money. Other measures can be passed by a majority vote of the members present in the meeting.

The president is the presiding officer of the council. As such, he has no right to vote except in case of a tie. 129. Powers and Duties of Municipal Council.— The municipal council has numerous powers. We can mention only a few of the most important.

The council is authorized to pass ordinances, for the violation of which it can fix a penalty of a fine of not more than two hundred pesos, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. It has power to grant permits or licenses to engage in certain businesses or occupations. It must provide apparatus for protection against fire, which must consist of at least twenty-four fire buckets, twelve ladders of suitable length, six ropes with hooks attached, twenty-four bolos, twelve axes, one two-man cross-cut saw, and any other apparatus which it thinks. necessary. The council determines the date of the "fiesta," which cannot be held oftener than once a year. It prepares an annual budget and makes appropriations for municipal expenses. The council has authority to construct water works, ferries, wharves, markets, slaughterhouses, pounds, and cemeteries. Any municipality which, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior, has enough money to pay for the establishment of an irrigation system, may, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Communications, construct it; the central Government helps bear the expense. The council can grant the exclusive privilege of fishing to the highest bidder.

One of the chief duties of the council is to establish

and maintain elementary schools. After the primary and intermediate schools have been provided for, the council can also establish and maintain special or professional schools. It can also appropriate money for the maintenance of night schools in English. It can also provide for the appointment of not more than four students to whom it will give a sum not to exceed forty pesos a month for special training in the Philippine Normal School, the Philippine School of Arts and Trades, a school of agriculture, or some other Insular school. Each student who receives such an appointment must sign an agreement to act as a teacher in the municipality, for a period of time equal to that spent by him or her in study at the expense of the municipality.

One can readily see that the municipal council, with so many important duties, has it within its power either to retard or advance the interests of the municipality.

130. Ordinances and Resolutions.-The legislative action taken by a council is called an ordinance or resolution. Ordinances and resolutions must be numbered in order throughout the year.

When an ordinance or resolution is passed by the council, it is sent to the president for his consideration. The president can approve and sign the ordinance or resolution; or, if he considers it unfavorable to the public welfare, he can veto it, by writing a letter to the council expressing his disapproval. The council can then pass the ordinance or resolution in spite of the veto of the president, if twothirds of all its members vote in its favor. Should the president neither approve nor veto an ordinance or resolu

tion within five days after its passage, its becomes valid without his approval or signature. An ordinance usually takes effect on the tenth day after its passage.

The secretary must post the ordinance on the day after its passage at the main entrance of the municipal building. The council may, if it thinks wise, have the ordinance translated into the dialect used by the majority of the people.

The secretary must send a correct copy of each approved ordinance and resolution within thirty-six hours to the provincial board. The provincial board can declare the ordinance or resolution invalid. Should the council be dissatisfied with the decision of the provincial board, it can by a two-thirds vote appeal to the Chief of the Executive Bureau, whose decision is final.

The council should be very careful in passing ordinances and resolutions. The subjects of ordinances and resolutions should only be those of vital interest to the municipality. Moreover, economy should be followed in such ordinances or resolutions as appropriate money. If in doubt as to the legality of an ordinance, the provincial fiscal should be consulted.

131. A Council at Work.-We have described the municipal council and the procedure for the enactment of ordinances and resolutions. Let us see further exactly how the council should proceed in the performance of its duties.

Let us say that the regular meeting takes place every second Saturday at ten o'clock in the morning. The president and councilors should be punctual in attendance.

Promptly at ten o'clock the president calls the meeting to order by saying, "The meeting will please come to order." The president will first ask the secretary if a quorum is present, that is, more than half the total number of members; for example, for a municipality of the fourth class having eight councilors, whether or not at least five members of the council are present. The president then requests the secretary of the council to read the minutes or record of the previous meeting. After the minutes have been read the president asks, “Are there any corrections to the minutes?" If any member believes the minutes are incorrect, he arises and says, "Mr. President," and states his objection. If the council decides that the objection is just, the minutes are corrected and amended. If no objection is raised, the president merely says, "The minutes stand approved as read." The president then asks whether there is any old business to be discussed, for instance, something that has been left over from a previous meeting, or the reports of committees. New business will then be called for.

Councilors in discussing any matter should always address the presiding officer as Mr. President, and should speak only when recognized by him. When any ordinary motion is before the council, the president will ask those in favor to say, "Aye" and those opposed, "No." A majority of those present must vote "Aye" for the motion to be passed. In case of an ordinance, or a resolution appropriating money, the president will ask the secretary to call the roll, and the councilors answer "Aye" or "No" as their names are called.

When there is no more business to come before the council, a member should move "That the council do now adjourn." If the motion is carried, the president closes the session by saying, "The meeting is adjourned."

The people of the municipality should be admitted to meetings of the council, but they should not be allowed to interrupt or to disturb the meetings.

132. The Municipal Secretary. The municipal secretary is the clerk of the council. He is appointed by the president with the consent of the council.

Some of the secretary's duties are to keep the records, the minutes of council meetings, and the register of births, marriages, and deaths occurring in the municipality. At the end of every three months, he sends certified copies of the register of births, marriages, and deaths to the division of archives, Bureau of Commerce and Industry. The municipal secretary also collects the copies of the Official Gazette received by him from the Bureau of Printing.

133. The Municipal Treasurer. The municipal treasurer is the financial officer of the municipality. He is appointed by the provincial treasurer. He must fulfill the conditions of the Civil Service Law. The provincial board can remove him from office, if there is a reason for doing so.

The municipal treasurer appoints the employees in his office to the positions provided by the council. He collects money due the municipality, giving a receipt to every person who pays money to him. He is also the keeper of municipal property,