regular sessions of the court for the district are held-not as the crow flies, but as it is necessary to travel in order to reach the court. In the greater part of the province roads are unknown and traveling through the interior an impossibility. Transportation from the settlements mentioned to the place of holding court is necessarily by sea, in small native crafts. In some instances the commission of crimes justifies the holding of special sessions at these distant settlements, but ordinarily they are left as much without a court of first instance as if such courts had never been established. Another drawback to the proper administration of justice in the province is due to the inability to secure competent justices of the peace. Except at Zamboanga there is no one continuous settlement of Filipinos sufficiently populous to justify the organization of a separate municipal government for the settlement, and at Zamboanga it has been necessary to include several distant settlements within the municipal limits. The municipalities of the province are very extensive, including more territory than is usually included in an entire province in other parts of the islands, but, save for small settlements scattered here and there, this territory is uninhabited. These settlements are often many miles distant from the seat of municipal government and very difficult of access. In view of these conditions, the Philippine Commission has provided by legislation for the appointment of justices of the peace for such settlement without regard to municipal limits, in order that the inhabitants thereof may not be compelled to travel prohibitive distances in order to appear before a justice. The inhabitants of these remote hamlets are primitive and ignorant, and it is usually impossible to find among them a man of sufficient education to qualify him for the position of justice of the peace, nor is the position so lucrative as to tempt better educated natives from Zamboanga or the other provinces to reside at such places. The result is that litigation in the justice of the peace courts of the province is in a very chaotic and unsatisfactory condition, nor does there seem to be any immediate remedy therefor. A handbook of instructions for justices of the peace, with printed forms for the transaction of all legal business coming before such courts, would be of aid in placing them upon a sounder basis. Because of the conditions above set forth, the sparseness of the population, the vast distances, insufficient transportation, the undeveloped condition of the province, and the ignorance of the inhabitants, the administration of justice in the Moro Province can not be expected to be as satisfactory as it is in other parts of the islands where the population is dense and many of the natives have attained a high degree of civilization. In time, however, as education progresses, as the great natural wealth of the province is developed, and as the population increases it is natural to expect that conditions will steadily improve. Very respectfully, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, Manila, P. I. JOHN E. SPRINGER, EXHIBIT 3. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE INSULAR COLD STORAGE AND ICE PLANT. INSULAR COLD STORAGE AND ICE PLANT, Manila, P. I., July 11, 1904. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to hand you herewith a report of the operation of this plant for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904. By the terms of the contract with the Army for the fiscal year 1904, three cold rooms in all, 127,254 cubic feet of space-were vacated. The plant was thus turned over to the undersigned with a revenue of P106,893.38 less than preceding years. In order to, as far as possible, overcome this reduction in the revenue, the working force of every department was materially reduced, except the engineers'. This I deemed it advisable, in the interest of the plant, to increase. Other economies were also practiced, but, on account of long accumulated leaves which had to be paid, and previous requisitions of the insular purchasing agent which could not be canceled, I regret to say I was unable to entirely overcome the large reduction referred to above. During the month of May, 1904, room No. 5 was divided into three rooms-frozen room, chill room, and issue room-to meet the requirements of the sales commissary, and contracted for by the quartermaster May 21, 1904, at an annual rental of P30,000. By authority of the honorable Civil Commission I have installed an additional freezing tank, which adds 18 tons of ice to the daily capac ity of the plant. This tank meets the increased demand for ice and obviates the necessity of at times drawing ice which has not been properly frozen. By authority of the honorable secretary of finance and justice, I have transferred to the bureau of coast guard and transportation one small steel lorcha, which was not needed for the plant's business, and, in compliance with Executive Order No. 10, have transferred to the bureau of architecture all building material not needed at the plant, a list of which is attached hereto. During this period I have had the entire rolling stock of the plant rebuilt, every machine overhauled, and the main building repaired and painted inside and out. It gives me great pleasure that I am thus able to turn the entire property over to your honor in the best possible condition. Very respectfully, CHAS. G. SMITH, Manila, P. I. The SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND JUSTICE, SULAR Articles of agreement for furnishing cold storage to the Subsistence Department, United States This agreement, entered into at Manila, Philippine Islands, this first day of July, nineteen hundred and three, between Colonel E. B. Atwood, U. S. A., chief quartermaster, Division of the Philippines, of the first part, and the insular government of the Philippine Islands, of the second part, Witnesseth, That