DEL ROSARIO CIRCULAR, , 1899

Exhibit 1400.

[Original in Spanish. Contemporary copy. P. I. R., Books B. 10.]

NOVEMBER 26, 1899.

CIRCULAR No. 77

INSTRUCTIONS.

The Philippines Custom-House should be established throughout the Philippine territory over which our Government of the Republic exercises sovereignty; therefore, I have suggested to the military government the advisability of establishing it in this province, since the provincial council cannot do it in view of the present circumstances. And to that effect, pending the regulations which said military government may prescribe, the following instructions are given:

1. Upon the receipt of this circular, the local presidentes shall carry out the provisions contained therein, publishing it by the town-crier in those towns other than the capital of this province, and secretly in the towns occupied by the Americans, for the information of the merchants who transact business with the neighboring provinces.

2. The local presidente shall hereafter appoint a trustworthy person for the position of collector of customs, who shall appraise all the import and export goods, and collect the custom duties thereof. Said person should enjoy of good standing among the community and possess a property of some importance.

3. Said collector of customs shall be in charge of the collection of the customs duties of the goods entering from or going to, neighboring provinces, which collection shall be made in accordance to justice and at the rate of 5% on the amount of the goods.

4. Said collector of customs shall keep record of his proceeding and shall weekly render account to the local presidente, who shall, in his turn, render account to this military government.

5. The local presidentes shall, every week, remit all the amount collected during the week to the military administration.

This action of the military government tends to benefit the working classes, because though the patriotic subscription requires the cooperation of all the inhabitants, nevertheless it does not fail to be a burden upon said class.

God guard you many years.

[CEBU] DANAO, November 26, 1899.

P. E. DEL ROSARIO,
Special Commissioner