The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 | Page 9

concerning the said fees, which is to be withdrawn. No one of the
persons herein mentioned shall collect fees in conformity with it, under
the penalties imposed upon those who collect excessive fees. This act
shall be made known to all the officials whom it concerns. So they
declared, ordered, and decreed.
Before me:
Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

_An act decreeing that the alcaldes-mayor shall not make collections,
nor shall they be given to the official judges; and that the collectors
appointed must be approved by this royal Audiencia._
In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, on account
of the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these islands collecting,
personally or by their agents, the tributes from the natives in their
jurisdiction who pertain to the royal crown, by commission granted
therefor by the officials of the royal exchequer, there have resulted
many injuries and inconveniences, both to the said natives and the said
royal exchequer: therefore, because it is necessary to avoid the said
injuries, and apply a remedy to the aforesaid evil, they ordered, and
they did so order, that the officials of the royal exchequer of the king
our sovereign should be notified, so that in no way or manner, now and
henceforth, shall they grant the collections, directly or indirectly, to the
said alcaldes-mayor, nor shall the latter have any part of that which is
granted to the collectors. Therefore, the said collectors shall take oath
in due legal form, that they will make the said collection, taking it for
themselves alone, without granting any part to the said alcaldes-mayor.
The latter shall not collect the tribute under penalty of deprivation of
their offices. The said collectors shall deliver in kind to the royal
exchequer the tributes that they shall collect from the said natives,
unless the said officials shall order otherwise, for the augmentation of
the royal exchequer. And in order that the collectors sent may be fit and
proper persons, it is ordered that those appointed to the office by the
said royal officials shall present themselves before this royal Audiencia,
in order that they may be there approved. The said royal officials shall
cause this to be done, under a penalty of a third part of their salary for
that year, which must be paid immediately upon conviction of
disobedience to this decree. The said collectors shall be vested with the
authority of justice. By this act it was so declared, ordered, and
decreed.
Don Francisco Tello Doctor Antonio de Morga The licentiate Albaro
De Cambrano The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_

Before me:
Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

_An act decreeing that the attorney for minors shall not bring a suit,
without first communicating it to the judge for minors._
In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this court
there are many minors, whose goods and property are in the charge of
their guardians, who might spend and dissipate the said goods beyond
the use and profit of the said minors, which would be to their great
injury: therefore, because by the attorney and defender of the said
minors entering any suits and petitions with regard to the aforesaid
minors without giving notice thereof, or communicating with the judge
for minors, many inconveniences may result, as a remedy for this, they
resolved and ordered that the said attorney for minors shall bring no
suit for a minor against his guardian, without first communicating it to
the judge who sits or shall sit for minors, that the latter may order what
he deems advisable. By this act it was so ordered, ordained, and
decreed.
Don Francisco Tello Doctor Antonio de Morga The licentiate _Tellez
Almaçan_ The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_
Before me: Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

_An act decreeing that all the officials, both of this royal Audiencia and
the ordinary courts, shall be present at the review of charges against
prisoners._
In the city of Manila, on the seventh day of the month of January, one
thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of
the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, whereas by
the absence of the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, and of the clerk,
reporter, alguazils-mayor, attorneys, commissioners, notaries-public,
and other officials, not only of this royal Audiencia but of the lower

court of this city, from the review of charges against prisoners, many
prisoners are not at liberty--from which it follows that they are vexed
and annoyed by long imprisonments and other great injuries and
inconveniences; besides the fact that, in many suits, they are unable