APPENDIX GG. REPORT OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT TO THE U. S. MILITARY GOVERNOR. On the 29th day of May, 1899, G. O. No. 20 was issued by the United States Military Governor, reorganizing the administration of justice, designating the appointees for the Supreme Court, prescribing the form of oath and manner of taking it by the first appointees and establishing the jurisdiction thereof. PERSONNEL. PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT.-D. Cayetano Arellano. Civil Branch: PRESIDENT.-D. Manuel Araullo. MAGISTRATES.-D. Gregorio Araneta; Lt. Col. E. H. Crowder. Criminal Branch: PRESIDENT.-D. Raymundo Melliza. MAGISTRATES.-D. Ambrosio Rianzares; D. Julio Llorente; Maj. FISCAL OF THE SUPREME COURT.-D. Florentino Torres. ОАТН. The form of the oath is as follows: "I, appointed having been in the Philippine Islands, recognize and accept the supreme authority of the United States of America and I do solemnly swear that I will maintain good faith and fidelity to that Government; that I will obey the existing laws which rule in the Philippine Islands, as well as the legal orders and decrees of the duly constituted government therein; that I impose upon myself this voluntary obligation without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to So help me God." enter. Manner of Taking It. Before the Provost Court of Manila or before officers duly appointed by the proper authorities for that purpose. JURISDICTION. The same civil and criminal jurisdiction vested in courts of justice before the 13th day of August, 1898, in so far as it may not be incompatible with the sovereignty of the United States in these Islands, applying the laws declared to be in force by the general proclamation of August 14, 1898, with the exception of such parts thereof as might then or thereafter be changed by the United States authorities. On the 2d day of June, 1899, a meeting was held at the office of the former "Audiencia," attended by Messrs. Arellano, President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Araullo, Presiding Magistrate of the Civil Branch, Araneta, Crowder, Magistrates of the same Branch, Young and Birkhimer, Magistrates of the Criminal Branch; the meeting was called to order by the first named, who explained the contents of the said General Order No. 20, and after all of the gentlemen present manifested their intention to accept their respective appointments, it was agreed that the order be complied with and that a proper statement of said the organization of the Court be drawn, headed by a copy of Order, which statement was signed by all the gentlemen present. Another meeting was held on the 5th of the same month attended by the same gentlemen, after the official communication of the 3d from the Military Governor was received; the President of the Court having explained the manner of taking the oath to his associates, they all agreed to have that ceremony performed. Don Gregorio Araneta, Magistrate of the Civil Branch, being designated Secretary thereof for the purpose of certifying to the oath taken by each of the gentlemen present. Thereupon Don Cayetano Arellano, President of the Supreme Court, took the oath before Lieutenant Col. E. H. Crowder, who was specially authorized to receive it by the said official communication, after which the oath was taken before the former by Messrs. Torres, Araullo, Araneta, Crowder, Young and Birkhimer. After the oath was taken, the President declared the Court fully constituted, vesting their respective offices upon each of the gentlemen who had taken the oath, who signed the act organizing the Supreme Court of Justice of the Philippines. On June 6th, Dionisio Chanco, Deputy Fiscal, took his oath of office, as required, before the Court in banc. It will be observed, that in regard to the personnel of the Supreme Court of Justice, some of the gentlemen appointed did not take possession of their office, because they were not in the capital; but on the 1st and 15th of July respectively, Don Julio Llorente, Magistrate of the Criminal Branch and Don Raymundo Melliza, Presiding Magistrate of the same Branch, took their oath of office and were vested with the duties of their office. Before this time, however, the first named gentlemen held sessions in the Branches of the Court, the personnel of the Civil Branch being complete and the Criminal Branch being attended by Messrs. Young and Birkhimer, presided by the President of the Court until the 15th day of July, after which it was presided by Señor Melliza, its regular presiding Magistrate. Afterward Mr. Birkhimer ceased to belong to the Court because of his taking active command of