the past year. Here the course is being fitted to the needs of the girls, and the interest that is being shown in these courses demonstrates that their need has been felt among the students. The average cost per girl per lesson for the past school year was $0.0137 in cooking and $0.003 in sewing.

Agriculture has taken the form of practical gardening, and manual training has been developed along the line of benchwork and mechanical drawing.

Practical work in weaving, basketry, fiber work, and metal work has also been given.

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS.

The college of agriculture and mechanic arts of the University of Porto Rico was located at Mayaguez about the beginning of 1912. The first building was ready for оссuраnсу at the opening of that school year. The campus consists of a 30-acre tract of land at the edge of the city of Mayaguez, on the highway leading to Añasco, and adjoining the United States experiment station; part of this land is level, affording an excellent athletic field with grand stand, quarter-mile track and drill ground; adjoining this is a hill some 50 feet high, giving free scope to the trade winds to temper the heat of the Tropics. On this hill are located the main building, a two-story concrete structure with four laboratories and six classrooms, and a science building at present nearing completion and which will contain eight large classrooms, assembly hall, and offices. On the farther slope of the hill are located the shops, plant houses, stables, dairy, chicken runs, and swine yards. At a distance of nearly a mile is the experiment farm of 100 acres, of which about 30 are in productive coffee, about 10 in grass, the balance in coffee in a run-down condition and in brushwood and small timber.

The college maintains a four-year course in agriculture and five-year courses in mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, and in sugar chemistry. The requirement for admission is the completion of the second year of the high-school or continuation-school course. For the present those two years of preparatory work are also offered at the college, but it is probable that the increase of students, more rapid than the increase of means and facilities, will necessitate the elimination of this preparatory work within the next few years.

About the close of last year the faculty submitted for the approval of the board of trustees and of the commissioner of education, as required by law, a revision of the course of study more closely related to the present conditions of education in the island, a course that is of equal rank with that required by leading colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts in the States.

The degree of bachelor of science is conferred upon the successful completion of the course selected. Opportunity will be given to graduate students for advance work in original research leading to higher degrees. Special courses are also selected for those who may not desire nor be able to take the full course. As this is the only college of agriculture in the world located within the Tropics preparing students along the lines of tropical agriculture with the same standards of efficiency as similar schools in the States, the importance of this institution not only to Porto Rico but to the Tropics as a whole can hardly be overestimated. An effort is being made to interest all American consuls located at posts within the Tropics to extend its efficiency and benefits. There are enrolled this year two students from the Danish West Indies and one from the British West Indies.

The attendance for the present year has reached a total of 235, grouped as follows:

Of these, 56 are girls, nearly all in the preparatory years. The loss in attendance has been above the average, due to the present financial stringency and the closing of the coffee market in Europe.

The available equipment and financial resources have been hardly adequate to the present enrollment, and with the indications of rapid growth in the future will shortly be entirely too small to take care of the work properly. The greatest need is a building for the engineering department to contain the shops and testing laboratories. The engineering classes will be at this point in their course within a year, and provision should be made by the legislature for housing the equipment.

The majority of the students came from homes in humble circumstances. In addition to the liberal terms of free tuition, free textbooks and supplies, the sum of $6,340

was apportioned by the board of trustees for this year from scholarships and student labor. For the coming year the payment of scholarships has been discontinued, but the proceeds of the dairy and farm (about $2,000) have been made available for student labor. The importance of this assistance in return for productive labor will be understood when it is recalled that the attitude of the Porto Rican toward physical labor is not favorable, and education has in the past had as an end some form of gaining a livelihood without soiling the hands. Good results have attended the plan to bring out the properties of leadership by placing the more mature students in charge of groups of students as foremen.

For the coming year students will be obliged to supply themselves with textbooks and materials. Small as this item appears, it will none the less be a hardship in many cases. The college will handle the sales at cost. This forced economy will, however, eventually produce some beneficial results. Students do not, as a rule, make any effort to acquire a library of textbooks, depending solely upon what they absorb from the books loaned by the school. The idea that the resources of the government are illimitable is entirely too prevalent, and that care and economy should be exercised in government expenditures is a surprise to many.

The problem of dormitories in the near future will have to be given attention. The distance of the college from the town, about 1 kilometer, is a factor in the efficiency of the work. It is difficult to give attention to the influences surrounding the student body of growing boys when they are scattered over the whole town. It is believed that dormitories would in a short time more than justify their expense by the results in efficiency of work and improvement in the general character of the students. In this connection attention should be called to the tendency, already apparent, of the college becoming strictly a men's institution within a few years, although, of course, always open to women by law. The distance to be walked, especially in the heat of the day, and the general character of the technical courses of study are already deterrent influences which will be emphasized by contrast when the new high school in Mayaguez is ready within a year.

The efficiency of an agricultural college is largely proportional to the closeness with which it can keep in touch with the actual conditions of the farmers and to the extent the facilities of the college can be brought to the solution of agricultural problems. The location of the college at the extreme west end of the island adds to the difficulty in carrying out this cooperation. For the past year and a half all of this phase of the work has had to be given up because neither time nor money were available. This is far too important to be neglected.

Just as soon as resources will permit funds should be apportioned for conducting institutes throughout the island. The provisions of the Smith-Lever bill for agricultural extension were unfortunately not made available for Porto Rico. This matter should be taken up through the proper authorities and the legislation necessary to make this fund available be secured.

As the United States Agricultural Experiment Station is not under the charge of the college, as in most of the States, the college has not been able to engage in much research work, due to lack of means and available time on the part of the instructors. Experimental work is, however, started on grasses and grains for stock feeding, on the raising of cacao, on the development of a milch strain of goats adapted to Porto Rican conditions. The college is already doing considerable good as a center for improved strains of cattle, swine, and poultry.

Among the additional equipment ordered is a complete forge and foundry shop, the equipment for a model farm shop for the new dairy laboratory including a small ice plant and a complete spraying outfit.

The experimental farm has been improved by renewal of fencing, construction of a tool shed, and by clearing 7 acres of brush land and planting with forage crops. The mayordomo's house is in bad condition and will have to be rebuilt in the near future. About one-half of this land is still in an unproductive state, but plans are under way to remedy this. It will be a work of years.

On the college grounds the opening of the next school year will see the completion of the science building, a dairy laboratory, an incubator house, a propagating house, and better facilities for storage of a water supply. A bungalow has been completed during the year as a residence for the dean. The students themselves built a farm shop, remodeled a shed into a tool house, laid out the athletic field, and constructed a target-practice range.

The military drill, required of all colleges supported in part by funds of the United States, has been well conducted. The college battalion consists of three companies and a band. At the annual inspection of the battalion by Col. Burnham, of the Porto Rican Regiment, a competitive drill was held, Company C, Capt. J. Simons, receiving the prize for the best company; Fernando Saldana a gold medal, and Enrique Baez a silver medal as the two best drilled cadets.

For the complete financial report of the University of Porto Rico for the fiscal year 1914-15, see Exhibits Nos. 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the consolidated financial exhibits. Respectfully submitted. ALLAN H. RICHARDSON,

Acting President Board of Trustees University of Porto Rico.

To the GOVERNOR OF PORTO RICO
(Through the commissioner of education).

INSULAR LIBRARY.

The long-hoped-for library building is under construction, work having been started in March of this year. There is every likelihood of the completed building being turned over to the board of trustees in June, 1916.

Plans for the efficient administration of the library in its new quarters are now being considered, but unless the next legislature gives the additional help required no great advance in serving the readers can be made.

With a new department-children's room-an efficient woman assistant becomes necessary. The question of vigilance has always been somewhat of a problem and with two floors to oversee in place of one, as now, another assistant is needed.

