Page:The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 (Volume 11).djvu/107

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 Dasmariñas, 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."]

17. The office of secretary of the registries has