Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-12-14

when 1t terminates further informa-
ton will be required as to the actual
condition of affairs before inaugural
ing a permanent scheme of civil gov
eminent. AS long as the Instruction
continues the military arm must neces-
sarily be supreme. But there is no
reason why steps should not be taken
from time to time to inaugurate gov
ernments essentially popular in their
form as fast as territory S held or con-
trolled by our troops. The president
believes that reconstruction should
not begin by the establishment of one
central civil government for all the ISL
ands, with it's seat at Manila, but
rather that the work should be COM
menced by building up from the bot
tom, first establishing municipal gov
ernments and then provincial govern
ments, central government at last 10
follow.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war and
by long years of misgovernment. We
shall not wait for the end of strife to
begin the beneficent work. We shall
continue, as we have begun, to open
the schools and courts in operation, to
foster industry and trade and agricul-
ture, and in every way in our power to
make these people whom Providence
has brought within our jurisdiction
feel that it is their liberty and not our
power, their welfare and not our gain,
WI 10 n1tr 40
has never waived over any community
but in blessing. / believe the Filipinos
will soon recognize the fact that it has
not lost it's gift of benediction in its
worldwide journey to their shores.
Turning to Alaska and Hawaii the
president declares that he can see no
reason why more complete form OF
territorial organization should not be
provided for both.
Porto Rico Again.
He recommends that legislation to
the same end be had with reference to
the government of Porto Rico. The
time is ripe for the adoption OF a tenn
porary form of government for this
island. The system of civil jurispru-
dence now adopted by the people of
this island is thoroughly modern and
scientific, so far as it relates to matters
of internal business, trade, production
and social and private right in gen.
eral. The cities of the island are gov
erned under charters which probably
require very little or no change So
that with relation to matters of local
concern and private right, it is not
probable that much, if any, legislation
is desirable; but with reference to pub
lie administration and the relations of
the islands to the federal government,
there are many matters which are of
pressing urgency. The same necessity
exists for legislation on the part of
congress to establish federal courts
and federal jurisdiction in the island
as in the case of Hawaii and Alaska.
Our plain duty is to abolish all GUS
toms tariffs between the United States
and Porto Rico.
1t is desirable that the government
of the island should be entirely civil
in its nature For present purposes 1
recommend that congress pass a law
for the organization of a temporary
government, which shall provide for
the appointment by the president, sub
ject to confirmation by the senate, of a
governor and such other officers as the
general administration of the island
may require, and that for legislative
purposes on subjects of local nature
not partaking of a federal character a
legislative council, composed partly of
Porto Ricans and partly of citizens of
the United States, shall be nominated
and appointed by the president their
acts to be subject to the approval of
the congress or the president. In the
municipalities and other local sub
divisions recommend that the princi-
pie OF local government be applied
at once. Systems of education in these
new possessions founded upon COM
nonsense methods, adapted to existing
conditions and looking to the future
movement and industrial advancement
of the people, will commend 10 them
in a peculiarly effective manner the
blessings of free government
The application of civil service rules
to many of the places included in the
classified list was found, says the pres
ident to result in friction and en-
barrassment. After long considera-
ton it became evident to the heads
of the departments, responsible for
their efficiency, that in order to remove
these difficulties and promote an eff
cient and harmonious administration
certain amendments were necessary.
These amendments were PROMULGATED
by me in an order, dated May 20, 1898.
The principal purpose was to except
from competitive examination certain
places involving fiduciary responsible
ties or duties of strictly confidential
scientific, or executive character. The
results attained show that under their
operation the public service has i'm
proved, declares the president,
WISCONSIN PENSIONERS.