In the other departments of the government hours are from 8 a. m. to 12 m. and from 1 to 4 p. m., but the library is open from 9 a. m. to 10 p. m. continuously. This means a force at work all of the 13 hours, and to conform to civil service rules and give each clerk 6 hours two shifts, or a double force, is required.

At present there are four clerks and the librarian. They all work in the morning hours, two being relieved at noon and returning at night, making a total of 7 working hours for each shift. Two more clerks should therefore be added to the personnel of the new library.

The work of improving and adding to the card catalogue has gone on very satisfactorily. The collection of "Puertorriqueña" continues to increase, but no large or important addition may be made until a special appropriation is provided for this purpose.

A very valuable addition to the library came during the year through the generous gift of the Hispanic Society of America of nearly $1,000 worth of books and charts, mainly its own publications, facsimile reproductions of rare editions of Spanish books and documents, or more modern works on Spanish literature and art. This fine gift of material, under ordinary circumstances far beyond the library's means, is very much appreciated.

A number of the patrons of the library have given books, mainly fiction, the additions from this source amounting to over 200 volumes.

The total accessions during the year have been: Spanish books, by purchase, 513 nonfiction, 350 fiction; by gift, 57. English books, by purchase, 435 nonfiction, 325 fiction; by gift, 150.

The usual financial statement is appended.
Very respectfully,

J. L. Dunlevy,

APPENDIX VII.

REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
San Juan, P. R., August 9, 1915.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the department of justice of Porto Rico for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1915:

The most outstanding feature of the work of the department of justice for the fiscal. year 1914-15 was the large increase of work in practically all branches of the department.

This was especially true in the office of the attorney general, notwithstanding that the appropriations and personnel of this office have been so seriously decreased that the attorney general in his report for the last fiscal year was obliged to report:

"In spite of all legitimate restriction, however, the work of this office is already going behind and will fall daily farther behind unless the legislative assembly sees fit to extend to it further financial assistance.'

And the governor in his annual report for the same fiscal year, after reviewing the work of the office of the attorney general, stated, on page 44:

* * * which has taxed to the utmost the limited personnel provided for by the appropriation act. With the still smaller force allowed for the coming fiscal year much difficulty is anticipated in properly carrying on the work of the department, so far as the office of the attorney general proper is concerned."

So far from this condition having been remedied by additional appropriations and additional personnel, the legislative assembly in carrying out its program of economy has decreased the total appropriation for the office of the attorney general from $46,370 in the fiscal year 1913-14 to $37,120 for the fiscal year 1914-15 and to $32,900 for the fiscal year 1915-16. The legal personnel of the office of the attorney general consists of the attorney general, assistant attorney general, two law officers, and the special fiscal at large. In addition to the above-mentioned lawyers the fiscal of the supreme court devotes such of his time as is not required in the handling of criminal appeals in the supreme court to the general work of the office of the attorney general.

The work of a large law office can never be completed up to date, inasmuch as there are always many cases and subjects of investigation which require long study and preparation, and before these are completed others have to be given attention. But the office has been able to prevent any severe congestion of law work only by the most strenuous efforts, with much overtime and night work. Every man has devoted himself willingly to the extra work which he is called upon to do, and there is an unusual spirit of cooperation and helpfulness.

The general phases of the work of the attorney general have been so often discussed in previous reports of attorneys general that I will not attempt to more than outline it here.

By the provisions of the organic act the attorney general has the powers and duties provided by law for an attorney of a Territory of the United States in so far as not locally inapplicable and such other duties as may be imposed by law. The Political Code of Porto Rico (secs. 63 to 78) specifically enumerates many of the duties of the attorney general, and in addition to this enumeration many further duties are placed upon him by special laws such, for example, as the judiciary laws, notarial law, the law in regard to registrars of property, and the civil-registry law.

The large part of the work is divided, however, into the following classes:

1. Opinions.

2. Litigation.

3. Special investigations and direction of criminal prosecutions.
4. Recommendations on applications for pardon or parole.

