Title
Gold-Standard Fund and Currency Management Act
Law
Act No. 938
Decision Date
Oct 10, 1903
Act No. 938 establishes a gold-standard fund in the Insular Treasury of the Philippines to maintain parity between the silver Philippine peso and the gold-standard peso, overseen by the Division of Currency, with the Chief responsible for managing funds, examining books, and providing monthly statements.
A

Establishment of the Division of Currency

  • Creation of the Division of Currency within the Bureau of the Insular Treasury.
  • The Chief of the Division is appointed by the Civil Governor with Commission's approval.
  • Annual salary fixed at six thousand pesos.
  • The Chief is assisted by accountants and clerical staff as authorized by law.

Duties of the Chief of the Division of Currency

  • Examine Treasurer and Auditor books to report on funds constituting the gold-standard fund.
  • Request segregation of the gold-standard fund in official accounts; disputes resolved by the Secretary of Finance and Justice.
  • Initial receipts related to the fund and oversee specific notation of withdrawals and transfers.

Transaction Oversight by the Chief of the Division of Currency

  • All treasury transactions involving coinage, currency circulation, gold-standard fund maintenance, parity maintenance, and silver certificates issuance/retirement require Chief's prior submission and notation.

Accounting and Reporting Responsibilities

  • Maintain separate books for financial operations related to coinage, currency matters, and gold-standard fund administration.
  • Submit monthly financial statements to the Insular Treasurer and Secretary of Finance and Justice.

Custody and Control of the Fund

  • Actual custody and control remain with the Insular Treasurer.
  • Chief of the Division operates under the Insular Treasurer's supervision.

Powers and Duties of the Insular Treasurer to Maintain Currency Parity

  • Authorized to exchange Philippine and U.S. currencies under specified terms and premia.
  • May charge premiums for demand drafts and telegraphic transfers; premium adjustments authorized by Secretary of Finance and Justice.
  • Exchange of U.S. currency and gold coin/bars for Philippine currency upon Secretary's approval.
  • Withdrawal and management of currency to maintain parity and circulation volume matching trade demands.

Exchange of Philippine and Subsidiary Coins

  • Provincial and Insular Treasurers authorized to exchange Philippine pesos for smaller silver coins and minor coins of nickel and copper in multiples of ten pesos.
  • Reciprocal exchange from subsidiary coins to Philippine pesos also authorized.

Supervision and Control of Silver Certificates

  • Issue and redemption supervised by Chief of the Division of Currency.
  • Detailed record-keeping and accounting of silver certificates required.

Procedures for Handling Silver Certificates

  • Certificates designed, printed, and delivered through U.S. Treasury Bureau with specified procedures.
  • Certificates delivered to Philippine Treasurer without seal; then sent from Bureau of Insular Affairs with verification notices to Auditor.
  • Treasurer affixes seal and processes certificates, securing them in a reserve vault until required for circulation.
  • Certificates in reserve vault treated as non-cash but accounted for as money.
  • Certificates withdrawn for circulation as needed; proceeds held as a trust fund.
  • Detailed records of serial numbers and amounts maintained by Treasurer and Auditor.
  • Unfit certificates destroyed under supervision after official verification.

Annual and Other Reporting Requirements

  • Chief of Division must submit detailed annual and other reports as required to the Insular Treasurer.

Appointment Provisions

  • Except for Chief, all Division appointments made by Insular Treasurer according to Civil Service Act.

Expediency of Enactment

  • The Act’s passage is expedited due to public interest.

Effectivity

  • The Act takes effect immediately upon its passage.

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