[ Act No. 641, February 16, 1903 ]

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PORT OF ILOILO.

By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Commission, that:SECTION 1. The sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in money of the United States, is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the improvement of the harbor of Iloilo, in accordance with the general plans now on file in the office of the Consulting Engineer to the Commission, and subject to such modifications, approved by resolution of the Commission, as he may deem necessary.SEC. 2. This appropriation shall be applied to the dredging of a channel in the Iloilo River having a depth of not less than fifteen feet at mean low water, to the construction of suitable wharves and docks along the right bank of the river, to the construction of break-waters to protect the harbor, and to the reclaiming of such land as may be required for the use of the public.All such land or lands, together with adjoining land or lands as may be the property of the Insular Government, are hereby reserved for public use, and arc to be held subject to such laws as the Philippine Commission may hereafter enact.SEC. 3. The work herein provided for shall, so far as practicable, be done and the necessary materials purchased by contract or contracts with private individuals or corporations.SEC. 4. The Consulting Engineer to the Commission shall advertise and contract for doing the work prescribed by this Act, either as a whole or in parts as he may deem most advantageous to the public interest. Notice of the letting of contracts shall be advertised thirty days in at least two newspapers, one or more of which shall be printed in the English language and one in the Spanish language, of general circulation in the Philippine Islands. The Consulting Engineer to the Commission is authorized to reject any or all bids and to waive defects, and if in his opinion the bids are excessive he may, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Police, purchase material and hire labor and supervise the authorized work.Paragraphs (b) to (s), inclusive, of section five of Act Numbered Twenty-two shall control the letting of contracts in so far as they are applicable under the Government of the Philippine Islands.SEC. 5. The Consulting Engineer to the Commission shall prepare plans, specifications, and contracts, and advertise for proposals for the work herein provided for, within not more than ninety days from the date of the passage of this Act.SEC. 6. 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.SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect on its passage.Enacted, February 16, 1903.

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