Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-07-22
Document Issued the First
Of the Kind in Ameri-
can History.
MILITARY POWER SUPREME
Prevailing Laws to Remain
in Force for the Pres
ent at Least.
Personal and Religious Rights
of the People Will Be
Protected.

WASHINGTON. July IA state paper
that will be historic, marking an epoch
in American history, was issued during
the evening by direction of President
Mckinley. 1t provides in general
terms for the government of the prov.
ince Of Santiago de Cuba and is the
first document of the kind ever pre-.
pared by q president of the United
States. BY order Of Secretary Alger
Adjutant General Corbin cabled the
document to General Shafter, in com.
mand of the military forces at San.
tiago.
The paper is not only an authorize.
ton and instructions to General Shat
ter for the government of the con.
quered territory, but also proclama-
ton to the people Of the. territory Of
the intentions Of the government Of
the United States regarding them and
their interests. The document is in
part as follows:
Protection Guaranteed.
1T will be the duty of the COM
mander Of the army Of occupation to
announce and proclaim in the most
public manner that we come not to
make war upon the inhabitants OF
Cuba nor upon any party or faction,
but to protect tn EN- in their homes, in
their employm ents and in their per.
sonal and religious rights.
S"Though the powers Of the military
occupant are absolute and supreme and
Immediately operate upon the political
conditions Of the Inhabitants, the
municipal laws of the conquered terri
tory, such as affect private rights Of
person and property and provide for
the punishment of crime, are consid.
cred as continuing in force, 80 for as
they are compatible with the new OF.
der of things, until they are suspended
or superseded by the occupying bellig.
erent; and in practice they are not
usually abrogated, but are
Allowed to Remain in Force
and to b. administered by the ordinary
tribunals, substantially as they were
before the occupation. The judges and
the other officials connected with the
administration Of justice may, il they
accept the supremacy Of the United
States, continue to administer the
ordinary law of the land as between
man and man under the supervision Of
the American commandment. chief.
The native constabulary will, so far as
may be practicable, be preserved. The
freedom Of the people to pursue their
accustomed occupations will be
abridged only when it may be neces'
sary to do so.
"As the result Of military occupation
the taxes and duties payable by the in.
habitants to the former government
become payable to the military occu.
pant unless he sees flt to substitute for
them other rates or modes of contribu.
ton to the
Expenses Of the Government.
The moneys so collected are to be used
for the purpose of paying the expenses
of the government under the military
occupation, such as the salaries Of tho
judges and the police and for the pay.
ment of the expenses Of the army.
"Private property taken for the use
of the army is to be paid for W hen pos.
sible in cash at q fair valuation, and
when payment in cash is not possible
receipts are to be given.
"Al ports and places in Cuba which
may be in the actual possession of our
land and naval forces will be opened to
the commerce of all neutral nations, as
we'll as our own, in articles not contra
band of war, upon payment of the pre-
scribed rates OF duty which may be in
force at the time of importation"