though such disability, aggravation, or death was the result of military service during the World War."

Veterans of the World War and veterans of the Spanish. American War are included alike in the phrase, “veterans of any war." Applying for and receiving the benefits thus extended to them (hospitalization), they become "beneficiaries," without distinction. Further benefits (compensation) are extended to "any beneficiary who suffers an injury, etc., as the result of such hospitalization. "Beneficiary," thus used, is not defined, and there is nothing whatever to suggest that less is intended than would be indicated by the common meaning of the words employed.

It is my opinion, therefore, that military service during the period of the World War is not essential in the case of one otherwise entitled to the compensation provided by section 213 of the World War Veterans' Act, 1924, as amended.

Respectfully,

WILLIAM D. MITCHELL.

To the DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES VETERANS' BUREAU.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS-LEGALITY OF BOND ISSUE

The proposed issue by the Government of the Philippine Islands of bonds in the sum of $500,000, the proceeds from the sale of which are to be used for the construction of works and improvements in the Port of Iloilo, Province of Iloilo, being authorized by Congress and by Act No. 3417 of the Philippine Legislature of December 7, 1927, and being within the maximum of indebtedness authorized by law, and all statutory requirements regarding the issue of the bonds having been complied with, said bonds, which constitute the second series of bonds proposed to be issued under Philippine Act No. 3417, supra, when issued in the form and amount proposed, will have been legally issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Government of the Philippine Islands.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,

October 12, 1929.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of September 17, 1929, requesting my opinion as to the validity of the proposed issue by the Government of the

Philippine Islands of bonds in the sum of $500,000, being the second series and part of the total issue of bonds in the sum of $2,175,000, authorized by Act No. 3417 enacted by the Seventh Philippine Legislature, Third Session, approved December 7, 1927, and the Act of Congress approved August 29, 1916 (c. 416, 39 Stat. 545), as amended by the Act of May 31, 1922 (c. 203, 42 Stat. 598), the proceeds from the sale of which are to be used for the construction of works and improvements in the Port of Iloilo, Province of Iloilo. The first series of these bonds, in the amount of $750,000, dated April 1, 1928, was issued following the opinion of this Department dated April 17, 1928.

You state that you are now in receipt of a request from the Governor General of the Philippine Islands that said second series of bonds in the amount of $500,000 be issued and sold as soon as possible, and that, pursuant to the said Act No. 3417, you have determined that said bonds shall be dated October 15, 1929, that they shall be in coupon form only in the denomination of $1,000 each, that they shall bear interest at the rate of 42 per cent per annum, payable semiannually, and that they shall mature in thirty years (October 15, 1959) from the date of issue.

My predecessor, in an opinion dated April 17, 1928 (35 Op. 443), upheld the legality of the original authorization of the entire issue under Philippine Act No. 3417, supra. and approved the issuance of the first series of bonds covered by this authorization in the amount of $750,000. In passing upon the legality of the proposed second series of bonds, in the sum of $500,000, it is only necessary to consider whether the bonds when issued would increase the bonded indebtedness of the Government of the Philippine Islands beyond that permitted by law, and to pass upon the form of bond submitted.

Section 11 of the Act of August 29, 1916, supra, as amended by the act of May 31, 1922, supra, provides "that the entire indebtedness of the Philippine Government created by the authority conferred herein, exclusive of those obligations known as friar land bonds, shall not exceed at any one time 10 per centum of the aggregate tax valuation of its property

You inclose in your letter a memorandum by the Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, in which it is stated:

"3. On December 31, 1928, the assessed valuation of taxable real property in the Philippine Islands was $860,514,528.50. The present bonded indebtedness of the Philippine Government, exclusive of collateral bonds aggregating $6,986,500, which are secured by an equivalent amount of bonds issued by its constituent Provinces and municipalities, and of $5,117,000 friar lands purchase bonds now outstanding, is $63,323,000. There is pending an additional issue of $1,500,000 of bonds mentioned in memorandum from this Bureau dated July 19, 1929, approved by first indorsement from your office dated July 30, 1929. Against the payment of this indebtedness there had also been accumulated in the various sinking funds as of April 30, 1929, the latest date available, the sum of $11,123,061.83, so that the indebtedness of the Philippine Government, together with the proposed increases therein, will not exceed the amount authorized by Congress."