his regiment as Colonel, and his place was filled by Thomas R. Hamer, now on leave of absence in America. The presiding Magistrate of the Criminal Branch, Señor Melliza, on account of his health and of his family matters, was compelled to resign his office, and the senior Magistrate of the Department, Mr. Richard W. Young, was appointed in his place. The Courts of First Instance, of Justices of the Peace and the Property Registries were organized by General Order No. 21, dated June 5th, 1899. Subaltern officials of the Supreme Court and of the Attorney General's Department were appointed by the same order. Don Román Espíritu was appointed Secretary of the Civil Branch, Don Ramón Fernandez, Secretary of the Criminal Branch, and Don Tomás del Rosario and Don Antonio Constantino, Fiscal Attorneys. The Courts of First Instance were vested with the same jurisdiction which was vested in them before the 13th day of August, by virtue of the said general proclamation of August 14th, 1898; so that they were denominated in the same manner, viz.: Court of First Instance of the District of Quiapo, of the District Intramuros, of the District of Binondo and of the District of Tondo. Each district comprises a number of city wards and towns within the Province of Manila. The Courts, of Justices of the Peace have now their jurisdiction enlarged as formerly their jurisdiction extended only to the city wards of the respective Courts of First Instance, while at present it has been extended to include the same territorial limits over which the respective Courts of First Instance to which they are subordinate, have jurisdiction. The district attorneyships which formerly existed in each Court were also reorganized at the same time. Therefore the districts were reorganized as follows: Binondo District. Don Antonio Majarreis, Judge of Ist Instance; Don Perfecto Gabriel, District Attorney; Don José Memije, Justice of the Peace. Intramuros District. Don José Basa, Judge of Ist Instance; Don Lucio Villareal, District Attorney; Don José Martinez Quintero, Justice of the Peace. Tondo District. Don Basilio Regalado, Judge of Ist Instance; Don José Ner, District Attorney; Don Pedro Ricafort, Justice of the Peace. Quiapo District. Don Hipólito Magsalín, Judge of 1st Instance; Don Vicente Rodriguez, District Attorney; Don Martiniano Veloso, Justice of the Peace. The Courts of First Instance and of Justices of the Peace were installed in a building owned by the State within the Walled City at No. Cabildo St. This greatly facilitates access to the four courts, saves the payment of rent, as otherwise buildings would have had to have been leased within each of the four districts, and provides the way for keeping one general record for all said Courts in one commodious building. The Supreme Court was installed in the building formerly used by the Territorial Audiencia of Manila, situate also in the Walled City and owned by the State. The Supreme Court has not only received intact the record of all civil, criminal and gubernative matters having reference to the administration of justice, but also all legal provisions applicable to such administration since the creation of the defunct Audiencia of Manila in these Islands. It is the only official archive saved, where precious documents may be examined, not only in relation to the institution referred to, but as well to history itself. G. O. No. 1 of January 2, 1900, reorganized the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan, at the town of Dagupan, with the following appointees: Don Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Judge, and Don Gernando Grey, District Attorney. G. O. No. 6 of January 16, 1900, consolidated the Courts of First Instance of Cagayan and of Isabela into one, now denominated Court of First Instance of Cagayan, at the town of Tuguegarao, having the same category as those of Manila and Pangasinan, that is to say, of the 1st class, with the following appointees: Don Vicente Nepomuceno, Judge, and Don Modesto Naval, District Attorney. G. O. No. 19 of January 31, 1900, reorganized the Court of First Instance of South Ilocos, at Vigan, capital of the province and its former seat, with the following appointees: Don Gaspar de Bartolomé, Judge, and Don Francisco Tongson, District Attorney. This judge not only took charge of all matters which were pending in said Court but also of those which were pending before the Criminal Audiencia formerly of that province, which were greatly scattered and which he, to a large extent, gathered and saved, a thing which has generally not been done in the other provinces, on account of the destructive tendencies of the war. |