Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Legislature assembled and by the authority of the same:

SECTION 1. Section two hundred and forty-two of Act Numbered Twenty-six hundred and fifty-seven, known as the Administrative Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 242. Filling of vacancy in office of justice of the peace.—When a vacancy occurs in the office of any justice of the peace, except in the city of Manila, the judge of the Court of First Instance of the district shall forward to the Governor-General a list of names of persons qualified to fill said vacancy, accompanied by all the applications presented by persons desirous of appointment. The Governor-General, with the advice and consent of the Philippine Senate, shall make the respective appointments from said list: Provided, however, That he may also appoint to the position any qualified person not included in the list and not an applicant for the place, without preferences of any kind, when he deems such course to be in the public interest."

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, March 9, 1917.