follows, viz.: First class, 1,200 pesos; second class, 1,000
pesos; third class, 800 pesos; and fourth class, 600 pesos. Provincial
justices of the peace are paid by litigants' fees only. For municipal
improvements, or other urgent necessity, the Insular Government,
from time to time, grants loans to municipalities, repayable with
interest. In some cases two or more towns have been wisely merged
into one municipality: for instance, Cauit, Salinas, and Novaleta
(Cavite) go together; Baliuag, Bustos, and San Rafael (Bulacan) form
one; Barasoain and Malolos (Bulacan) are united; as are also Taal
and Lemery (Batangas). By Philippine Commission Act No. 719 the 51
municipalities of Yloilo Province were reduced to 17.

Malolos is the new capital of Bulacan Province, and the two former
provinces of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur are now one, under the
name of Ambos Camarines. In the dependent wards of towns (_barrios_)
the municipal police are practically the only official representatives;
the post of lieutenant (_teniente de barrio_) is gratis and onerous,
and few care to take it.

The _Guardia Civil_ or Rural Guard of Spanish times has been
superseded by the _Philippine Constabulary_ under the supreme and
independent command of a cavalry captain (U.S.A.) holding local rank
of Brig.-General. In the private opinion of many regular army officers,
this force ought to be under the control of the Division Commander. The
officers are American, European, and Philippine. The privates are
Filipinos, and the whole force is about 7,000 strong. The function
of this body is to maintain order in rural districts. For some time
there were cases of batches of the rank-and-file passing over to the
brigands whom they were sent to disperse or capture. However, this
disturbing element has been gradually eliminated, and the Philippine
Constabulary has since performed very useful service. Nevertheless,
many educated natives desire its improvement or suppression, on
account of the alleged abuse of functions to the prejudice of peaceful
inhabitants (_vide_ p. 550).

Co-operating with municipal police and the Philippine Constabulary
there is an organized Secret Police Service. It is a heterogeneous
band of many nationalities, including Asiatics, which, as an
_executive_ force to investigate crimes known to have been committed,
renders good service; as an _initiative_ force, with power, with or
without authority, to molest peaceful citizens in qu