Amending Section 1 of Act No. 146

January 26, 1916

ACT NO. 2553

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION ONE OF ACT NUMBERED ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX, CREATING THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING AGENT AND DEFINING THE DUTIES THEREOF, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE PURCHASING AGENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES HELD IN STOCK

SECTION 1. Section one of Act Numbered One hundred and forty-six, creating the office of Purchasing Agent and defining the duties thereof, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 1. In order to secure in the most economical and expeditious manner supplies for the various Bureaus, Offices, and other branches of the Government, and to enable an accurate account to be kept of the expenditures in connection therewith, there is hereby created and shall be maintained in the Government of the Philippine Islands the office of Purchasing Agent. The duties of such officer shall be to buy such furniture, stationery, and supplies of every kind and description as may be required by the various Bureaus, Offices, and other branches of the Insular Government, by the provincial governments, and by the government of the city of Manila, in the transaction of official business, and for the purchase of which appropriations have been made.

"The Purchasing Agent, or his duly authorized representative, shall make an annual inspection, or more frequently in the discretion of the Governor-General, of the stock of supplies kept on hand by each Bureau, Office, or other branch of the Insular Government, or by the city of Manila, in the manner hereinafter prescribed, for the purpose of ascertaining what supplies are carried in stock that, in his opinion, are unnecessary. Each chief of a Bureau, Office, or other branch of the Insular Government, or department of the city of Manila, shall within fifteen days after receipt of written notice from the Purchasing Agent, prepare and submit to the latter an itemized statement of all supplies he has on hand, showing the quantities thereof, the purposes for which they are to be used, the length of time they have been in stock, and the condition thereof. As soon as possible thereafter, the Purchasing Agent may, in his discretion, cause an inspection of such supplies to be made and the chief of such Bureau, Office, or other branch of the Insular Government, or department of the city of Manila, shall render all the assistance necessary for the due accomplishment thereof. Upon the completion of such inspection, the Purchasing Agent shall prepare and submit to the Governor-General a written report covering such supplies found in stock as he deems unnecessary, giving a full description of the condition thereof and submitting his recommendations as to the advisability of continuing such supplies in stock, which in his opinion are not commonly used, which quickly deteriorate, or which he considers unnecessary. Such action as the Governor-General may take thereon shall be final and notice thereof shall be given to the Insular Auditor, the Purchasing Agent and the chiefs of Bureaus, Offices, Departments, or other branches of the Government concerned." HAaDTI

Enacted, January 26, 1916.