburban Railways Company is hereby granted the right to build a line from some connection with its present line, east of the barrio of San Pedro Macati, in a southerly direction to the town of Taguig and the Laguna de Bay, along a definitely located line, after surveys made, map of which located line shall be submitted. to the Governor-General and approved by him before any work of construction is commenced. The said line shall be built and operated subject to all the terms and conditions of its present franchise: Provided, That the fares charged upon the additional portion of the Manila Suburban Railways Company's lines granted under this Act shall be subject to the limitations prescribed in section eighteen of Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and forty-six, in the same way as if this line had been constructed and made a part of the original franchise. SEC. 3. The Manila Suburban Railways Company shall have the right to transport freight, express packages, and baggage over its lines, the said right to continue during the life of its franchise or any extensions thereof. The right is hereby given to the grantee to fix, charge, and collect just and reasonable compensation for the carrying of freight, express packages, and baggage. Such right, however, for the purpose of insuring just and reasonable rates, shall at all times be subject to effective regulation to be exercised, in the first instance, by the Governor-General, and, upon appeal, by the Secretary of War of the United States: Provided, That the Governor-General shall have the power and authority to make reasonable regulations governing the transportation of freight, express packages, and baggage over the lines of the grantee, and for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the original franchise granted by Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and forty-six, and subserving the rights of the public thereunder. SEC. 4. The grantee is hereby given the right, and is hereby obligated, to carry the mails at reasonable rates and under reasonable regulations, to be fixed, as above specified, for the carriage of freight, express packages, and baggage. SEC. 5. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twentysixth, nineteen hundred. SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on its passage. [No. 1590.] AN ACT Repealing Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and seventy-three, entitled "An Act providing that one fiscal shall perform the duties of fiscal for the Provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac, abolishing the offices of fiscal of the said provinces as heretofore authorized by law, fixing the salary of the fiscal for the two provinces, and making provision for traveling expenses for such fiscal," and providing that one fiscal shall perform the duties of fiscal for the Provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, abolishing the office of fiscal of the latter province and that of fiscal for the Provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac as heretofore authorized by law, and re-creating the office of fiscal for the Province of Pampanga. By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that: SECTION 1. Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and seventy-three, entitled "An Act providing that one fiscal shall perform the duties of fiscal for the Provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac, abolishing the offices of fiscal of the said provinces as heretofore authorized by law, fixing the salary of the fiscal for the two provinces, and making provision for traveling expenses for such fiscal," is hereby repealed. SEC. 2. The duties of fiscal for the Provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija hereafter shall be performed by one fiscal whose salary shall be three thousand pesos per annum, of which one thousand five hundred pesos shall be paid from the treasury of the Province of Tarlac and one thousand five hundred pesos from the treasury of the Province of Nueva Ecija. The fiscal of these two provinces shall reside at Tarlac, Province of Tarlac, and shall perform all the duties imposed by law upon provincial fiscals. The necessary expenses in traveling from the capital of one of such provinces to that of the other in the performance of his duties as fiscal shall be borne equally by the Provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. The expenses of such clerical assistance, if any, as shall be authorized for the fiscal shall be paid equally by the Provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. SEC. 3. The office of the fiscal of the Province of Nueva Ecija and that of fiscal for the Provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac as hereto fore authorized by law are hereby abolished, and the office of fiscal for the Province of Pampanga is hereby re-created, and from and after the date on which this Act shall take effect the salary of the fiscal of the Province of Pampanga shall be two thousand seven hundred pesos per annum, and said fiscal shall perform all the duties imposed by law upon provincial fiscals. SEC. 4. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred. SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect on February fifteenth, nineteen hundred and seven. Enacted, February 12, 1907. [No. 1591.] AN ACT To amend Acts Numbered Fifteen hundred and seven and Fifteen hundred and twenty-seven, by removing the employees of the office of the Supervising Railway Expert from the Bureau of Public Works and establishing it as a separate and independent office, and making additional appropriation for the office of the Supervising Railway Expert. By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that: SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the current expenses of the office of the Supervising Railway Expert in lieu of those provided by Acts Numbered Fifteen hundred and seven and Fifteen hundred and twenty-seven. SUPERVISING RAILWAY EXPERT. For salaries and wages of one assistant, at eight thousand pesos per annum; one chief clerk and office assistant, at six thousand pesos per annum; three assistant engineers, at five thousand five hundred pesos per annum each; two senior inspecting engineers, at five thousand five hundred pesos per annum each, from December eighteenth, nineteen hundred and six; five inspectors, at two thousand eight hundred pesos per annum each, four being from December eighteenth, nineteen hundred and six, and one from February first, nineteen hundred and seven; six time-keepers, at two thousand eight hundred pesos per annum each; one draftsman, at three thousand six hundred pesos per annum; one draftsman, at three thousand two hundred pesos per annum, from December eighteenth, nineteen hundred and six; one clerk, at three thousand two hundred pesos per annum; one clerk, at two thousand eight hundred pesos per annum; one messenger, at three hundred pesos per annum; for the hire of temporary employees, including inspectors at not to exceed eight pesos per diem each, axmen, rodmen, clerical assistants, and other skilled and semi-skilled employees at not to exceed five pesos per diem each; and for the hire of unskilled employees at rates to be approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Police; for contingent expenses, includ |