Upon the whole, a Provincial Governor passed life very comfortably if he did not go out of his way to oppress his subjects and create discord. His tranquillity, nevertheless, was always dependent upon his maintaining a good understanding with the priesthood of his district, and his conformity with the demands of the friars. If he had the misfortune to cross their path, it brought him a world of woe, and finally his downfall. There have been Provincial Governors who in reality held their posts by clerical influence, whilst others who exercised a more independent spirit--who set aside Church interests to serve those of the State, with which they were intrusted--fell victims to sacerdotal intrigue; for the subordinates of the hierarchy had power to overthrow as well as to support those who were appointed to their districts. Few improvements appear to have been made in the provinces by the initiative of the local Governors, nor did they seem to take any special interest in commercial and agricultural advancement. This lack of interest was somewhat excusable and comprehensible, however, seeing that after they were appointed, and even though they governed well within the strict limitations of their office, they were constantly expecting that a ministerial change or the fall of a single minister might remove them from their posts, or that the undermining influence of favouritism might succeed in accomplishing their withdrawal. It was natural, therefore, that they should have been indifferent about the fostering of new agricultural enterprises, of opening tracks for bringing down timber, of facilitating trade, or of in any way stimulating the development of the resources of a province when the probability existed that they would never have the personal satisfaction of seeing the result of their efforts. Some Governors with whom I am personally acquainted have, in spite of all discouragement, studied the wants of their provinces, but to no purpose. Their estimates for road-making and mending, bridge-building, and public works generally were shelved in Manila, whilst the local funds (_Fondos locales_), which ought to have been expended in the localities where they were collected, were seized by the authorities in the capital and applied to other purposes. An annual statement of one province will be sufficient, as an example, to illustrate the nature of this local tax:-- LOCAL FUNDS [103]--ALBAY PROVINCE Provincial Revenue P. cts. P. cts. Stamps on Weights and Measures 2,490 00 Billiard Tax and Live Stock credentials 496 00 90% of fines for shirking forced labour 1,500 00 Tax in lieu of forced labour 85,209 00 Vehicle tax 4,000 00 93,695 00 Municipal Revenue