The record-union., 1899-12-06

VI popular government. IL was I'M
possible to guarantee to the people of
Negros that the Constitution so adopted
should be the ultimate form of govern
ment Such a question, under the
treaty with Spain, and in accordance
with our own Constitution and laws,
came exclusively under the jurisdiction
of Congress. The government actually
set up by the inhabitants of Negros
eventually proved unsatisfactory to the
natives themselves. A new system was
put into force by order of the. Major
General commanding the department,
of which the following the most import
ant elements:
1t was ordered that the government
of the Island of Negroes should consist
of a Military Governor, appointed by
the United States Military Governor of
I the Philippines, and a Civil Governor
and an Advisory Council elected by the
people. The Military Governor was
authorized to appoint Secretaries of the
treasury, Interior, Agriculture, Public
Instruction, an Attorney General and
an Auditor. The seat of government
was fixed at Bacolor. The Military
Governor exercises the supreme exc
cutlve power. He is to see that the
laws are executed, appoint to offices and
. I'LL all vacancies in Office not otherwise
provided for, and may, with the appro-
val of the Military Governor of the
Philippines, remove any officer from
office. The Civil Governor advises the
Military Governor on all public and
civil questions, and presides over the
Advisory Council. He, in general, per
forms the duties which are performed
by Secretaries of State in our own sys-
tenn of government.
The Advisory Council consists of
eight members elected by the people
within territorial limits, which are de-
fined in the order of the Commanding
General. The times and places of hold
ing elections are to be fixed by the Mil
itary Governor of the Island of Negros.
The qualifications of voters are as fol-
lows: % A voter must be q, male citi-
zen of the Island of Negroes; CD of the
age OF p years; 90 he shall be able
to speak, read and write English, Span
ish or Visayana language, or he must
own real property worth $500 or pay
rental on real property of the value
OF 81 900; az he must have resided in
the island not less than one year pre-
ceding, and in the district in which he
offers to register as a voter not less
than three months Immediately preced-
ing the time he offers to register; %
he must register at time fixed by law
before voting; 90 prior to such regis.
tration he shall have paid all taxes due
: by him to the Government; provided.
that no insane person shall be allowed
: to register or vote.
The Military Governor has the right
to veto all bills or resolutions adopted
by the Advisory Council, and his veto
is final if not disapproved by the Mill
tary Governor of the Philippines. The
:; Advisory Council discharges all the Or
binary duties of Legislature The
usual duties pertaining to said officers
are to be performed by the Secretaries
of the Treasury, Interior, Agriculture,
! Public instruction, the Attorney Cen
eral and the Auditor.
The judicial power is vested in three
Judges, who are to be appointed by the
Military Governor of the island. In
terror courts are to be established. =
{ Free public schools are to be estab-
lished throughout the populous districts
of the islands. in which the English
language shall be taught, and this sub
ject will receive the careful considera-
ton of the Advisory Council.
The burden of government must be
distributed equally and equitably
among the people. The military au-
thorities will collect and receive the
customs revenue, and viii control pos
tai matters and Philippine inter-island
trade and commerce.
The Military Governor, subject to the
approval of the Military Governor of
the Philippines, determines all questions
not specifically provided for, and which
do not come under the jurisdiction Of
the Advisory Council.
SULU ISLANDS.
The authorities of the Sulu Islands
have accepted the succession of the
United States to the rights of Spain,
and our flag floats over that territory.
On the 10th of August, 1899, Brigadier
General ]. C. Bates, U. s. ", negUtiat-
ed an agreement with the Sultan and
his principal Chiefs which [ transmit
herewith. BY Article /. the sovereignty
of the United States over the whole
archipelago of Jolo and its independ-
encies is declared and acknowledged.
The United States flag will be used
in the archipelago and its dependencies,
on land and sea. Piracy is to be sup
pressed, and the Sultan agrees to CO.
operate heartily with the United States
authorities to mend and to make every
possible effort to arrest and bring to
justice all persons engaged in piracy.
All trade in domestic products of the
archipelago of Jolo will be carried on
with any part of the Philippine Islands,
and under the American flag shall be
free, unlimited and undutiable. The
United States will give full protection
to the Sultan in case any foreign nation
should attempt to impose upon him. The
United States will not sell the Island OF
Jolo or any other island of the Jolo
archipelago to any foreign nation with
out the consent of the Sultan Salaries
for the Sultan and his associates in the
administration of the islands have been
agreed upon to the amount of $3.50 a
month.
Article x. provides that any slave in
the archipelago of Jolo shall have the
right to purchase freedom by paying
to the master the usual market value.
The agreement by General Bates was
made subject to confirmation by the
President, and to future notifications
by the consent of the parties in inter-
est / have confirmed said agreement,
subject to the action of Congress. and
with the reservation, which / have di-
rected shall be communicated to the
Sultan of Jolo: but this agreement
is not to be deemed in any way to au-
thorize or give the consent of the
Tinted States to the existence of Slay-