Preamble
By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that: Whereas there are now pending before the Navy Department of the United States certain claims upon account of cascoes seized in and about the harbor of Manila, Philippine Islands, for the use of the Navy at various times subsequent to May, eighteen, hundred and ninety-eight, and claims for rental based upon the use of such cascoes by the Navy; and Whereas the Secretary of the Navy has requested that the Court of First Instance of the city of Manila may be authorized to take cognizance of the claims aforesaid: