Moro Province Organization Act

Division into Districts and Their Jurisdiction

Moro Province is divided into five districts: Sulu, Zamboanga, Lanao, Cottabato, and Davao.
Each district includes specific geographic areas as per detailed boundary descriptions.
A subdistrict of Dapitan is carved out from Zamboanga District with Dapitan as its capital.

District Capitals

District capitals are appointed as follows: Jolo (Sulu), Zamboanga (Zamboanga), Iligan (Lanao), Cottabato (Cottabato), and Davao (Davao).
The legislative council may change these capitals at its discretion.

Appointment and Roles of Provincial Officials

The Civil Governor of the Philippines appoints, with consent of the Philippine Commission, the provincial governor, attorney, secretary, treasurer, schools superintendent, and engineer.
Army officers may be detailed to fill governor and engineer roles.
Vacancies are to be promptly reported; provincial governor may assign duties temporarily.

Duties of the Provincial Governor

Acts under supervision of Civil Governor; reports regularly.
Ensures faithful law execution province-wide; controls municipal police through district governors.
Manages Constabulary movements; may suspend and penalize district officers for misconduct or incompetency.
Recommends legislative and executive measures for provincial welfare.
Assists courts in enforcing judgments with police and Constabulary.
Appoints district governors, secretaries, treasurers, and provincial government employees following Civil Service rules.

Duties and Authorities of the Provincial Secretary

Acts as governor during absence or disability.
Inspects and reports on civil affairs.
Records and attests official acts; custodian of the provincial seal and records.
Furnishes certified copies of public records with applicable fees.
Serves as secretary of the legislative council.

Duties and Authorities of the Provincial Treasurer

Chief financial officer; supervises assessment, collection, and handling of taxes except customs duties.
Bonds for faithful duty discharge; supervises deputies.
Custodian of provincial funds; issues payments only by warrant.
Renders quarterly accounts reviewed by legislative council and Insular officials.
Performs audits and supervises district treasurers.

Duties and Authorities of the Provincial Engineer

Supervises public works including roads, buildings, bridges, and ferries.
Prepares plans, estimates, reports; manages contracts with legislative council approval.
Purchases supplies for the province and districts; keeps accounts of property and supplies delivered.
Can delegate purchasing duties to provincial secretary during vacancy.

Duties and Authorities of the Provincial Attorney

Legal adviser to provincial government and officials; represents province in suits.
Advises municipal governments; supervises district fiscals.
Handles criminal prosecutions when needed.
Reports annually to Insular Attorney-General on legal matters.

Roles of the Provincial Superintendent of Schools

Establishes, reorganizes schools; sets curricula and teachers' salaries within legal limits.
Supervises building plans; procures supplies.
Allocates American teachers and manages school district definitions.
Promotes English instruction without suppressing native languages.
Reports to provincial governor, General Superintendent of Education, and legislative council.

Salaries of Provincial and District Officers

Provincial governor salary not exceeding $6,000 USD annually; other provincial officers up to $4,000.
District governors up to $3,500; district secretaries and treasurers up to $2,500.
Dapitan lieutenant-governor up to $2,000.
Salaries paid from provincial revenues;
Army officers detailed to civil posts receive military pay plus 20% allowance and expenses.

Legislative Council Composition and Function

Composed of governor, secretary, treasurer, engineer, superintendent of schools, and attorney; governor presides.
Four members form quorum; governor casts tie-breaking vote.
Regular meetings twice monthly and special meetings as called.

Powers and Duties of the Legislative Council

Provides and manages provincial and district offices, courthouses, and jails.
Furnishes vaults and safes for treasurers' use.
Orders salary payments and authorized expenditures.
Employs subordinate employees; sets salaries and working rules.
Provides provincial seal.
May impose additional taxes compatible with U.S. law and distribute proceeds.
Enacts laws for public education and local governments respecting Muslim and non-Christian customs.
Promotes codification and application of Moro customary laws and organizes district courts to adjudicate cases among Moros and other non-Christians.
Enacts laws abolishing slavery and regulating marine craft.
Oversees construction and maintenance of public works.
Has authority to amend Municipal Code to fit Moro Province conditions.
May enact laws improving welfare consistent with U.S. and Philippine laws; prohibited from issuing bonds except as allowed by Congress.

