[ Acts No. 1816, March 31, 1908 ]

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT NUMBERED THIRTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX, ENTITLED "THE SPECIAL PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ACT," SO AS TO . AUTHORIZE COURTS OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN THE PROVINCES OF BENGUET, LEPANTO-BONTOC, NUEVA VIZCAYA, AND AGUSAN TO TRY VIOLATIONS OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCES AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEES OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN SUCH CASES SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM TOWNSHIP FUNDS.

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

SECTION 1. Section twenty-two of Act Numbered Thirteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled "The Special Provincial Government Act," is hereby amended-so as to read as follows:
"SEC.  22. The Provincial governor, the provincial secretary, the provincial treasurer, the provincial supervisor, and the deputy clerk of the Court of First  Instance for the province are hereby made justices of the peace, ex officio, with jurisdiction throughout the province.   All fees collected in the province by any provincial officer or deputy clerk of The Court of First Instance as ex offlcio justice of the peace shall be accounted for to the provincial treasurer Township justices and turned into the provincial treasury.   Courts of justices of the peace may, upon recommendation of the provincial hoard and with the approval of the Secretary of Finance and Justice, be established in  townships organized under the Township Government  Act, Numbered Thirteen hundred and ninety-seven, in like manner and with like powers, jurisdiction, and duties as courts of justices of the peace in municipalities organized under Act Numbered Eighty-two, entitled 'The Municipal Code:' Provided, however, That in the ordinances the Provinces of Benguet, Lepanto-Bontoc, Nueva Vizcaya, and Agusan the jurisdiction of courts of justices of the peace in prosecutions for infractions of township ordinances shall be concurrent! with that of township courts as provided by subsection (g) of section eighteen of the Township Government  Act: And provided further, That the fees of justices of the peace in such prosecution shall be payable from township funds, the provisions of section twenty-seven of Act Numbered Sixteen hundred and twenty-seven to the contrary notwithstanding.   The existing courts of justices of  the peace  in provinces  organized  under  this  Act are  hereby recognized  and continued and  the justices  of such courts shall continue in office during the pleasure of the Philippine Commission, and the establishment of such courts and the appointment of such justices are hereby validated."
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 "Act 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, March 31, 1908.