years. On contract not in writing, express or implied, statute liability other than forfeiture or penalty six years. For injury to or trespass upon real estate, for recovery of personal property or damages for taking, retaining or injuring personal property, injury to person other than assault and battery or false imprisonment, injury to plaintiff's rights not arising on contract and not hereinafter enumerated, and relief on ground of fraud, four years. For libel, slander, assault and battery, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment or for penalty or forfeiture, one year. Any other action for relief ten years. Persons under disability two years after removal of same except in actions for libel or above mentioned, and then one year. Limitation does not run in favor of one absconding, or concealing himself or one out of the Islands. Action barred by laws of place where cause of action arose is barred here.

USURY LAWS.

Legal rate of interest six per cent. Fifteen per cent. may be contracted for in writing. More is prohibited and excess if paid may be recovered. Usurious instruments are void except as to bona fide purchaser of negotiable paper in good faith and for valuable consideration before maturity.

DEEDS.

In all conveyances of real estate the actual valuation or consideration must be expressed. Deeds must be in writing, signed by the person executing the same in the presence of two witnesses who shall sign as witnesses to the execution thereof, acknowledged before a judge or clerk of a court of record, a notary or justice of the peace, and recorded with the register of deeds. The Torrens system of land registration has been adopted, but does not exclude the former system of conveyancing.

CHATTEL MORTGAGES.

All personal property is subject to mortgage. Unless possession is delivered to the mortgagee the mortgage must be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the province in which the mortgagor resides or, if he is a non-resident, in the province where the property is situated. If the property is in a different province from that in which the mortgagor resides it must be recorded in both provinces. After condition broken mortgagor may after thirty days cause property to be sold by public officer in the municipality where the mortgagor resides or where the property is situated, first giving ten days notice of time, place, and purpose of sale.

COLLECTION OF DEBTS.

ACTIONS.-All actions must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest, and are commenced by filing a complaint setting forth the grounds of action, in which the clerk of court issues a summons to the defendant.

ARREST. Defendant may be arrested in an action for recovery of money or damages on cause of action arising on contract express or implied: I. When defendant is about to depart from the Philippines with intent to defraud creditors; 2. In action for money or property embezzled or fraudulently misapplied or converted to his own use by a public officer, officer of a corporation, attorney, factor, agent or clerk, or by any other person in a

fiduciary capacity, or for wilful violation of duty; 3. In action to recover possession of personal property concealed, removed or disposed of to prevent its being taken by officer; 4. When defendant has been guilty of fraud in contracting the debt or obligation sued on; 5. When defendant has disposed of his property or is about to do so to defraud creditors.

Plaintiff must furnish security for payment of damages and costs.

ATTACHMENT:- May be obtained: I. In all cases mentioned above as grounds for arrest, but plaintiff must elect between arrest and attachment; 2. In action against a non-resident defendant.

GARNISHMENT.-Real estate standing in the name of another, and goods, debts or credits in hands of a third party may be reached by service of order of attachment as above.

JUDGMENTS.- Are not liens on real estate.

EXEMPTIONS. I. The debtors's homestead in which he resides, and land necessarily used in connection therewith, not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty pesos. 2. Tools, and implements necessarily used in his trade or employment. 3. Two horses or two cows, or two caribous, or other beasts of burden, such as the debtor may select not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty pesos and necessarily used by him in his ordinary occupation. 4. His necessary clothing, and that of his family. 5. Household furniture and utensils necessary for housekeeping, such as debtor may select, not exceeding in value seventy-five pesos. 6. Provisions actually provided for three months. 7. Professional libraries of lawyers, judges, clergymen, doctors, school teachers and music teachers, not exceeding in value five hundred pesos. 8. One fishing boat and net not exceeding in value twenty-five pesos of any fisherman. 9. Lettered gravestones.

WILLS.

Every person of the age of eighteen and of sound mind, including married women, may make a will, but cannot deprive husband or wife or heirs of the interest in his or her estate appertaining to them by law. It must be in writing, signed by the testator, or by some one in his presence and by his express direction, and attested and subscribed by three or more credible witnesses in the presence of the testator and of each other. Any person eighteen years of age and of sound mind, not deaf, dumb or blind and able to read and write may be a witness. Legacies to witnesses or their near relatives are void, unless there are three other competent witnesses.

LAWS OF PORTO RICO.

MARRIED WOMEN.

All property, real and personal belonging to either husband or wife at the time of marriage, and all subsequently acquired by either by gift, devise or descent, or by exchange for separate property or purchased with money belonging to either husband or wife is separate property. All other property acquired during the marriage, including the income of property formerly acquired, is community property. The wife may manage and dispose of her separate property and contract in reference to the same. She may sue and be sued apart from her husband in suits relating to her separate property and rights; in other cases he must be joined. The husband has the control and management of the community property during the marriage, but the wife must join in any alienation of real estate. He cannot dispose by will of more than one half of the community property, and on the decease of either husband or wife one half goes to the survivor.. The property conditions of the conjugal partnership may be controlled by marriage contract. In marriage where the husband is a Porto Rican the laws of Porto Rico relating to conjugal partnership in property prevail; otherwise the laws of the husband's country are binding. Ante-nuptial gifts are valid, but those between the spouses after marriage, with some trifling exceptions are void. Parents are required to give dowry to daughters, the proportionate amount of which is regulated by law.

DAYS OF GRACE AND HOLIDAYS.