the said Colonel E. B. Atwood, chief quartermaster, Division of the Philippines, for and in behalf of the United States of America, and the said insular government of the Philippine Islands, covenant and agree to and with each other as follows: I. That the said insular government of the Philippines Islands shall, and by these presents does, hereby demise, let, rent, and lease to the United States of America rooms numbered 1-A, 1-B, Ï-C, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 in the insular cold storage and ice plant, Manila, P. I. (two hundred and ninety-nine thousand one hundred and nineteen cubic feet), to be used by the Subsistence Department, U. S. Army, for the storage of fresh meats and subsistence supplies, to have and to hold the same from the first day of July, nineteen hundred and three, to the thirtieth day of June, nineteen hundred and four, inclusive. II. That the said insular government of the Philippine Islands agrees to maintain at all times in each of the rooms aforesaid such temperature as is required by the Subsistence Department, not less than eighteen degrees Fahrenheit, and to keep at all times in serviceable condition the loading and unloading devices, carrying rails, elevators, and scales appertaining to said plant, and to furnish the use, as well as the necessary mechanics to operate the same, free of charge whenever the devices can be used to facilitate and expedite the movement of stores in and out of cold storage. III. That the insular government of the Philippine Islands shall furnish the insulated lighters and steam tug of the said insular cold storage and ice plant to receive ex-ship, Manila Bay, all fresh beef and mutton to be kept in cold storage for the Subsistence Department, but the said insular government shall not be required to furnish the labor, checkers, etc., necessary to bring the same to the scales or elevator at the outer doors of the cold storage side of the plant or to move the same from one room to another whenever necessary for the convenience of the Subsistence Department. IV. That the insulated lighters and steam tug of the insular cold storage and ice plant shall be used to deliver fresh meat to transports in the harbor of Manila and to the Subsistence Department depot on the Pasig River; but the said insular government is not to be required to furnish the checkers and labor required for such services; the insular cold storage and ice plant to deliver the fresh beef, mutton, and other stores at the scales or foot of elevator, at the outside door of the cold storage rooms: Provided, That the insular cold storage and ice plant shall not be compelled to furnish its steam tug or insulated lighters for the transportation of beef or mutton to the U. S. transports or other Government vessels in the harbor of Manila when the quantity to be transported is less than one (1) ton. V. The superintendent of the insular cold storage and ice plant shall receive from and give receipts to the Subsistence Department for the subsistence stores and fresh meat to be placed in cold storage when delivered at the scales or foot of elevator at the outer doors of the cold storage side of the plant, and the unit specified therein shall be the quarter of beef, specifying whether fore or hind quarter, the carcass of mutton, the box, and the crate. The receipt for boxes and crates will state their gross weight and the name of the stores "said to be contained therein." VI. The Subsistence Department, through its authorized representative stationed at the insular cold storage and ice plant, shall receive from and give receipt to the insular cold storage and ice plant for all subsistence stores and fresh meat taken out of cold storage and delivered by the plant at its scales or foot of elevator at the outer door of the cold storage side of the plant. VII. The management of the cold storage rooms aforesaid, the regulation of the temperature required by the Subsistence Department, and the operation of all machinery and plant used for producing cold and for transporting meat and other supplies from the river front to the rooms where they are to be stored, and for returning the same to the river front when needed, shall be under the control and management of the superintendent of the insular cold storage and ice plant. VIII. That in case any beef, mutton, or other stores belonging to the Subsistence Department shall be lost by perils of the sea or marine disaster within the harbor of Manila while being transported to or from the insular cold storage and ice plant, the insular government shall not be liable for any loss or damage so sustained by the Subsistence Depart ment. IX. That in case the building belonging to the insular government, in which the cold storage space hereby leased is contained should be destroyed by fire, earthquake or typhoon, or other casualty, or so materially injured by either of said causes that it becomes impracti cable for the said insular government to complete this contract, this contract shall thereupon cease and be determined, without liability for damage on the part of either party; Provided, That in the event of an accident to the machinery or appliances, due to any imper fection in said machinery or appliances, or to the carelessness of the employees of the said insular cold storage and ice plant, which renders it impossible to maintain the temperature of the cold storage rooms at a degree of cold low enough to preserve the meat and other stores belonging to the Subsistence Department, the insular government shall provide cold storage elsewhere for said supplies, or pay to the Subsistence Department the money value of such of the said supplies as may be so damaged as to be unserviceable, the amount to be determined by a military board of survey. X. That for and in consideration of the above covenants and agreements the United States shall pay to the said insular government of the Philippine Islands the sum of three