The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-27
United States as a result of the war with

Spain:
by virtue of authority invested in me az
the commander-in-chief of the army and
navy of the United States. / hereby order
and direct that during the maintenance OF
the military government by the United
I'm the West Indies west of the seventy
fourth degree, west longitude, evacuated by
Spain. there are hereby created and shall
be maintained the offices OF auditor of the
islands: one assistant auditor for auditing
the accounts of the department OF customs
and one assistant auditor for auditing the
accounts OF the department or postomces;
who shall be appointed by the secretary OF
war. and whose duties shall be TO audit all
accounts of the islands.
There is hereby created and shall be
maintained the office of treasurer OF the
islands, which shall be filled by the ap-
pontment IN thereto ret ,,a6 OF an % Seer oI The ane
urer of the islands shall receive ana Keep
all moneys arising from the revenues Of the
islands. shall disburse or transfer the same
only upon warrants issued by the auditor
of the islands and countersigned by the
Governor General.
"All instructions necessary TO carry into
effect the provisions Of executive orders rel
ative to said islands shal. be issued by the
secretary of war
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 government.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, who has
charge of insular matters in the War De-
partment conferred, with the secretary of
the treasury as to the best method of car
rying out the order. and after careful con-
sideration 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,
it's finances and officers will be wholly under
the control of the military governor until
Congress shall otherwise provide. The off,
cials in responsible positions will all be
army officers.
Mr. Meiklejohn has prepared explicit rules
and regulations governing the Islands ana
for the guidance of the officers. These pro-
vide that the auditor and assistant auditors
shall examine all accounts pertaining TO the
revenues. receipts and expenditures; one as
sistant 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 treasurer shall keep separate account
vi
postal, internal and miscellaneous. The ac-
counts shall be kept in the money OF the
United States, and receipts In foreign coin
shall be reduced to United States money.
The treasurer is also required to submit
report to the secretary of war ten days
after the end of each month. The treas
urer, who will be an army officer. shall give
bond for the faithful performance of his du-
ties. The Governor General is required TO
make an examination quarterly or oftener,
if deemed expedient, of the books and ac-
counts of the auditor and treasurer and
make account of the money in the hanos
of the treasurer and submit his report TO
the secretary of war. The Governor Generai
in passing upon requisitons for money may
return the same to the auditor and state
what changes are necessary TO secure MS
approval He will be absolutely master OF
the expenditures in his government.
Any person dissatisfied with the action OF
the auditor in the settlement Of any account
may appeal within one year to the govern
Inent. Ii the Governor General shall con-
firm the action of the auditor II shall be final
ard conclusive. Should the Governor Gen.
eral fail to sustain the action OF the auditor
the whole case shall be referred TO the Sec
retary of war whose instructions shall be
final. The object of the order and the in
structions is to keep the accounts of the
island wholly separate from each other and
from the other accounts of the treasury Of
the United States.