The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-09
OTIS PLANS
For Local Government of Cities IL
LuzOn.

LuzOn.
Chicago. Oct. "a special to the
Times-Herald from Washington says:
Major General Otis has informed the
war department of his adoption of a
conarreh hensiVe scheme of local govern
Inent for all cities and towns in Luzon
occupied by American forces. He mas
issued instructions directing that the
system be put in force, and placing
censor officers for the occupying troops
in charge of the formation Of such gov
ernmentS.
In each town there will be municipal
council, composed of a president and
as many representatives OF head men
as there may be wards or barrioS in the
town, which shall be charged with the
maintenance of public order and regu-
lation of municipal affairs 1t Will, by
majority vote, through the adoption of
ordinances or DEGREES, administer the
municipal government, but no ordinance
or decree shall be enforced until ap-
proved by the commanding officer Of
the troops.
The president shall be elected by a
viva Voce vote of the residents of the
town, approved by the commanding
officer, and together with the head men
shall hold office for one year He shall
be of native birth and parentage, and
a resident and property owner of the
town. The head men shall be elected by
a viva voce vote of residents of their
wards.
The president shall be the executive
of the municipal council to execute its
DEGREES, and the senior head man, or
one designated by the council, shall be
vice president of the same, assistant to
the president and ex-ofHciO lieutenant
of police.
The council shall have no Jurisdiction
in civil cases, but on application of the
parties in interest and their agreement
in writing to accept the award of the
council it shall hear and decide cases
involving property not exceeding $500 in
value.
In criminal matters, the president,
representing the council, shall make the
preliminary examination, and accord
ing to the result, discharge the prisoner
or transfer him Immediately to the Gus
tody of the military authorities for trial
by provost court.
The cruiser Brooklyn will sail for
Hampton Roads on Tuesday for Manila
via the Suez Canal. The Nashville will
leave San Juan this week for Manila
by the same route. The New Orleans
will require six days in which to make
slight alterations, and she will then
proceed to join Rear Admiral Watson.
Reports received from the auxiliary
cruiser Badger show that she is in
need of considerable repairs, and it may
be decided to transfer her officers and
crew to the Ranger, just completed and
dispatch that vessel to join the Asiatic
squadron.
Orders have been telegraphed to the
Boston navy yard to expedite the work on
the SunDoaC Bancroft ana s1e Will De
placed in commission without loss of time
ana sent TO the lar east the SunDOat
Annapolis is now at the. Norfolk navy
yard, and her repairs will be pushed. The
protected cruiser Albany will be complet-
ed by January l, and orders will soon
be issued for her detai6 of officers and
crew and they will be sent to England to
take charge of the vessel, proceeding at
once to Manila The gunbOat MachiaS
has been ordered to Boston to undergo
repairs and the Marietta may be sent to
Manila without making the survey of the
mouth of the Orinoco, originally ordered
1t is confidently expected that such n
strict blockade Of Luzon will be main
tanned by Rear Admiral Watson that the
Filipinos will not be able to renew their
supplies of munitions of war and food.
The last mail reports from Manila
nounce the capture of three vessels by
the Princeton off the coast of Bataganza,
LuzOn.