The record-union., 1899-09-07
Copies Of the Orders of Otis Re-
garding Negros Island
Have Been Received by the State and War
Departments at Washington.
Until the Question Has Been Final
ly Determined, Brigadier Cen
eral Smith of the California
Regiment, Will Act as Military
Governor of the Island.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-Copies of
General Otis order granting home rule
were received by the State and War
Departments to-day, together with
constitution proposed by the inhabi-
tants of the island, upon which they
seek to have established for themselves
republican form of Government.
This action will be very carefully con-
Sidered by the President in connection
with the recommendations for the gov
ernment of the archipelago, which will
be incorporated in his forthcoming
message, but in the meantime the Gov
ernment of Negros will be conducted in
accordance with the order issued by
General Otis, which announces that
Brigadier General Otis F. Smith, U. S.
v, commanding United States troops
in the sub-military districts of the
island of Negros, in the Visayan mill
tary district, is appointed Military Gov
ernor of the island, and adds:
The people of Negros, through duly
accredited representatives, having
freely acknowledged the sovereignty of
| the United States over that island and
| having developed and forwarded to his
excellency, the President of the United
States, for the consideration and delib-
Grafton of Congress a proposed consti-
| tuition or body of fundamental laws.
| upon Which they seek to have eStab-
lIshed for themselves a republican form
| OF government, it is deemed essential
pending final action by the President
and the Congress of the United States
thereon and while supervision of the
| affairs of the island must be main
| tanned, that a provisional Government
! to administer the civil matters be in
stituted, under which the people may
enjoy the largest measure of civil lib
erty compatible with prevailing condi-
tions and which shall conform to their
| desires as expressed in their proposed
constitution.
1t is therefore ordered that a Govern
ment for that island be established as
| speedily as practicable. The Govern
ment of the island of Negros shall con-
sist of a Military Governor appointed
by the United States Military Governor
of the Philippines, who shall command
therein; a Civil Governor and an Ad-
visory Council elected by the people,
The Military Governor shall appoint
Secretaries for the Treasury. Interior,
Agriculture, Public instruction, an At
torney General and an Auditor. who
shall act under his immediate insu llc-
tions.
The seat of government shall be es-
tablished at Bacolar.
The Military Governor shall exercise
| the supreme power. He shall see that
the laws are executed; shall appoint tc
office and fill all vacancies in office not
herein otherwise provided for and. with
the approval of the Military Governor
of the Philippines, remove any officer
from office. He shall perform such
other functions as the duties of his po-
sition may require.
The Civil Governor. to be elected by
the people, shall advise the Military
Governor of all public civil questions
and shall preside over the Advisory
| Council He shall countersign all grants
and commissions of civil nature which
are executed by the Military Governor,
attend every meeting of the Advisory
| Council, and in case of a tie vote in said
[ BODY he shall cast the deciding vote;
shall receive all bills and resolutions of
/ the Advisory Council; shall attest the
| official acts of the Military Governor in
| so far as strictly civil matters are con-
! cerned; shall affix the great SEAL with
| his own atteStatiOn. to all civil COM
missions, pardons and public instru-
ments to which the official signature of
| the Military Governor is required and
| perform such other duties as may be
| duly conferred upon him.
The Military Governor of the island
shall have the right to veto all bills or
resolutions adopted by the Advisory
Council, and his veto shall be final if
ernor of the Philippines
The Advisory Council shall discharge
all the ordinary duties of Legislature
The duties of the Secretaries of the
Treasury, Interior and Agriculture and
Auditor are of practically the same
character as those officials of the United
States. The Secretary of the Public In
/ struction has charge of the schools.
| Municipal governments shall be organ
| lied as soon as possible under the su-
| pervision of the Military and Civil Gov
ernors and the Advisory Council. Off
GERS of cities. towns and municipalities
! in office at the time of the promulga-
| tion of this order shall continue to act
in their official capacity until success
sors are elected. selected or appointed
and qualified.
| The judicial power shall be vested in
! three judges. who shall be appointed by
the Military Governor of the islanS In
| ferior courts shall be provided for and
established under the order and rec
ommendation of the Civil Governor
and Advisory Council
Free public schools shall be estab-
| lished throughout the populous districts
of the island in which the English Ian
guage shall be taught. and this subject
will receive the careful consideration of
| the Advisory Council.
The burden of government must be
equitably distributed among the people.
The military authorities will collect and
receive the customs revenue, if any;
will control postal matters and Philip
pine inter-island trade and commerce.
Miller Sentenced to Death.
| VICTORIA, Sept. 6.--The steamer
| Glenogle, which arrived here from