205. DIONISIO FERRAZY.-Asks $2,045.00 for destruction of household property by U. S. troops at San Fernando, Pampanga, May 14, 1899. Filed July 28, 1900. Pending August 15, 1900. 206. FRANCIS A. DA SILVA.-Requests return of launch “Oriente,” seized under suspicious circumstances by U. S. Gunboat "Oeste,” near Playa, Province of Laguna de Bay, June 10, 1900. Filed August 10, 1900. Pending August 15, 1900. Case was heard August 22, 1900. No decision reached by Board as yet. 207. TAN CHICO.-Asks $205.00 rent for carriage and horses, being a case stated, sent by Military Governor, requesting opinion of Board on papers and facts as presented. Filed August 10, 1900. Opinion disallowing forwarded August 17, 1900. 208. NICOLAS ORTIZ LUIS.-Asking $316.75 for damage to house and crops. Being a case stated, sent by the Military Governor, requesting opinion of the Board on papers and facts as presented. Filed August 10, 1900. Opinion forwarded August 16, 1900. 209. MANILA AND DAGUPAN RAILWAY COMPANY. — Asking compensation for hauling Army stores over their tramway from Tondo to Pasig river. Being a case stated, sent by the Military Governor, requesting opinion by the Board on papers and facts as presented. Filed August 14, 1900. Opinion forwarded August 22, 1900. RECAPITULATION. Number of cases filed with Board up to August 15, 1900, and since June 30, 1900.. Number of foregoing cases heard by Board up to August 15, 31 1900, and no decision rendered.. 2 Number of foregoing cases heard and approved by Military Number of foregoing cases acted upon by Board and opinion forwarded to Military Governor. 3 Number still pending. 25 31 Total number of claims heard since June 30, 1900, up to August 15, 1900.. 39 as follows: Number of claims filed previous to June 30, 1899, and heard since June 30, 1900.. 3 RECAPITULATION-CONTINUED. Number of claims filed previous to June 30, 1900, and heard Number of above claims approved by Military Governor... Amount asked for in claims filed since June 30, 1900 Amount recommended by Board for payment since June 30, 1900... Total number of claims pending August 15, 1900. as follows: Number of Iloilo claims... Number from other places. GRAND RECAPITULATION. FROM JUNE 30, 1899, TO AUGUST 15, 1900. Total number of claims heard Amount asked for in above claims heard by the Board.. 79 $897,693 26 14,907 25 (Signed) J. M. J. SANNO, President. Six claims returned for compliance with Circular No. 4. Three claims have been partially heard. Two claims have been partially heard. I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the department of Public Instruction for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1900: The department was established on March 30, 1900, by order of the Military Governor, copy enclosed, marked "A." Previous to that time, Mr. G. P. Anderson, Superintendent of the Manila schools, had, in addition to his other duties, distributed to certain places outside of Manila, school books and stationery. During the time that I have had charge of the office this distribution has been continued. The supplies have been obtained in two ways, by purchase and by taking over from the Spanish Government a stock of books and stationery which had been prepared for use of the public schools under the said government. The latter supplies were generally of inferior character, the text books being mainly pamphlets, poorly printed, and capable of imparting but meagre knowledge. Moreover, much of this instruction was on religious subjects, embodying the tenets of the Roman Catholic church. However, certain of these books have been sent out as being better than nothing, and also familiar to native teachers. The supplies purchased were brought from the United States, the first consignments having been received before I took charge of the office. Table enclosed, marked "B," shows the number of various articles of the Spanish stock, also the number of the articles ordered from the United States, with the numbers received. Table "C" enclosed gives details of the distribution of these supplies. This table includes distributions made by Mr. Anderson as well as those under my direction, and is complete up to date of this report. In the month of April, the circular, copy enclosed, marked "D," was sent out from the office of the Military Governor, the draft for the same having been made in this office. Replies have been received from nearly all parts of the Archipelago and extracts are enclosed marked "E." These reports show, generally, it is true, but, it is believed, fairly, the present state of the public schools of the Islands. These extracts I have made quite voluminous, believing that they constitute the chief value of this report. Answers to the question concerning quantities of books, etc., needed, have been omitted. Many things asked for were those used by Spanish government, now either not available or not deemed worthy of distribution. Report of Manila schools is not given, as this will doubtless be made by Mr. Anderson, the present superintendent. On April 30, circular letters were sent to the leading publishing and manufacturing firms in the United States engaged in preparation of books and supplies for schools, and to these circulars many responses have already been received. Circular letters were sent at the same time to all of the superintendents of Public Instruction in the different states, and to the superintendents in all of the principal cities in the United States. To this circular, prompt and generous answers have been received, and there is now on file in the department a mass of reports, forms, school laws, etc., which will be of great value in development of a school system in these Islands. The Lafayette Post of the G. A. R. of New York sent out a very generous donation of flags for use in the public schools. Most of these were distributed by Mr. Anderson, but a portion |