[ Act No. 1279, January 03, 1905 ]

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS SUMMONED AS EXPERT WITNESSES IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE FOR THE DISTRICT OF MANILA, IN CERTAIN CASES, WHEN SUCH WITNESSES ARE NOT EMPLOYEES OR OFFICIALS OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND ARE NOT OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY OR NAVY.

By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that:

SECTION 1. Out of the sum now or hereafter appropriated for contingent expenses of the law department of the city of Manila, the judge of the municipal court of the city of Manila or judge of the Court of First Instance for the District of Manila, as the case may in his discretion allow, in a meritorious ease, compensation to physicians and surgeons summoned by the Government as expert witnesses in criminal prosecutions whenever the attendance of such physicians and surgeons is necessary in the interests of justice. The compensation so allowed shall not in any one ease exceed the amount of five pesos. Philippine, currency, for the testimony of the physician or surgeon so summoned, and the payment shall he made upon the certificate of the judge presiding at the trial that the witness attended and testified and that the case is an exceptional and meritorious one and that compensation ought to he allowed. The total payment to he made under the provisions of this Act shall not exceed five hundred pesos, Philippine currency, in any fiscal year: Provided, however, That no payment shall he made and no certificate to entitle a physician or surgeon to payment shall he given when the witness is receiving a regular salary as an official or employee of the Government of the Philippine Islands, the city of Manila, or is an officer of the United States Army or Navy.

SEC. 2. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect on its passage.

Enacted, January 3, 1905.