Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-07-13
NOT PART OF UNITED STATES.
lnsular Commission's Suggestion to
BE Adopted by President.

tnSulor commissions Su88e0tlOn 70
BE Adopted by President.
Chicago, July IA Washington
special to the Tribune says:
President Mckinley will adopt as
the policy of his administration with
reference to the conquered islands the
report of the insular commission,
which has just been filed. Puerto
Rico, Cuba and the Philippines are to
be treated not as parts of the United
States, but merely as property owned
by the government.
According to the views of the adj
ministration this is the only possible
means of exercising temporary control
over the islands until such time as
congress shall decide upon their flu
ture disposition. Under the theory
adopted by the insular commission
there is no distinction between Cuba
and the other islands for the time be-
ing, but all are prizes of war and SUBJ
ject absolutely to the disposal of con-
gress.
There are many reasons for this adj
ministrative policy. In the first place
it would be impossible to govern the
islands by military control in time of
peace if they are to be considered
integral parts of the United States. LII
is held by the administration that the
ratification of the treaty of peace BY
the senate concerned merely the rel
lations between the United States and
Spain, and left the islands in the pos
session of this country, the same as
the Reina Mercedes or any of the
ships left after Dewey wrecked the
Spanish fleet in Manila bay.
The position taken by the govern
ment is that there has been, and can
be, no annexation to the United
States except by statutory act of con-
gress. The disposition of Puerto Rico,
Cuba and the Philippines is yet to be
decided upon by both houses of con.
gress. In the case of Cuba there is a
solemn pledge to give the island back
to its inhabitants as an independent
country, but it is admitted that this
pledge might be violated and the
island formally annexed to the United
States in case the people of this coun.
try were willing to incur the odium
of having broken faith with the Gu
bans.
According to the policy adopted by
the administration, as voiced by the
insular commission, it is still within
the power of congress to sell, give
away, or keep all these islands. This
would not be the case if they We're com
sidered parts of the United States,
having vested rights of citizenship
and the protection of the civil law.
The purpose of the president is to gov
ern all these islands by means of tho
military, and whatever laws and regu-
lations are established will originate
with the president, as communicating
chief of the army, and not as chief eN.
ecutive of the civil power. In the alb.
sence of legislation by congress there
is no other theory which could be sue
cessfully adopted. The federal laws
do not apply to any of these islands.
In the opinion of the most thought.
full men of the administration it will
probably be found desirable to cons
tinue the military control over the
islands for some time to come. 1t is
believed in this way the great change
from Spanish to American methods
can be effected with but little hard
ship. 1t is assumed that congress will
desire to acquaint itself with condi.
tions in the islands before assuming
to legislate for them. 1t is supposed
that commissions will be. sent to
Puerto Rico and the Philippines eS'
actly as was done in the case OF
Hawaii, and upon their reports the
necessary legislation will be under
taken. In the meantime the military
government, possessing the power OF
revising the laws as rapidly as it be-
comes necessary, will pave the way
for statutory legislation.
The theory adopted by the admin
istration that the conquered islands
are the property of and not parts OF
the United States, it is positively de
clared, is in no sense to be consid'
cred as prejudging their future con-
ditions. The administration has
merely adopted this as the convenient
and natural legal theory, and it is not
opposed to their annexation, but OIL
the contrary the power of congress
either to annex or otherwise dispose
of the islands is freely admitted. The
treaty of peace was merely n quit
claim deed by Spain to Cuba, Puerto
Rico and the Philippines, and the
United States can accept the gift OF
not, as it sees fit.