that district in 1901-2 there came
before me a number of cases in the trial of which the fact would be
brought out of this or that difference among the local authorities
having been referred to the Malolos Government for settlement. And
they always awaited until they heard from it,"--Blount, p 112.

[296] "General Otis's reports are full of the most inexcusable
blounders about how 'the Tagals' took possession of the various
provinces and just about those of a New Yorker or a Bostonian sent up
to Vermont in the days of the American Revolution to help organize
the resistance there, in conjunction with one of the local leaders
of the patriot cause in the Green Mountain State."--Blount, p. 112.

[297] Blount, p. 114.

[298] Taylor, 42 AJ.

[299] Blount, p. 111.

[300] P.I.R., 974. 3.

[301] "December 20, 1898.

"_To the Honorable President of the Revolutionary Government_.

"The undersigned residents of the _barangay_ of D. Francisco Querubin
and D. Melchor Balueg, of Bucay, of the province of Abra, appeal to
you with the utmost subjection from their place of residence and state:
That their heads or representatives, D. Francisco Querubin and Melchor
Balueg, respectively, force them to pay two _pesos_ each as a war tax,
your humble vassals above cited being hardly able to earn their own
livelihood and support their families, and, notwithstanding their
labor, some of them cannot get anything to eat without appealing to
the charity of their richer neighbours; but notwithstanding this sad
situation, they offer a _peseta_ each as a mark of gratitude to the
mother country, Filipinas, but said gentlemen, the representatives
mentioned, have not the slightest pity and worry us to the extent
of having kept us in our houses a day and a night without anything
to eat, not even permitting us to go out to get a drink.

"We must inform you that the head of the _barangay_, D. Melchor Balueg,
when he gathers the supplies for the troops stationed in his town, said
supplies consisting of rice, pigs, chickens and eggs, uses one-half
of what is gathered, and then again orders his assistants to save."

"In fact, the undersigned request you to direct that the _peseta_
which they offer be accepted and that the said Don Francisco Querubin
and Don Melchor Balueg be relieved of their duties, in order to put
a stop to the abuses constantly committed by them; and if this be
not done, the petitioners will be obliged to leave their homes and