and one-half cents (3 cents) U. S. currency per cubic foot per month for all the cold storage space by this instrument leased. XI. That payment shall be made at the end of each calendar month, or as soon thereafter as practicable at the office of the disbursing quartermaster at Manila, P. I., in the funds furnished for the purpose by the United States. XII. That neither this lease nor any interest therein shall be transferred to any other party or parties, and in case of such transfer the United States may refuse to carry out this lease either with the transferer or the transferee, but all rights of action for any breach of this lease by the said insular government of the Philippine Islands are reserved to the United States. XIII. That no Member of or Delegate to Congress, nor any persons belonging to or employed in the military service of the United States is, or shall be admitted to any share or part of this lease or to any benefit which may arise therefrom. XIV. That this lease shall be subject to approval of the major-general, U. S. Army, commanding the Division of the Philippines. In witness whereof the undersigned have hereunto placed their hands the date first hereinbefore written. Articles of agreement for furnishing ice to the Subsistence Department, U. S. Army, by the insular government of the Philippine Islands. This agreement entered into at Manila, Philippine Islands, on this tenth day of July, 1903, between Colonel Henry G. Sharpe, A. C. G., United States Army, for and in behalf of the United States of America, party of the first part, and the insular government of the Philippine Islands, party of the second part, witnesseth: I. That the said party of the second part agrees to furnish as much ice per day as may be required by the Subsistence Department, United States Army, Division of the Philippines, not to exceed two-thirds of the capacity of the insular cold storage and ice plant owned and operated by the party of the second part, at Manila, which ice shall be pure and merchantable and made from distilled water, and shall be delivered at the following places: 1st, on the loading platform of the plant; 2nd, launches' side at plant's dock; 3rd, at wharf in front of the captain of the port's office; 4th, at ship's side, Manila Harbor; and the said party of the second part shall deliver ice at the places above enumerated without additional cost, and at such other places within the city limits of Manila as may be designated by the said party of the first part. II. That the said party of the first part hereby agrees that for each pound of ice so delivered and received by the party of the first part it will pay fifty cents, United States cur rency, per one hundred pounds, to the party of the second part, payable monthly at the office of the depot commissary, Manila, Philippine Islands. III. That this contract shall continue in force from the first day of July, 1903, to the thirtieth day of June, 1904, inclusive. IV. That neither this contract nor any interest therein shall be transferred to any other party or parties, and in case of such transfer the party of the first part may refuse to carry out this contract either with the transferrer or the transferee, but all rights of action for any breach of this contract by the said insular government of the Philippine Islands are reserved to the United States. V. That no member of or delegate to Congress, or any person belonging to or employed in the military service of the United States, is or shall be admitted to any share or part of this contract or to any benefit which may arise therefrom. VI. That this contract shall be subject to the approval of the commanding general, Division of the Philippines. In witness whereof the undersigned have hereunto placed their hands on the day first hereon before written, James F. Smith, acting secretary of finance and justice, having been authorized to execute this contract by virtue of a resolution of the United States Philippine Commission, adopted on the 10th day of July, 1903, reading as follows: "Be it resolved by the United States Philippine Commission, That the acting secretary of finance and justice be hereby authorized to contract with the United States of America for furnishing ice to the United States of America from the insular cold storage and ice plant for the period of one year, from the first day of July, 1903, to the thirtieth day of June, 1904, inclusive, upon such terms and conditions as shall seem to the said acting secretary of finance and justice expedient.” Witness: Mr. JOHN Ross MARTIN, Paymaster, U. S. Navy, Cavite, P. I. SIR: I have the honor to invite your attention to a copy of your letter of July 29, 1902, in connection with our agreement relating to the storing of the navy beef and mutton in the insular cold storage and ice plant, and to respectfully request to be informed as to the intention of your department in connection with this matter for the year ending June 30, 1904. I believe it is of some importance that the matter should be satisfactorily settled before the expiration of the present fiscal year. This office has no objection to a renewal of the agreement under which we are working at present. Very respectfully, LEON S. ROUDIEZ, Captain of Infantry, U. S. Army, Superintendent. UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, Cavite, P. I., April 22, 1903. SIR: In reply to your favor of April 15, I am directed by the commandant to inform you that it is his desire to continue for fiscal year 1904 the present arrangements for storing beef and mutton, i. e., 3 cents per cubic foot per month. Respectfully, JOHN ROSS MARTIN, The SUPERINTENDENT INSULAR COLD STORAGE AND ICE PLANT, Manila. INSULAR COLD STORAGE AND ICE PLANT, Paymaster JOHN ROSS MARTIN, U. S. Navy, Cavite, P. I. SIR: I have the honor to invite your attention to copy of correspondence herewith inclosed. This formed the basis of an agreement covering the keeping of beef and mutton |