aid Act. The Act declares its purpose to be "the establishment
and maintenance of an efficient and honest civil service in the
Philippine Islands." American soldiers who have less than six months
to serve can apply for permission to be examined for the civil
service. The Act does not include examination for civil positions
in the Military Division of the Islands, but the Civil Service Board
is empowered to hold such examinations to fill vacancies as they may
occur in the nine military departments which employ civilians. General
examinations, some in English only, others in Spanish only, or both,
are held every Monday, and special examinations which include those
for scientific, professional, and technical positions are taken on
specified dates. The commencing salaries of the positions offered range
from $1,200 downwards. Medical attendance is furnished gratis, and
the minimum working time is six and a half hours per day, except from
April 1 until June 15--the hottest weather--when the minimum working
day is five hours. American women are employed in the Post Office.

The Civil Commission is located in the Walled City in the building
which was formerly the Town Hall, a new Town Hall having been built
outside the walls. Occasionally, when public interest is much aroused
on the subject of a proposed measure, the Commission announces
that a public conference will be held for the expression of opinion
thereon. A few persons state their views before the Commissioners,
who rebut them _seance tenante_, and the measure, as proposed,
usually becomes law, unless outside agitation and popular clamour
induce the Commissioners to modify it. At times the proceedings have
been enlivened by sparkling humour. A worthy and patriotic Filipino
once gravely prefaced his speech thus:--"I rise to speak, inspired
by Divine Right"--but he had to wait until the roars of laughter
had subsided. When the "Sedition Act" was being discussed, a less
worthy auditor declared assassination of the Chief of a State to be
merely a political offence. He expected to go to prison and pose as
a martyr-patriot, but the Commission very rightly damped his ambition
by declaring him to be a fool irresponsible for his acts.

Philippine Commission Acts are passed with great rapidity, amended
and re-amended, sometimes several times, to the bewilderment of the
public. Out of 862 Acts passed up to the end of 1903, 686 of them
were amended (some five times) and on 782 no