AN ACT APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF THIRTY-NINE THOUSAND PESOS, PHILIPPINE CURRENCY, FOR THE PURCHASE AND OPERATION OF THE ARRASTRE PLANT FOR UNLOADING, CONVEYING, AND DELIVERING IMPORTED MERCHANDISE AT THE MANILA CUSTOM-HOUSE.

• Number: Act No. 897
• Sections: 8

Section 1

SECTION 1. The following sums, in Philippine currency, are hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purchase, maintenance, and operation of the arrastre plant for the landing, conveyance, storing, and delivery of imported merchandise at the custom-house of the port of Manila, to wit:

For the purchase by the Collector of Customs for the Philippine Islands from Carman and Company, Limited, of the steam cranes, tramway, locomotive, cars, machinery, appliances, material, and other personal property used in the landing, conveyance, storing, and delivery of imported merchandise at the custom-house of the port of Manila, in accordance with the inventory and appraisal presented by the Insular Collector on February twenty-first, nineteen hundred and three, and approved by resolution of the Philippine Commission of March fourth, nineteen hundred and three, and all rights pertaining thereto, the sum of twenty-nine thousand pesos.

For the placing in operation at the port of Manila, of said arrastre system, including salaries, wages, materials, and other expenses, and for a reserve fund for its continued operation, the sum of ten thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The Collector of Customs for the Philippine Islands is hereby authorized to fix and collect such charges for the landing, conveyance, storage, and delivery of imported merchandise at the port of Manila as he shall deem necessary to cover the total cost of operating said plant. The receipts from such charges shall be retained by him as a permanent fund, on deposit with the Treasurer of the Philippine Islands, and shall be disbursed upon the Insular Collector's approval. Said fund shall be deemed a permanent annual appropriation and the expenditure thereof is hereby authorized, in the manner provided, for the payment of salaries and wages and all other necessary expenses of operation, maintenance, repairs, improvements, and materials incurred in the lauding, conveyance, storage, and delivery of imported merchandise at the port of Manila: Provided, That the total amount of such expenditures shall not exceed the total amount of the receipts: And provided further, That all expenditures for salaries and wages and other necessary expenses shall be made on regular vouchers, and receipts taken therefor.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All expenditures made under the provisions of the two preceding sections shall be made by order of the Collector of Customs for the Philippine Islands, which shall be sufficient authorization therefor.

Section 4

SEC. 4. A report showing the total receipts for the unloading, conveyance, storage, and delivery of imported merchandise and expenditures for salaries and wages and necessary expenses incurred shall be rendered monthly to the Secretary of Finance and Justice.

Section 5

SEC. 5. The Collector of Customs for the Philippine Islands is hereby authorized to retain such ot the superintendents, wharfingers, foremen, engineers, firemen, and other skilled and unskilled laborers as are at present employed in operating said arrastre plant at the custom-house of the port of Manila as he shall deem necessary without examination under the Civil Service Act and rules, and such employees shall be classified by the Civil Service Board and become members of the civil service. The Collector of Customs may appoint or employ from time to time such additional superintendents, wharfingers, foremen, engineers, firemen, and other skilled and unskilled laborers and discharge the same, subject to the Civil Service Act and rules, as he shall deem necessary to operate said arrastre plant, to fix the salaries and wages of such retained and additional employees, and to incur such expense for operation, maintenance, repair, and improvement of said arrastre system, including payment of regular overtime work by customs employees in connection with arrastre, as he shall deem necessary.

Section 6

SEC. 6. Collector of Customs for the Philippine islands shall from time to time prescribe such regulations as he may deem necessary for the proper conduct of the system of unloading, conveyance, storing, and. delivery of imported merchandise at the custom-house of the port of Manila.

Section 7

SEC. 7. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred.

Section 8

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect on its passage.

Enacted, September 23, 1903.