The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898 by Various

V >> Various >> The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898

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4. In some provinces where there was one alcalde-mayor only, they
have been so multiplied that now there are three, and each one with
a deputy--all with salaries from the royal exchequer. To some of them
the governors give, beside the salary, additional expenses, amounting
to a hundred pesos; because such alcaldes-mayor are captains of the
citizens, in the manner explained in the clause before this. Likewise
some of the said alcaldes-mayor have Spanish alguazils, although not
with salaries, and although there are royal decrees directing the
governor to check this, and not allow offices to increase. It would
be fitting for your Majesty to command, if you so please, that these
alcaldes-mayor be reduced to the following:

In the province of Laguna, one alcalde-mayor with three hundred
pesos of salary, which is the ordinary amount. On the opposite coast
of Mauban, one corregidor; this is the district next to the said
Laguna. He should have two hundred pesos of salary. In the province
of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with the same salary of three
hundred pesos. Another alcalde-mayor, who has recently been appointed
in the said province for the island of Catanduanes, should be removed;
and the said alcalde-mayor of Camarines should care for that, as
he used to do. In the province of Cagayan, another alcalde-mayor,
with the same salary. In that of Ylocos, another alcalde-mayor, with
the same salary. In Pangasinan, another alcalde-mayor, with the said
salary. In the province of Panpanga, another alcalde-mayor, with the
proper salary, who should administer the jurisdiction of the district
of Bulacan, which borders upon it; all this was formerly under one
alcalde. The one who was lately added in Bulacan should be removed.

In the village of Tondo and the bay of this city of Manila (all of
which is the suburbs and outskirts of the city), the governors keep
another alcalde-mayor and lieutenant, although the whole of it is
within the five leagues which, by your Majesty's grace, this city
of Manila has as a jurisdiction--whose alcaldes-in-ordinary used to
administer justice in all the districts of the said alcaldia-mayor
of Tondo. Now they have no more than within the walls of the city,
although they are vested with authority and can make arrests
outside. It would be well, if such be your Majesty's pleasure, to
discontinue this alcaldia-mayor of Tondo, and let it be served by
the two alcaldes-in-ordinary from this city of Manila, each one six
months of the year, while the other one is present in this city. In
this way, with the provincial judge, there will be quite sufficient
people to administer justice in the civil cases; and in the criminal
cases there are the auditors and the said alcalde-in-ordinary. In this
way the salary of the alcalde-mayor of Tondo will be saved, which is
now paid from the royal treasury; and this city will consider it as a
singular grace and favor. So likewise will the Indians, for they will
be better treated and less annoyed by this form of government; because
the man who is appointed to the said alcaldia must make his living from
it, and on that account must do things which are illegal--but, as he
is usually a retainer of the governor, the latter shields him in the
matter. This will cease with the alcaldes-in-ordinary, for they perform
their duties without any selfish considerations, being always men of
honor and rich, who do not seek the offices through greed for money.

In the province of Zubu there used to be only one alcalde-mayor;
but about two years ago another was added in the islands of Leyte,
Camar, and Babao, which are close to Zubu. It was done to the great
displeasure of the citizens of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, which was
the first city founded and settled in these islands; for the said
three islands were under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor
resident in the said city, and with the other one they would be
greatly annoyed and molested, since most of the citizens who reside
in the said city are encomenderos in the said islands of Leyte,
Camar, and Babao. The alcalde-mayor of these islands takes them from
the said city and enters suits against them. He takes them to the
said islands as prisoners; and, as they have their property there,
and must needs go there every year for the collection of tributes
from their encomiendas, they cannot refuse to go; and thus the said
alcalde-mayor molests them as encomenderos, and he of Cubu, on the
other hand, as citizens. As this is so, if your Majesty be pleased,
the said alcalde-mayor of the said three islands might be removed,
and they put under the jurisdiction of the said island of Cubu,
whose alcalde-mayor could very well serve all of them.

