The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-26
UNIFORM PLAN.
SyStemsOf Government For Is
land Possessions
Embodied In an Order Issued
by the President.
MILITARY TO RULE.
Army officers Have Charge OF
Financial Affairs
Until Congress Makes Other
Arrangements.

Washington, May 26-President Nc
Kinley has issued the following eXecu-
tive order for the government OF the
islands which came under control OF
the United States government, as a re-
suit of the war with Spain:
BY virtue of the authority vested IN
me as the commandments or the
army and navy OF the United states
I hereby order and direct that during
the maintenance of the military govern
ment by the United States in the lslahu
of Cuba and all islands of the we est
Indies, west of the seVenty-1ourth ue-
gree. west longitude. eVacualeu W
Spain there are hereby created and SHAT
be maintained, the offices of auditor OF
the islands; one assistant auditor FOR
auditing the accounts of the department
of customs and one assistant auultor
for auditing the accounts of the depart
ment of postoffices who shalI pc APP
pointed by the secretary of war and
whose duties shall be to audit all az
counts of the islands.
There is hereby created and snail
be maintained the office of treasurer OF
the islands which shall be filled by the
appointment thereto of an officer of the
regular army of the United States The
treasurer of the islands shall receive
and keep all moneys arising from the
revenues of the islands, shall dlSburSe
or transfer the same only upon war
rants issued by the auditor of the is
lands and countersigned by the COVER
nor general.
All rules and instructions necessary
to carry into effect the provisions of
executive orders relating to said islands
shall be issued by the secretary of war.
WIN. MCKINLEY"
A similar order was issued substituting
Porto Rico and another substituting the
Philippines for Cuba, so that all the
groups are to be identical as to govern
ment.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn. who
has charge of insular matters in the
war department conferred with the Sec
rotary of the treasury as to the best
method of carrying out the order and
after careful consideration decided that
the islands shall be kept autonomous
and that all affairs shall be under the
direct control of the governor general.
The government of the islands, its finan-
ces and its officers will be wholly under
the control of the military governor I'M
I'll congress shall otherwise provide. The
officials in responsible positions will all
be army officers.
Mr.. Meiklejohn has prepared explicit
rules and regulations governing the is
lands and for the guidance of the Off
GERS.
These provide that the auditor and
assistant auditors shall examine and
settle all accounts pertaining to the
revenues, receipts and expenditures :;
one assistant auditor to have charge of
the postal and other customs and other
moneys. The auditor shall issue and
sign all warrants for money, for the
approval of the governor general. All
agents or officers who receive money
are to pay the full amounts to the
treasurer and to send accounts monthly
to the auditor. Within ten days from
the end of each month the auditor
shall forward a complete report to the
secretary of war.
The treasury shall keep a separate
account of receipts classifying Gus
toms, postal, internal and miscellaneous.
The accounts shall be kept in the money
of the United States and receipts in for