Local government in the Philippine islands,

182 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

Provincial Government Under Act No. 1396.-The act
known as the Special Provincial Government Act provided
for the organization of provincial governments in all provinces which are not organized under the Provincial Government Act (Act No. 83, now Chapter 56 of the Administrative Code of 1917.) This Act was not made applicable to
the Moro Province.
Present Organization of Special Provincial Governments.-The present organization of special provincial governments is governed by Chapter 63 of the Administrative Code of 1917, which was made applicable to the Mountain Province and the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Mindoro, Palawan, and Batanes in 1919. It should be observed that prior to 1919, these special provinces were organized
under the provisions of Act No. 1396 as amended, while
tion of townships to ascertain whether or not the administration of
their affairs was being honestly and efficiently conducted.
The board of assessors was composed of the governor, the provincial secretary, and the president of the township where the property
happened to be located. Its chief duty was to assess the value of
all property in the province.
Act No. 337 provided for the establishment of a provincial government in Nueva Vizcaya. The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya under Act No. 337 was vested in the hands of a provincial
governor, a provincial secretary-treasurer, a provincial supervisor and
a fiscal. These officers were appointed by the Civil Governor with
the advice and consent of the United States Philippine Commission.
The Provincial governor had manifold duties to perform. Besides
the ordinary duties required of any provincial executive, he was required to attend all the sessions of the Court of First Instance. He
passed upon all the ordinances and acts of the township councils;
and in case of failure of the township council to legislate on any
matters pertaining to their own affairs, the governor could order
them to do so.
As a badge of his office, he was authorized to carry a walkingstick of white Indian cane with a gold head and gold cord.
The secretary-treasurer was both the custodian of provincial public records and the chief fiscal officer of the province. He supervised
the assessment of real-estate tax collection. He was to act as registrar of property pending the appointment of such a registrar for