From the foregoing statement it is apparent that the proposed second series of bonds in the sum of $500,000, to be issued under Philippine Act No. 3417, supra, will not increase the bonded indebtedness of the Philippine Government beyond the maximum amount authorized by law.

I find that all of the statutory requirements regarding the issue of bonds by the Government of the Philippine Islands have been complied with in this case, and that the form of bond submitted by you is in substantial compliance with the law authorizing the issue. It is my opinion, therefore, that when issued in the form and amount proposed, said second series of bonds in the amount of $500,000 will have been legally issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Government of the Philippine Islands. Respectfully,

To the SECRETARY OF WAR.

WILLIAM D. MITCHELL.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS-LEGALITY OF BOND ISSUE

The proposed issue by the Government of the Philippine Islands of bonds in the sum of $750,000, the proceeds from the sale of which are to be used for the extension of the port works and the improvement of the harbor facilities in the city and Province of Cebu, being authorized by Congress and by Act No. 3413 of the Philippine Legislature of December 7, 1927, and being within the limit of indebtedness authorized by law, and the statutory requirements regarding the issue of such bonds having been complied with, said bonds, which constitute the second series of bonds proposed to be issued under Philippine Act No. 3413, supra, when issued in the form and amount proposed, will have been legally issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Government of the Philippine Islands.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,

October 12, 1929.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of September 17, 1929, requesting my opinion as to the validity of the proposed issue by the Government of the Philippine Islands of bonds in the sum of $750,000, being the second series and part of the total issue of bonds in the sum of $2,000,000, authorized by Act No. 3413 enacted by the Seventh Philippine Legislature, third session, approved December 7, 1927, and the Act of Congress approved August 29, 1916 (c. 416, 39 Stat. 545), as amended by the Act of May 31, 1922 (c. 203, 42 Stat. 598), the proceeds from the sale of which are to be used for the extension of the port works and the improvement of the harbor facilities in the city and Province of Cebu. The first series of these bonds, dated March 1, 1928, in the amount of $750,000, was issued in accordance with the opinion of this office, dated April 17, 1928.

You state that you are now in receipt of a request from the Governor General of the Philippine Islands that said second series of bonds in the amount of $750,000 be issued and sold as soon as possible, and that, pursuant to the said Act No. 3413, you have determined that said bonds shall be dated September 15, 1929, that they shall be in coupon form only in the denomination of $1,000 each, that they shall bear interest at the rate of 42 per cent per annum. payable semiannually, and that they shall mature in thirty years (September 15, 1959) from the date of issue.

My predecessor, in an opinion dated April 17, 1928 (35 Op. 446), upheld the legality of the original authorization of the entire issue under Philippine Act No. 3413, supra, and approved the issuance of the first series of bonds covered by this authorization in the amount of $750,000. In passing upon the legality of the proposed second series of bonds, in the sum of $750,000, it is only necessary to consider whether the bonds when issued would increase the bonded indebtedness of the Government of the Philippine Islands beyond that permitted by law, and to pass upon the form of bond submitted.

Section 11 of the Act of August 29, 1916, supra, as amended by the act of May 31, 1922, supra, provides "that the entire indebtedness of the Philippine Government created by the authority conferred herein, exclusive of those obligations known as friar land bonds, shall not exceed at any one time 10 per centum of the aggregate tax valuation of its property ** * ""

*

You inclose in your letter a memorandum by the Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, in which it is stated:

"3. On December 31, 1928, the assessed valuation of taxable real property in the Philippine Islands was $860,514,528.50. The present bonded indebtedness of the Philippine Government, exclusive of collateral bonds aggregating $6,986,500, which are secured by an equivalent amount of bonds issued by its constituent provinces and municipalities, and of $5,117,000 friar lands purchase bonds now outstanding, is $63,323,000. There is pending an additional issue of $1,500,000 of bonds mentioned in memorandum from this Bureau dated July 19, 1929, approved by first indorsement from your office dated July 30, 1929. Against the payment of this indebtedness there had also been accumulated in the Philippine sinking funds as of April 30, 1929, the latest date available, the sum of $11,123,061.83, so that the indebtedness of the Philippine Government, together with the issue pending, and this proposed increase, will not exceed the amount authorized by Congress."

From the foregoing statement it is apparent that the proposed second series of bonds in the sum of $750,000, to be issued under Philippine Act No. 3413, supra, will not in