_The appointment of the commanders and officers of said ships, and
their number; the expenses incurred by them; and the question whether
it will be expedient to reduce their salaries._
By the decree of his Majesty referred to in the letter of January
11, 93, sent to Gomez Perez das Mariñas, governor of the Filipinas,
permission is given to the viceroy of Nueva España to appoint the
pilots and officers of the ships bound for the Filipinas.
Complaint is now made of this, from the islands, that there is great
expense to the royal exchequer, in that the viceroys, in order that
there may be offices in which to place their followers, multiply
those of the ships; and, although they have the right to appoint one
pilot to a ship, they appoint a captain-general and many accompanying
him, an admiral, and many captains of infantry, a sargento-mayor, a
royal sub-lieutenant, sub-lieutenants of the companies, and a royal
alguazil. All these are persons of little experience, who are going
to seek their fortunes in the Filipinas at his Majesty's expense;
and they deprive the citizens of their offices.
Information is given, by a letter from the fiscal of the Filipinas,
that but one pilot is sufficient for the ships; that the troops should
be under the command of the captain or master of the ship, without
increase of salary to said captain or master. Thus the aforesaid
officers of the troops may be dispensed with, and one gunner suffices
for each piece or every two pieces of artillery.