454

Argument for Defendant in Error. 212 U. S.
vision for the protection of rights claimed under ancient
possession, it was in each case necessary that evidence of title
should be submitted to the proper administrative officials.
4 Recopilacion de Leyes de las Indiao, law 1, title 12; Id., law 8;
Id., law 14; 4 Legislacion Ultramarina, 673; arts. 3, 4, 5; Id.,
p. 688; Gaceta de Manila, Nov. 15, 1864; Guia del Comprador
Terrenos, p. 5; Gaceta de Manila, Sept. 10, 1880; Id., Aug. 11,
1881; Id., April 17, 1894; see also Valenton v; Murciano, 3 Phil.

Rep. 537; Cansino v. Valdez, 6 Phil. Rep. 320; Tiglao v. In-
sular Government, 7 Phil. Rep. 80. The Spanish law in force

when the United States took possession of the Philippines re-
quired that all persons claiming title to public lands by pre-
scription should, long prior to that date, have presented and

proved their claims, complied with the legal regulations, and
secured title by administrative adjudication, upon penalty of
becoming mere trespassers and subject to ejectment. Plaintiff
in error. did not comply with these requirements, the time
within which he could have done so had long passed, and he
was therefore in the eyes of the law a trespasser on the public
lands of the Philippine Islands at the date when the islands

passed to the sovereignty of the United States. Under the ac-
cepted principles of international law the local laws of Spain

applicable to the Philippines, including the mortgage law and
the Civil Code, were continued in force by the Government of
the United States upon the cession of the islands, so far as they
were not incompatible with the fundamental principles of our
Government. American Ins. Co. v. Canter, 1 Pet. 511; Cross v.
Harrison, 16 How. 164; Leitensdorfer v. Webb, 20 How. 176.
The situation of plaintiff in error has not been changed by
legislation of the United States or of the Philippine Islands
since the change of sovereignty. The act of March 2, 1901,
81 Stat. 910, continued the status of the public lands until
further action by Congress. The organic act of July 1, 1902,
empowered the Philippine Government created thereby to
- promulgate rules and regulations governing the public lands.
In pursuance of the powers so conferred, the Philippine Gov-