The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
MANILA COURTS AT WORK.
SOME FRICTION BECAUsE OF sENSI-
TIVENESS OF THE JUDGES.

Criticism Distasteful to Them and Some of
the Methods of American Lawyers OBJ
jectionable-Tho Question of tho Right
of Persons to Practice There Settled.
MANILA. July 2o.-densral Order No. 20.
which was issued from the Office OF tho Mill
tary Governor yesterday afternoon. makes an
elaborate effort at adjustment OF one OF the
most vexing questions which have arisen to
puzzle the local administration. We admit to
ourselves that We are simply making an eI per-
iment In the matter OF local self government
with the Filipinos. There is very general
feeling that they are entitled to a liberal share
In the management Of their own affairs. the
question having been thus far as to what that
share should be and where the FIRST applica-
ton OF the principle should be made. In tho
establishment OF the system OF courts which is
now supposed to be in operation in haniln. q
definite step was taken in the direction OF CIV
ing very liberal hand in affairs. Many Of the
men who have known the Filpinos for years.
and are familiar with the best OF them. have
shaken their heads over the mixed conditions
which obtain in tho courts as established under
the general order issued early in June. and
which was cabled to the states at that time.
As matter OF fact. the experiment 10 under
taken In the field best Of all Ia tho Philippines
fitted for 1t. The law has always been an
appealing field to the Filipinos. and the ablest
lawyer. by common consent in all the Islands.
native or European. was Cayetano Arsllano.
appointed by Gen. Otis to DO the head OF the
new courts. 1t 10 not feeling held by isolated
individuals chat the courts must work out not
only their own salvation. but that as we'll OF
the rest OF the Filipincs. For II the courts can
not justify them selves by their works as they
are at present constituted there Is not much
hope that in other fields. whore the material is
not so good. the experiment will be moro sue
cessful
Tho position OF the new courts 10 almost
comical. Tho attitude toward Thorn Of some OF
the officers OF the military government Is
| wholly SO. On the one hand are the Filipino
judges. standing up very straight in the dig
nifty Of their office. and filled with pride which
Is yet the most exasperatinGly sensitive thing
| yat seen In the islands. The slightest little
thing Is liable to offend their Rensibilities. and
| some OF them have been on the point OF resign
| ing several timos simply because OF things that
have been said about them. They are all
| believers In a republican form Of government
! but they don't understand or relish the free
| criticism OF office holders which our style Of
| republican government admits.
Some Of the Americans who have come down
here to practice law have been making lot OF
| trouble Naturally mono OF them belongs to
the class Of towering geniuses who have been
money by their legal efforts In their own coun-
| try. and so Gen. Otis may be more or less JUS
| titled in his rather uhcomplimentary assertion
| that they are q no-account lot" They GER
| tainy do bear striking general resemblance
to some OF the suavo and curly haired gentle
| men who used to be seen about the Tombs or
Jefferson Market police courts in New York.
They have tried their loud mouthed and
vehement oratory on the men on the police
/ 49, l1.<~ fk.kt 49,. ~ kta,v
| and " hen they try II on the Filipino judges in
the Courts OF First Instance. as they are called
here. the result Is sometimes surprising to
! them.
Tho most fragrant case OF attending such
| bluff occurred q few days ago. The bluff did
not work. and the attorney and counsellor at
law" was Disguised. He went to ono OF the To-
cal papers. which, by the way. are the most as
and made howl so loud that the editor printed
| II Thsreupon the Sc sitve Judge. who. ma t
that he had been attacked in his olrca capac-
lily and the judicial crmne had been smirched
he had been attacked, he was right about that.
but no harm had been done to hun by IL. The
itceud and has Offended in that way only once
'iHTfSs . opening o, tn. now courts ha. omporre
q re- ARRANGEMENT OF the practice. and the effort
to bring this about produced some queer com,
plieations As soon as the courts were declared
| open the question Of who were entitled to prac-
tice before them demanded immediate deci-
sion, There could be no business. and there
lawyers entitled TO nduct business in them.
The gpaniards had followed the English sys-
duss ssry mach on the
was q ColleEio de Apogados. Who had the power
Aan ra. t.st S S Ges Of .a
number and the business profitable; For ad-
e. eo:ss c s~nto nas'
Manila or from one Of the law schools Of the
GsnInsulH as the sDsP.h aiways SPEAK Of
course St ss9u, AND
snythipe ln tho Manila courts. Tor the Itinerary
through them was very complicated. and 9
out OF The maze for several years
Gen; OTIS referred this question OF the mem
The 70 the p
members OF 1t. submitted a scheme OF nom
bsrship WHICH was rather SURPRISING from The The
should be admitted to practice IN the island
tSere was very strong ground for making ii,
rsstrctIons rather sharp. There was another
court took part and tho general order nov
made public {. The result. Tho order speak
abolshes the sociter. business in the hrs
paragraph; and that at It rather limits the pun pun
ticaIly It shuts ont et OF spaniards OF Ii,
very class that has mado much trouble in thu
past but. Nobody Will complain ABOUT that on
the men shut out.
GEN. oTIs's ORDER.
MANILA. p l.. July 10. 1890
GsnsrdI OyderI. No. s9,
Section 1.-The once OF tho "Procurador" i
hereby abolished, and the duties which hereto
fore portained to said office shall devolve upoi
Bsction 2-Any resident Of the Philippine Isl
lands. not u subject or citizen OF any foreiRl
government. OF the age OF % years, OF GOO
moral character. and who possesses the neces
sary Qualifications OF learning and ability, i
entitled TO admission as attorney and counsello
in all OF the courts OF these islands.
SECTION 3-Eyery applicant for admission a
an attorney and counsellor must produc salts
factory testimonials Of good moral character
and undergo q strict examination in OpeI
court as to his qualifications by the Justices o
the Supreme Court.
SECTION At upon examination he is founC
qualified. the Supreme Court shall admit hin
as an attorney and counsellor In all the court
Of the Philippine Islands and shall direct al
order to be entered to that effect upon it's rec
ords. and that a certificate NJ such record b.
given to him by the, Secretary of the court
which certificate shall be his license.
) SECTION 5-Every resident OF these islands
not citizen or subject OF any foreign govern
ment who has bRen admitted to practice Law