On the river of Butuan, which is on the confines of this island of
Zubu and close to the island of Mindanao, is another corregidor, with
a salary of two hundred pesos. In the island of Calamianes is another
corregidor, with the ordinary salary. In the district of Oton is an
alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos. In Panay is a
corregidor, with two hundred pesos salary. All the alcaldes-mayor
and corregidors besides those mentioned should be done away with;
and no alcalde-mayor or corregidor should have a deputy except when
he is absent, and such deputy should not be given a salary.

[_In the margin_: "If there is any reform to be made, have the new
governor act therein, and advise us of his action. _Idem. Idem. Idem_
in this matter."]

5. One of the things in which, I have understood, the royal exchequer
of your Majesty has been the most defrauded and the citizens of these
islands the most aggrieved, is in the freighting and despatching of
vessels which go from here to Nueva Espana with merchandise; for the
governors have, for some years past, assigned to this duty various
special friends and confidants of themselves, and even at times their
own servants. The said persons lade in the ships their own property,
and even that of their relatives and friends--and likewise, it is
said, of any person who will pay them for it. This transaction and
negotiation is of great profit for them, and a great fraud upon the
royal exchequer; for all the merchandise which they lade in this way,
outside of the amount allotted, goes without paying your Majesty the
royal duties, and is not a part of the cloth which is assigned to the
citizens in the general allotment which is made to them. As a remedy
for this, it will be well that in the future, when the allotment
of the cloth is made, there should be present and superintend it,
besides the governor and the other persons who are appointed, an
auditor and royal official in rotation, each year, commencing with
those longest here. As soon as the said allotment shall be finished,
the royal official shall take a copy of it, and the persons to whom
allotment is made of the said cloth shall come with their invoices, to
bale it and pay the royal duty in the presence of the royal officials,
who should give warrants for it. One or two of the officials should be
present at the port of Cavite, which is the landing-place of ships,
two leagues from this city; and there should be also present on the
ship, during its lading, the freighters who are ordinarily appointed,
and an auditor, so that no cloth will be allowed to be laded except it
be that contained in the said allotment. That which is thus authorized
shall be vouched for by warrants from the said royal officials that
the duties are paid. So great has been the irregularity in this
matter that, by having it checked by these strict methods, there
would probably be a great gain to the royal treasury.

[_In the margin_: "Write to the new governor about the information
given in this letter, and the complaints that are made; and have him
remedy this evil, appointing for this persons who are of satisfactory
record, and taking care that all this be done with justice--and,
if it seem best to him, being sometimes present in person at the
inspection."]

6. From the payment of tributes by the Indians in the usual currency
there have resulted and still result many inconveniences, losses,
injuries, and diminutions to the royal exchequer; for formerly they
paid the eight reals of tribute each year in kind, which they gathered
on their lands. A short time ago they were given the alternative of
paying it in coin if they wished; and since then they have ceased
to cultivate the land, make linen fabrics, raise fowls and cattle,
or obtain gold from the mines and rivers, with which articles they
used to pay the said tribute. A great part of those articles usually
remained with them, because they had all the year for trading and
labor, by which the country was supplied with many provisions at a low
cost, and clothing of various kinds of linen, with which they were
dressed. The encomenderos sailed with these things to Nueva Espana;
and it was not necessary to pay the Chinese what was brought thence in
return, and have them carry it off to their country, as they now do,
in exchange for the said cloths which they sell. There was a great
quantity of gold which was also taken to Nueva Espana, and from that
your Majesty was paid the tenths, which amounted each year to six
or eight thousand pesos--not counting another larger quantity which
was paid by the tributaries of the encomiendas which are under the
royal crown. By reason of the said Indians not paying in kind, so
little gold has come to be mined, that in the past year, ninety-eight,
from tributes and tenths even, the amount which was collected on your
Majesty's account was not a thousand pesos. From this there follows
another inconvenience, in that, as the natives of these islands are
inclined to laziness and to the vices attendant upon that, since
they can easily pay the tribute for one year with ten reals in coin,
they seek and pay it, and dress themselves with two or three pieces
of cloth, which cost somewhat more. As they find these for sale by
the Chinese, they themselves do not manufacture them. It would be
expedient, in order that these inconveniences may cease, as well as
others which may be seen to result from this matter, that henceforth
these Indians should be compelled to agricultural labors and the
raising of cattle, according to the conditions of the provinces where
they live, and to taking gold from the mines and rivers. If this were
put in force, a great deal would be gained by it; for there is a large
quantity in the said mines, rivers, and placers. In this way a great
part of the trade with the Chinese would cease, and the returns from
what was carried to and sold in Nueva Espana, from both gold and cloth,
would remain in this country, and would not be taken away to China,
as it now is. The said Indians would be compelled to this, in such
manner that, with the practice and profit which they would get from
it, in a few years they and their descendants would do it of their
own will, without compulsion. The principal thing to be done in order
to start the Indians to do this is, to have them pay the tribute in
the kind which they raise and harvest.

