The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-07
CIVIL GOVERNMENT FORMED.
FIRST ATTEMPT AT AUTONOMY
MADE IN NEGRos.

Judge of supreme Court, Governor
and Other OmciaIs sworn in-Na-
tives Welcomed IL, and Held a
Three Days Celebratfon-sveIT
Function FOIIOwed-WOrds of We'll
come From Army Omcers-Opera-
lions I'm LuzOn.
Manila, Nov. 6.--At Bacalod, In the ISL
and of Negros, the first autonomous gov
ernment of the Filipinos was established
to-day.
Gen. Smith, governor of the Island of
Negros, administered the oath of Office to
the judge of the Supreme Court who in
turn ewore in the Governor. three judges.
twelve councimeu. the auditor and the
Secretary of the Interior. The natives OF
the entire island attended the ceremony.
The officers from Iloilo were also pres
ent.
Three days feasting will follow in cele-
bration of the new government, and the
first anniversary of the surrender of the
spaniards to the Negros revolutionists.
American flags are displayed in the viii
lage. The celebration consisted of horse
racing and other sports, music, religious
functions and an illumination. The ball
tonight in the government house attracted
the wives of the wealthy planters. and
there was as great a display of rich cos
tunes and costly jewels as would be seen
at a similar affair in America or Europe.
Elections were held Oct 2, the number OF
votes cast being 5.24S. There were forty
candidates for the various offices. Melicio
Reverlno was elected Governor, receiving
1,3O5 votes. Suffrage was determined by
property qualifications and ability to read
and write
welcomed the omcinIs.
Col. Minor welcomed the officials on boz
half of The United states In the course OF
his remarks ne sad:
"Negros leads IN the van of civil gov-
ernment in the Philippines. Your honor
lies in adding new star to freedoms
flag"
Gen. Smith, during a speech which he
delivered, said:
your future promises as brightly as
Japan's, who to-day is recognized a.
among the civilized nations of the world"
Senior Reverino In replying, said that Tho
best thing for the future Of Negros was
the continuance of close relations with
the United States. Gen Smith announced
the granting Of freedom 10 the political
! prisoners i'm communication of the event.
| Cen Hughes, in command at Iloilo, tele-
/
eastern cable from that place.
| Gen Smith, In an interview, remark
! ed that Il was OF the utmost importance
that the Filiplnos should be taught to rec
! ognize the sovereignty of the United
| States The graVest danger, he added.
| threatening a peaceful administration IL
intrigue among the insular politicians and
| he declared that the United States gov
ernment must for years keep control oe
/ the Flipinos In order to prevent such con-
ditions from existing
Undergoing Hardships.
The members of the Sixth Infantry.
which Is divided into thirty garrisons
| throughout the island of Negros are uu-
dergoing great hardships.
| A recently organized revolutionary move
ment has been discovered in Northern Me-
gros, and the leaders have been forced to
| withdraw to Panay. A number OF ban-
| dts, under the leadership of Papa Issio.
religious charlatan, have been driven
| into the mountains, but IL IL expected that
/ they will give more trouble. A force OF
$50 native soldiers, armed with Springfield
| rifles, are helping the Americans, and ara
| found to be valuable as scouts.
Gen. Lawton's opera tions have been tens
! porarily suspended, owing to heavy rains.
| The country around Cabanatuan is flood
| ed The river, however, has begun fall
| ing rapidly, and probably the country i'm
| that section will soon resume its normal
] COluitltb
MagaIang Is n Strong Town.
Magalang, the town taken yester-
day by two columns of Gen. Mac
Arthur's division, under Col. Smith and
| Mai OBrien, is a strong town situated
midway between Angeles and Arayat
| The movement is a part of the plan for
| the Americans to possess all the country
TO the south of Tarlae as the troops close
In on the capital, cutting the line of the
! enemy's retreat In that direction.
The insurgent force is estimated at 1000.
Col. Smith first encountered small force
entrenched quarter of a mile beyond An
geles, which soon retreated, leaving two
of their number dead. The enemy made
a short stand at the outskirts of Barbios
and San Francisco, brlskly shooting at the
| advancing Americans.
Capt. Brush deployed with the advance
| guard Of the battalion and charged the
| Elipinos, who took to flight. Seven
Americans were wounded. The Americans
almost surrounded the insurgents, who re-
| sisted stubbornly, but Lieut.. Hamilton's
artillery cut them up. Lieut.. Slavin's
troops captured company of the enemy.
with their arms during the advance.
Gen. Wheelers brigade is formed al
| Angeles in order to be prepared for a gen.
eral engagement.