Title
Amendments on Moro Province Goverce Act
Law
Act No. 1283
Decision Date
Jan 13, 1905
The Amendments to Act No. 787 Re: Organization and Government of Moro Province made changes to the appointment of officials, responsibilities of the provincial superintendent of schools, consolidation of offices, and jurisdiction of courts in the Moro Province.

Extension of Disciplinary Authority to Municipal Officers

  • Section amended to include municipal officers along with district officers for purposes of discipline regarding misconduct or incompetency in office.
  • Removal of reference to lieutenant-governor of the subdistrict of Dapitan.

Powers and Duties of the Provincial Superintendent of Schools

  • Authority to establish and reorganize schools across municipalities, rancherias, townships, or settlements.
  • Salary setting for American and native teachers within legal limits, with the provincial governor's approval.
  • Curriculum establishment for primary, industrial, and secondary schools, adaptable to local conditions, with legislative council's approval.
  • Supervision of schoolhouse construction plans, land requirements, hygiene rules.
  • Submission of requisitions for supplies via provincial engineer and Insular Purchasing Agent.
  • Submission of annual budget estimates, semiannual reports on administration, recommendations for laws, and other duties as required.
  • English is the base language for instruction, with allowance for Spanish, Moro, or local languages.

Salaries and Allowances for Military Officers Performing Civil Duties

  • Removal of specific salary provision for lieutenant-governor of Dapitan.
  • Military officers detailed for civil duties receive 20% allowance of their current proper yearly pay plus actual necessary expenses.

Legislative Council Composition and Quorum Rules

  • Provision for council composition in case of consolidation of secretary and engineer and governor and superintendent.
  • Legislative council to consist of governor, secretary & engineer, attorney, and treasurer in such cases.
  • Quorum set at three members; tie vote resolved by governor's vote.

Legislative Council Powers Regarding Local Laws and Tribal Courts

  • Modification of powers to align substantively with local customs and usages among Moros and non-Christian inhabitants.
  • Ability to enact local variant civil and criminal laws applicable to Moros and non-Christian tribes.
  • Laws may vary by locality; uniform application not required.
  • Tribal ward courts established for minor civil and criminal cases involving Moros and non-Christian tribes, with jurisdiction and appeal processes defined.
  • Governor and secretary as justices of tribal ward courts with auxiliary justices appointed as needed.

Inclusion of District Secretary in Vacancy Procedures

  • Vacancies filling procedures expanded to cover the district secretary position alongside the district governor.

Jurisdiction over Public Works Recommendations

  • District officials to recommend repairs and improvements concerning public works, buildings, and highways to provincial engineer through provincial governor.

Extension of Legislative and Executive Powers of District Governor

  • District governor’s responsibilities clarified, including acting as president of district court and recommending public works improvements.
  • Executive orders authorized for continuity of governance when district governor is absent.

Register of Deeds Appointment and Duties

  • Once a register of deeds is appointed for Moro Province, district treasurer ceases to act as register of property.
  • District treasurer permitted to receive and forward land documents to provincial register of deeds, though no filing or registration is effected by such receipt.

Conditions for Military Intervention in Disturbances

  • Military intervention permitted only when Constabulary and municipal police are incapable, and based on the opinion of the provincial governor.
  • Military command authority limited to any military officer in command of U.S. troops, replacing previous broader command descriptions.

Constabulary Inspection and Oversight

  • Inspection of local police to be conducted upon request by provincial or district governor.

Jurisdictional Limitations of Justices of the Peace and Courts

  • Justices of the peace in Moro Province excluded from jurisdiction over civil or criminal cases involving Moros or other non-Christian tribes.
  • Tribal ward courts given jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal cases involving Moros and similar groups.
  • Courts of First Instance retain jurisdiction over habeas corpus cases.
  • Justices of the peace appointed in areas not organized into municipalities with concurrent jurisdiction alongside municipal justices.
  • Regulations for case assignment among justices to ensure convenience and efficient administration.
  • Costs for criminal proceedings before justices of the peace to be paid from provincial, district or municipal treasuries.

Repeal of Section Thirty-One

  • Section thirty-one of the original Act repealed.

Confirmation of Cedula Tax Collection in Moro Province

  • Reaffirmation that the Internal Revenue Law of 1904 does not repeal legislative provisions allowing collection of cedula tax among Moros and non-Christian tribes under certain conditions.

Revenue Apportionment and Use for Moro Province

  • Revenues from Internal Revenue Law accrued fully to Moro Province treasury without division.
  • Legislative council authorized to expend funds for provincial, district, and municipal needs at its discretion.

Expedited Legislative Procedure

  • The passage of this Act expedited in accordance with existing procedural laws for urgent public good.

Effective Date

  • The Act takes effect on February 1, 1905.

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