Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/703

 PHILIPPINK ISLANDS 581

year old, and the number of -iifants' deaths, one year or less, eqnals about 40 per cent, of births. This high infant death-rate is set off by a high birth-rate. Sanitary supervision in the Archipelago is entrusted to a Bureau of Health, which has district health officers in the several provinces.

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1912, there were 15,068 passengers arriving at the Philippine Islands. Of these, 4,317 were Americans, 1,194 citizens of the Philippines, 6,539 Chinese (5,596 having been in the islands before), 813 Japanese, and 2,205 of other nationalities. Under the Chinese- exclusion Act (applied to the Philippines in 1902) Chinese immigration is prohibited. Under the Act Chinese labourers must be registered.

There are about 25,000 Americans and Europeans in the islands and about 40,000 Chinese. The native inhabitants are mostly of the Malayan race, but there are some tribes of Negritos.

Government. — The whole of the Archipelago is now under civil govern- ment, but in the Moro Province comprising parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Islands, most of the civil oflfices, including that of governor, are filled by military officers. The central government is composed of the Governor- General, who is the chief executive and President of the Philippine Commission, and eight Commissioners (four Americans and four Filipinos).

The Philipxjine Commission constitutes the upper house, and the elective Philippine Assembly, which was first opened on October 16, 1907, the lower house, of the legislative body. The members of the Assembly hold office for four years, and the Legislature elects two Pesident Commi-ssioners to the United States, who hold office for the same term.

There are four executive departments, Interior, Finance and Justice, Commerce and Police, and Public Instruction, of which three American and one Filipino Commissioners are secretaries. A fifth department has been authorised by Congress, bnt has not as yet been created by the President. The islands are subdivided into 38 "pro^^ices, each with a governor, secretary, treasurer, and prosecuting attorney. The provincial governor is elected 'by popular vote, except in the 6 provinces inhabited largely by Non- Christian tribes, and the Province of Batanes, in which the governor is appointed by the Governor-General of the islands, with the advice and consent of the Philippine Commission. The govern- ment of the towns is practically autonomous, the officials being elected by the qualified voters of the municipality and serving for four years. The officials consist of a president, vice-president, and councillors, the latter varying in number according to population. Local municipal government has been instituted in about 730 towns.

Justice and Defence.— For the administration of jus1:ice there are : A supreme court, with 7 judges ; 17 judicial districts, each with a court of first instance, and 3 additional judges of the court of first instance of Manila and 4 additional judges of first instance, who replace absent judges or others disqualified for any reason in particular cases ; also a court of land registra- tion, with 5 judges. Public order is maintained through the municipal police and the Philippines Constabularv. The strength of the Constabulary at the close of the fiscal year, 1912, was 323 officers and 4,157 enlisted men, distributed throughout the Archipelago in 128 stations. The director, four of the assistant directors and two inspectors are detailed from the United States Army.

Religion.— The dominant religion of the islands is the Roman Catholic, there being in addition to an American archbishop, 5 American, 1 Italian, and 2 Filipino bishops, and 1 Spanish Apostolic Prefect. In Luzon an In-