[_In the margin_: "With this report write to the new governor to
call together the Audiencia, the ecclesiastical prelates who are
present in Manila, and the superiors of the religious orders; and
have him communicate with those who could not conveniently go there,
getting their opinion in writing; and have all of them confer as to
what is expedient and ought to be done in this matter--taking into
consideration the fact that the Indians should not be annoyed or
aggrieved; and that their object should be the cultivation of crops
and other things which the land bears; and that for this purpose
the tribute should be paid in kind, and the valuation should be as
equitable as possible. Whatever they may resolve in regard to this
matter, the governor shall cause to be executed, and advise us as to
what he does, seeing to it that the Indians labor and are not idle."]

7. With the reestablishment of the said royal Audiencia, the expenses
of the royal treasury have been increased by more than sixteen
thousand five hundred pesos in the salaries of four auditors and one
fiscal. Wherefore it would be well, were your Majesty so pleased,
to command that the encomiendas or repartimientos of Indians which
may in the future be vacated, up to the amount of ten thousand pesos,
be placed under the royal crown, as an aid to the payment of the said
salaries; and that, until these are so placed, the governors shall not
be able to assign any person an encomienda or repartimiento of Indians.

[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information
in this matter, and the archbishop a separate one."]

8. I have understood that the governors have been accustomed to
assign encomiendas in this country in a manner to suit their own
purposes. Thus, if any person possesses an encomienda which ends
with his life, they add a reserve in such wise that they make
the encomiendas hereditary and perpetual for their relatives, so
that they may resign them, and allow the governor to assign them to
whomsoever they will. On the other hand, they have an agreement with
the governor that he shall assign it to the person designated by the
one who resigns it. That this matter may be the better understood,
I shall relate a case in which it happened. A certain captain, Juan
Maldonado Borrocal, one of the conquerors of these islands, holding a
repartimiento as an encomienda, went from here to the court in Spain;
and there married a widow, and returned with her to these islands. He
died, and conformably to the law of succession, the wife succeeded
to the encomienda. The latter had a son by her former husband,
and as, on her death, the said encomiendas would remain vacant, she
resigned them, and the governor assigned them anew to the son, who
was a boy. Neither he nor his father had served in these islands. It
is easy to imagine how this pleased the old soldiers who had shed
their blood on the said encomiendas to conquer them, and some were
eager for that repartimiento. Accordingly it is easy to see how much
remedy there was left, when the governor granted the said encomiendas
contrary to what your Majesty has ordered. To correct this, it would
be fitting that your Majesty order that such resignation should not
be made in any manner; and that in such cases the governor cannot
assign any repartimiento of Indians.

[_In the margin_: "Have the decrees which are despatched for the
settlement of these matters duplicated, also those that direct that
appointments cannot be made by resignation and renunciation of the
said encomiendas; order that these be exactly observed and complied
with; and let it be again ordered that encomiendas which have been
resigned shall not be filled by the governor, but that he shall
advise his Majesty, who may order according to his pleasure in the
matter. If he appoints to them, they shall be null and declared void;
and the fiscal shall advise concerning them."]