District Officers: Appointment and Qualifications

District governor, secretary, and treasurer appointed by provincial governor with legislative consent.
Army officers may be detailed to district governor post.
Treasurers appointed per Civil Service Law.
Governors and secretaries must pass dialect examination after 18 months.

Duties of District Governors

Chief executives of their districts under provincial governor supervision.
Act as sheriffs; execute court decrees; maintain custody of prisoners; supervise district jail.
Discipline municipal officers with suspension and removal powers; appeals directed to provincial governor.
Inspect municipalities biannually and report conditions.
Manage district employees and municipal police with power over appointments and removals.

Duties of District Secretaries

Custodians of district records; attest official acts.
Provide certified copies of records with fees for private persons.
Act as district governor in absence or disability.
Preside over district courts.
Inspect public works and supervise contracts.
Custodians of district public property.
Required to bond for faithful duty.

Duties of District Treasurers

Collect taxes as prescribed; may deputize municipal treasurers for certain collections.
Act as registrars of Chinese and property until otherwise provided.
Collect forestry dues and forward them to provincial treasurer.
Render quarterly accounts; manage funds per directives.
Pay municipal treasurers their lawful shares; keep municipal officials informed.
Disburse authorized district salaries.
Subject to inspection; default leads to office seizure and legal action.
Required to give bond.

Security and Law Enforcement Provisions

Philippine Scouts may aid the Constabulary under specified federal statutes.
Military assistance may be requested to enforce laws during disturbances beyond Constabulary and police control.
A dedicated seventh assistant chief of Constabulary for Moro Province oversees organization and supervision.
Constabulary force limited to 150 enlisted men per district unless authorized otherwise.

Financial and Contractual Controls

Provincial treasurer must certify sufficient funds before contracts are made for public works.
Work and contracts over $1,000 USD must be publicly bid with notices posted; provincial engineer may recommend alternate procurement if bids are unsatisfactory.
Insular Treasurer and Auditor regulate accounting and auditing of provincial and district treasurers.
Strict procedures for handling defalcations and defaults, including office seizure and legal action.

Management of Forestry, Stamp, and Customs Revenues

Collections on forestry products handled through district treasurers to Insular Treasury with expense deductions applied.
Internal revenue stamp distribution and accounting handled through provincial and district treasuries.
Net customs receipts form a special fund for provincial, district, and municipal uses; collected funds deposited directly with provincial treasurer and reported to higher authorities.

Judicial Jurisdiction and Courts

Courts of First Instance and justices of the peace generally lack jurisdiction over cases solely involving Moros or non-Christians, except as authorized by the legislative council.
Exceptions allow for habeas corpus cases and certain inter-tribal matters.
District courts with culturally representative members adjudicate Moro and non-Christian cases, with decisions subject to district governor and provincial governor approval.

Transition from Military to Civil Control

Legislative council may provide gradual transition of district authority under military supervision where deemed necessary.

Corporate Powers of Provincial and District Governments

Provincial government and districts (by law) are corporations empowered to sue, be sued, hold property, contract, and incur authorized obligations.

Special Provisions for the Subdistrict of Dapitan

Created to provide a quasi-independent form of government for Dapitan and surrounding small towns.
Lieutenant-governor and deputy treasurer offices established with provisions suited to local conditions.

Effectivity and Legislative Procedures

Laws passed by the legislative council take effect as fixed, subject to Commission annulment or amendment.
Secretary of the council must promptly transmit certified copies to the Commission.
The Act expedited for immediate enforcement, effective July 15, 1903.