Days of grace are not allowed. Holidays are: Sundays, January 1, February 22, March 22, Good Friday, May 30, July 4, July 25, general election days, and days appointed by the President of the United States or by the Governor or the Legislative Assembly as days of fasting or thanksgiving or as holidays. When any other holiday falls on Sunday, Monday is observed. Bills and notes falling due on a holiday are payable on the next succeeding business day.

LIMITATIONS.

Title to real property in possession and good faith passes in ten years; as to absent persons in twenty years; and, irrespective of good faith, in thirty years. In cases of disability, time begins to run from the removal of the same. Possession of a vessel in good faith after recorded title passes title in three years; otherwise, except as to the captain, in ten years. Merchants must keep their books five years. Possession of personal property in good faith passes title in three years; otherwise in six years. Actions against partners, and on notes, bills, cheques, dividends and drafts, on bottomry and respondentia bonds, and for libel and slander, and actions against lawyers, notaries, agents, clerks, and servants, three years. Actions against directors or stock

holders of corporations for penalty or liability three years. Actions for negligence one year; for recission of contract, fraud, or for passage money six months. Actions on mortgages twenty years; personal actions fifteen years. New promise or acknowledgment must be in writing, signed by party to be charged. Limitation does not run while defendant is out of the Island.

USURY.

Legal interest in absence of special agreement, six per cent. Twelve per cent. may be agreed upon. If more be contracted for contract is void as to excess, and excess interest may be recovered if sued for in one year.

DEEDS.

Deed must be drawn by a notary, executed of two witnesses not related to the parties or to the notary, and recorded. It must recite the manner in which the grantor's title was acquired, the date and place where passed, the names and domicile of the parties, a description of the property and a full and detailed statement of the consideration. The original deed is retained by the notary, who gives copies to the parties.

CHATTEL MORTGAGES.

Chattel mortgages are not in use in Porto Rico.

COLLECTION of debts.

ACTIONS. There is only one form of civil action, which is brought in the name of the real party in interest and is commenced by filing a written complaint, on which summons is issued.

ARREST. May be made at any time before judgment in an action for the recovery of money or damages: 1. In action on contract when defendant is about to leave Porto Rico to defraud creditors; or in action for damages for wilful injury to person, character or property; 2. In action to recover property embezzled or misappropriated, by a judge, officer of a corporation, attorney, broker, agent, clerk, or other person in a fiduciary capacity; 3. In action to recover personal property unjustly detained which has been sold or removed to prevent its being found; 4. When the obligation was incurred by fraud; 5. Where defendant is about to dispose of property to defraud creditors, fraudulently declaring himself to be insolvent, Plaintiff must file affidavit and give security for costs and damages. There is no imprisonment for debt.

ATTACHMENT. May be obtained in any action for fulfilment of an obligation including contracts, damages, claims for negligence etc. Plaintiff must

file petition setting forth grounds of action, and, unless obligation has been conferred by defendant in writing in some judicial proceeding, he must also give security for costs and damages.

GARNISHHMENT.- Property of defendant in the hands of third persons may be reached on attachment proceedings as above.

JUDGMENT. Is not a lien upon real estate. It must be satisfied first from personal property, and, if that is insufficient, then from real estate. Third

persons may be summoned and examined as to property of defendant in their hands.

EXEMPTIONS. For every householder having a family, a homestead estate in a farm, plantation, or lot and building to the value of five hundred dollars, occupied by him as a residence. The following are also exempt: Furniture and books to the extent of one hundred dollars, necessary house, table and kitchen furniture, including sewing machine, stove, furniture, beds etc. not exceeding two hundred dollars, wearing apparel, hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings drawn or painted by any member of the family, family portraits, one cow with her calf, one hog with her sucking pigs, farm utensils not exceeding one hundred dollars, two oxen, two horses, or two mules, with their harness, with food for such animals for a month. Also water rights not to exceed the amount of water used for the irrigation of lands actually under cultivation and grain and vegetables actually reserved for planting within the next six months not exceeding two hundred dollars, tools of mechanics etc. not to exceed three hundred dollars, instruments of a physician, surveyor, or dentist, with their professional libraries, the professional libraries of attorneys, judges and ministers. For a minor, his dwelling, not exceeding value of two hundred dollars, with sluices and machinery not to exceed two hundred dollars, one saddle animal and one pack animal, not to exceed in value one hundred dollars. For a cartman, drayman, hackman, teamster, or laborer, two oxen, two horses, or two mules, and their harness, one cart or truck etc. For a physician, surgeon or minister one horse with vehicle and harness and fodder for one month. Earnings of a judgment debtor for thirty days when necessary for use of family. Insurance on life or debtor to amount of fifty dollars annual premium.

MECHANICS' LIENS.

The law does not provide for mechanics' liens on real estate.

WILLS.

Any person of the age of fourteen or over may make a will. Wills may be holographic, open, closed, or nuncupative.

A holographic will may be made only by a person of full age. It must be written and dated entirely by the testator and signed by him. It must be proved in court by three witnesses to the handwriting, but need not be signed by attesting witnesses.

An open will is executed before a notary and three witnesses, who must be of full age, residents of the locality, knowing the language of the testator, and not related to the notary, his clerks or servants, or to heirs or legatees. A closed will must be signed on all the sheets by the testator, placed in a sealed envelope and authenticated by the testator as his will in the presence of a notary and five witnesses.

Wills made abroad by citizens of Porto Rico may be executed according to the laws of the place where made. Mutual wills are forbidden. There are restrictions on the amounts which a testator may leave away from his heirs.