9. In the building of churches on the encomiendas of these islands
your royal treasury is subjected to excessive expenses by their being
made, as they are, of wood. Your Majesty pays, for those which stand
on the encomiendas belonging to your royal crown, two-thirds of the
cost--one-third as encomendero, and another as king and lord. In those
possessed by private citizens you pay one-third as king. As woods in
this country decay very easily, they rot within five or six years,
and it is necessary to build the said churches over again. Besides, it
often happens that when they are finished they are soon burned down. It
would be well for the said churches henceforth to be built of stone
or brick; for, with little more than what it costs to build them of
wood, they can be built of stone or brick and will last for many years.

[_In the margin_: "Let the Audiencia investigate this."]

10. The custom has been introduced of supplying wine for the
celebration of the mass to the priests of all the orders--not only to
those which are in the encomiendas of the royal crown, but to those in
private ones. As I understand it, your Majesty is under no obligation
to furnish it, except to those who minister in the four convents of
Manila, and to the curates of Spaniards and Indians there, and to those
who are in your Majesty's missions; and the encomenderos are obliged
to furnish them with the said wine on their own encomiendas. Your
Majesty will order the action in this matter which is most fitting
to your royal service.

[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to order that the secular
clergy, and those who give instruction in private encomiendas, are
not to be given wine on his Majesty's account for the celebration
of mass."]

11. During the time of the last royal Audiencia, several offices of
regidor were sold; but of those who bought them at that time two
only have come here. Governor Gomez Perez, by virtue of a clause
of his instructions, appointed, above those which had been bought,
enough to amount in all to twelve regidors, from the worthiest men
of this city. Some of them left in his time, and others in the time
of his son, and finally in that of Governor Don Francisco Tello;
others the latter removed. Thereupon he appointed to several of the
said offices unsatisfactory persons, for his own interests. Some
of these despise the said offices. As it is understood that these
appointments were not by honorable means, it would be well if these
offices were sold--not by auction, but putting upon them a moderate
price, and having them given, with the supervision and approval of
the Audiencia, to the men of most merit and best character. There
should not be more than eight regidors; for, with the other persons
who, by reason of their offices, have votes in the cabildo--namely,
the three royal officials, the two wardens of the fortresses, and the
alguacil-mayor of the city--there are fourteen votes, which, in a place
of three hundred citizens, is a sufficient number. As those appointed
understand that they must pay money for the appointments and gifts,
in this way they will be given to suitable persons; and this should
always be done, so long as they are appointed here, and are not free
to attend to their duties as they should--because the governors have
had the power to take their offices away without cause, whenever it
might appear best to them. The most just way would be to sell them,
and use the proceeds to aid the royal treasury in its needs.

[_In the margin_: "Have this sent to the new governor, so that the
regidors who were appointed wrongly, or are not proper persons,
may be removed; and let others be appointed (such as possess the
qualifications and capacity), up to the number of eight in all. Let
him advise us of his action."]

12. After Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas came, there was offered from
the royal exchequer of your Majesty to the accountant Andres Cauchela
(who was proprietary), and to Captain Gomez de Machuca--who, on the
death of Juan Baptista Rroman, treasurer and factor, was appointed to
the said offices by the said Gomez Perez--to these two was assigned
the making of a report on all matters which concerned the treasury,
to bring before the said governor. It is understand that there were
some matters needing correction, for those same officials have written
this. This also appears probable from the manner in which the person
who was appointed for that office by the said governor conducted
himself. He signed the account without seeing or examining the reports,
or even noticing whether the charges were made, and if everything had
been collected that should be, nor that which concerned the merchandise
and the royal warehouses. Nor did he afterward audit any account. For
this reason, and because he grew rich during the time while the said
offices were held, it would be well to inspect them, and again take
charge of said accounts of money, and audit those of merchandise
which still remain to be examined. If your Majesty be so pleased,
a warrant might be sent to make the said investigation from the time
when Licentiate Geronimo Erbez del Corral took the account. It could
be entrusted to one of the auditors of this royal Audiencia; but the
fact must be considered that Doctor Antonio de Morga is a great friend
of Captain Gomez de Machuca, who was factor and treasurer, and who
would have to be investigated by him. Likewise it would be expedient
to send a warrant for an accountant to audit and revise the accounts.