5. Recommendations as to appointments and removals.

6. Legislative and committee work.

7. General administrative matters.

The work of the attorney general's office can not be classified as easily as that of the courts, and there is no adequate basis of comparison to show that the work is constantly increasing; but the following facts show the scope and extent of that work. But a brief summary will be given of the work done in each of the above general classifications.

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1. OPINIONS.

During the fiscal year 1914-15 the attorney general rendered 154 official opinions, 89 of which were rendered to the governor, the Executive Council, or the heads of departments respecting questions directly concerning their work. The other 65 were rendered to various boards and branches of the insular government, such as the sanitation service, chief of the insular police, civil service commission, irrigation service, San Juan Harbor board, supervisor of elections, board of medical examiners, board of pharmacy examiners, and the University of Porto Rico, and in certain cases to municipalities when requested by the Governor of Porto Rico.

Before any official opinion is rendered a careful and as nearly as possible an exhaustive study is made of all statutes and decisions upon the questions involved, and the opinions are preserved for publication. In many cases the attorney general renders advice informally, acting as counselor in the same manner that a lawyer advises clients. The reasons for this are manifest. Often advice is needed before an official opinion can be prepared. Sometimes there are doubtful points which should be left for the court to decide and the attorney general, instead of giving an opinion in his judicial capacity where an opinion might be prejudicial in subsequent litigation, advises as to the course of action which will best protect the government. Further, it is believed that the highest service can be rendered by giving services freely when requested, in drafting of contracts, outlining of policies where questions of law are involved, and mediation between conflicting interests. Often much litigation can be and has been avoided by such services.

Besides official opinions, many opinions are rendered to subordinate officials of the department of justice, which are not published or included in this report.

2. LITIGATION.

There is one feature of the work of the department of justice which has not heretofore received the efficient and careful consideration which it has deserved, and that is the conduct of civil cases in which The People of Porto Rico has an interest. This does not apply to the more important civil cases involving principles or policies of great importance to The People of Porto Rico, which have been conducted directly by the office of the attorney general. But there is an ever-increasing amount of litigation in which The People of Porto Rico is a party defendant by virtue of the consent of the legislative assembly authorizing suits against the people in special classes of cases, or in which The People of Porto Rico sues as plaintiff for recovery of possession of real property, condemnation of lands, collection of taxes, collections on official bonds, etc. These cases are usually handled by the district fiscals under the supervision of the attorney general. The limited legal personnel of the office of the attorney general and the large amount of other work has prevented the direct supervision of this work except in the most important cases. The district fiscals, especially in San Juan and the larger districts, where the greatest number of these cases are instituted, are invariably extremely busy with the criminal work pertaining to their offices. Moreover, they are lawyers who have had more experience in the handling of criminal cases than in civil cases. An earnest endeavor is now being made to dispose of these cases as soon as possible and to guard against any future falling behind in this important branch of work. A summary of the more important cases decided during the preceding fiscal year and of cases pending is dealt with below under the heading "Civil cases affecting The People of Porto Rico."

ney.

3. SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS AND DIRECTION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS. The attorney general does not purport to be in any direct sense a prosecuting attor But under the law he is the responsible head of the prosecuting branch of the judiciary, and as such it is his duty to superintend prosecutions when supervision is necessary or advisable. In many cases the fiscals are in doubt, or for personal reasons wish that the attorney general should share in the responsibility for certain prosecutions. And in all cases of great importance the attorney general keeps advised of the investigation and steps leading to prosecution. During the past fiscal year the investigation and prosecution of certain bribery cases and internal-revenue frauds have been conducted under the supervision of the office of the attorney general, and some noteworthy convictions have been obtained. In January, 1915, information was obtained that certain members of the board of pharmacy were conducting a wholesale system of selling licenses by means of giving out the questions and answers before the examination and substituting the set of answers prepared beforehand for the actual answers made by the students at the regular examination conducted by the board.