Composition and Responsibilities of the Department of the Interior
- The Department of the Interior is responsible for bureaus including Health, Marine Hospital Quarantine Service, Forestry, Mining, Agriculture, Fisheries, Weather, Pagan and Mohammedan Tribes, Public Lands, Government Laboratories, and Patents and Copyrights.
- It exercises executive control over these bureaus to manage their respective sectors.
Scope and Control of the Department of Commerce and Police
- This department oversees the Bureau of Island and Inter-Island Transportation, Post Offices, Telegraphs, Coast and Geodetic Survey, public works engineering excluding public buildings, the Insular Constabulary, Prisons, Lighthouses, and Corporations excluding banks.
- It exercises executive control over these diverse functions related to commerce, transportation, communication, and policing.
Jurisdiction of the Department of Finance and Justice
- This department controls the Insular Treasury, Insular Auditor, Customs and Immigration, Internal Revenue, Cold Storage and Ice Plant, Banks and Currency, and the Bureau of Justice.
- It manages financial, legal, and judicial matters, and regulatory functions over banking and monetary systems.
Functions of the Department of Public Instruction
- This department exercises control over the Bureau of Public Instruction, Public Charities, Libraries and Museums, Statistics, Public Records, Public Printing, and Architecture and Construction of Public Buildings.
- It focuses on education, cultural institutions, public records and printing services, and public infrastructure related to buildings.
Executive Oversight and Control
- Secretaries of the four departments have executive control under the general supervision of the Civil Governor.
- The Civil Governor directly exercises control over provincial and municipal governments and civil service through the Executive Secretary.
Department Personnel and Clerical Operations
- Each department consists of the Secretary, assistant clerks, and other employees as provided by law.
- Official correspondence of department heads may be recorded in the Executive Secretary’s office.
- Clerical work for departments can be centralized and carried out in the Executive Secretary’s office with authorization.
Safeguards on Auditor and Treasurer Independence
- The Act preserves the powers of the Insular Auditor and Insular Treasurer as previously granted.
- The Auditor retains independence in auditing and adjudicating account validity according to law.
Expedited Passage and Effectivity
- The Act’s passage was expedited due to public necessity as per existing procedure.
- The law takes effect immediately upon its passage on September 6, 1901.