[_In the margin_: "A person shall be named by the lord president of
the Audiencia to investigate these officials; and the governor shall
name, with the consent of the investigator, an accountant to examine
the accounts."]

13. Your Majesty commanded by a decree that the office of treasurer
of the royal exchequer of these islands be abolished, as it entails
no duties whatever, and the two offices of factor and accountant are
sufficient; accordingly, the duties of the treasurer were performed
by the factor. On account of the death of Juan Baptista Rroman, who
exercised these offices, your Majesty again appointed to the said
office of treasurer Captain Hernando Davila. So far as I know, your
Majesty was not made aware that a command had been issued to abolish
it, since no mention of that is made in the commission of Captain
Hernando Davila. The office is a superfluous one, and, as I say, has
no duties; for everything which has to be done here pertains to the
offices of factor and accountant. It would be well, if your Majesty
is so pleased, to command that when this office of treasurer shall
become vacant, in whatever manner, no other person shall be appointed
to it; but that it shall be merged with that of the factor, as was
formerly done. In this way the royal treasury will be relieved from
paying two thousand pesos, which the said treasurer draws as a salary.

[_In the margin_: "Let the new governor inform us concerning this."]

Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas established a monopoly on cards,
so that the proceeds therefrom could be used to fortify this city;
and the cabildo of the city collected that, along with the rest of
its property, and expended it in other matters, and not in that for
which it was imposed. Accordingly, in this tax, as well as in the
administration of the said monopoly, there have been interests of
great importance for those who had the power in this community, as
will be evident when it is inspected and investigated. For three years
past nothing of importance has been done on the wall, although there
were many places which needed repairing and finishing, which would
be a great detriment and danger in time of war. It would likewise
be well to send a warrant to make investigations and audit accounts,
concerning both the said monopoly and the other properties of the city.

[_In the margin_: "Let the person who is charged with the residencia
of the governor be entrusted with that of the cabildo, and see that
that is taken and an account of everything. He shall give an account
to the governor of all which results from this, and of the amount
of this impost, so that it may be converted to the use for which it
was imposed."]

15. By an ordinance of this royal Audiencia the president and two
auditors thereof are commanded to audit, at the beginning of each
year, the accounts of the royal officials, and to finish them in
two months, with the additional amount, for expenses, of twenty-five
thousand maravedis for each auditor. In the time of the former royal
Audiencia this was done; and they named an accountant each year,
to whom they gave fifty thousand maravedis beside. Since that time,
what has happened is as follows: Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas,
at the beginning of the year ninety-five, without an order from
your Majesty, created an accountant-in-ordinary of accounts for this
purpose, with a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two
hundred and fifty pesos, for which they were to secure the approval
of your Majesty--which they have not done in the past. The accounts
were audited in two months--or at the most, in three. Accordingly it
is not necessary, for so small an account as we have here, to incur
a thousand pesos of expense each year to audit them. It could be done
for a hundred thousand maravedis, as was formerly done. Your Majesty
will command in this as is most fitting for the royal service.

[_In the margin_: "Send this to the new governor, that he may examine
into and adjust the matter as appears best to him, and advise us of
what action he takes."]

16 The office of secretary of the cabildo has been given by the
governors to whom they thought best. In this way they learn what
goes on in the cabildo, which is a great evil. It would be better to
have this sold; and accordingly, he who held it--being a proprietor,
and one who could not be removed during good behavior--would be free
to remain silent.

[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia investigate this."]

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