falsehood in court, he does a wrong to the parties and to the public, and he is guilty of the serious crime of perjury.

Cases can be "appealed" from a justice of the peace court or from the municipal court of the City of Manila, if begun in these courts, to the Court of First Instance of the district. Cases can also be “appealed" from Courts of First Instance to the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands, while a few of the most important cases can even be presented to the United States Supreme Court at Washington.

59. Common Crimes and Penalties.-Crimes are punished by our Penal Code, Acts of the Philippine Legislature, and municipal ordinances. We cannot, of course, name all of the crimes, but we can mention a few of the most common ones.

The most serious crimes are treason, which is an attack on the government itself, and murder, which is the taking of the life of another. These crimes are punished either by death or long imprisonment.

Some other offenses which are mentioned in the Penal Code include crimes against property, such as robbery, theft, and trespass to the dwelling. Fines or imprisonment are imposed on persons who commit these and other crimes. The Gambling Law, the Opium Law, and the Usury Law are the three Acts of the Philippine Legislature which are most often violated. Small offenses are punished by municipal ordinances usually with a sentence of imprisonment for not more than six months, or of a fine of not more than two hundred pesos, or both.

60. Crime, Its Prevention and Correction.-Formerly, persons who violated the law were sent to prison and punished and no effort was made to reform them. Now we follow a more enlightened and humane plan. The Government tries hard to prevent persons from committing crimes. That is, indeed, the best policy.

THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE IN SESSION AT CABANATUAN, NUEVA ECIJA

I, witness; 2, court bailiff; 3, court stenographer; 4, clerk of court; 5, attorney for the plaintiff; 6, attorney for the defendant; 7, Judge of First Instance Nepomuceno.

It is well to remember that there is always some reason for every law. By respecting and obeying the law, one will avoid trouble and will serve his country.

If one does violate the law, then he must be brought before a court for trial. The law will give him every

opportunity to prove himself innocent.

If he is found

guilty, the judge must send him to prison in order to reform him and to protect society.

Prisoners who obey and learn are often permitted to leave prison on "parole." A "parole" is a conditional pardon by which the prisoner is released before the expiration of his term, subject to return to prison if he violates the conditions of his parole. This means that as long as such persons observe the conditions of their parole, they will be free. In some cases the GovernorGeneral pardons prisoners.

61. Prisons and Penal Colonies.-The Prison system in the Philippine Islands is composed of Bilibid Prison in Manila, the headquarters of the Bureau of Prisons; the Iwahig Penal Colony at Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Fort Mills, on Corregidor Island; the San Ramon Penal Farm near Zamboanga, Mindanao; the Insular jail at Bontoc, in the Mountain Province; and provincial and municipal jails.

Bilibid Prison is the largest prison in the Philippines and is said to be the largest prison in the world. Here the prisoners are taught various trades, such as blacksmithing, machine iron working, wagon and carriage building, furniture making, carpentering, tailoring, shoemaking, tinsmithing, baking, laundering, and many other useful callings. The aim is the preparation of the inmates for useful citizenship and honorable positions in the community upon their release. The accomplishment of this aim is by sympathetic means in conjunction with

sane rules and regulations governing the conduct of the prisoners.

Selected prisoners who have earned the privilege are transferred to the Iwahig Penal Colony, near Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Here, over one thousand colonists are employed in agricultural work under the supervision of twenty unarmed employees, three-fourths of whom are ex-colonists. The colonists have been allowed, under careful guidance, to form an almost self-governing body. The San Ramon Penal Farm is located on the coast about fourteen miles from Zamboanga, Mindanao. The six hundred prisoners are from the non-Christians of Mindanao and Sulu. About three-fourths of them are permitted to work the extensive farm under cultivation without the presence of armed guards. These warlike people have many admirable qualities, and it has been found that, under proper guidance, they make excellent farmers.

Bontoc Prison is maintained for the non-Christian prisoners of the Mountain Province and Nueva Vizcaya.

There are also provincial and municipal jails. These jails should be kept clean and the prisoners should be given good food and treated kindly. The City of Manila maintains reformatory schools for young offenders.

62. Responsibility.—All people have various duties in connection with law and justice. Members of the Legislature or a municipal council should see that only good laws are enacted. Every law officer, as a fiscal or a judge, should see that justice is done to poor and rich alike. Private citizens should avoid having disputes with others.

If every one would do his part, the Philippines would soon be free from crime, and would be a better country.

Test Questions

1. Define law. Why is law necessary? Give illustrations of laws.

2. Name two important laws passed by the United States Congress for the Philippines.

3. Define constitution. What is the constitution of the Philippines?

4. What is the Jones Law? Turn to the Appendix and read a part of the Jones Law. What promise was made in the Jones Law?

5. What are Acts? What body passes Acts in the Philippines? Give an example of an Act.

6. Name the six Philippine codes. 7. Why do we have courts?

8. What is the name of the presiding officer in a court? What are cases? What does procedure mean?

9. What two kinds of cases are there? What is the difference? What is the rule in criminal cases, with reference to the guilt of the accused?

10. What is the plaintiff? The defendant? Who represents the Government in criminal cases? Has the accused in criminal cases a right to a lawyer?

II. What is a subpoena? Should it be obeyed? What is perjury?

12. What do we mean when we say that a case is appealed? From what courts can cases be appealed?

13. What is treason? What is murder?

14. Name some of the crimes against property. Name three Acts of the Philippine Legislature which are often violated.