The record-union., 1899-05-27
An Order Promulgated by President
William Mckinley
Relative to Islands Under Our Control as a
Result Of the Late War.
Offices Created for the Auditing of
Accounts of the Islands During
United States Control and n
Treasurer to Receive and Dis
burse All Moneys Arising From
Revenues.

burse All Moneys Arising From
Revenues.
WASHINGTON, May 26-On May
Sth President Mckinley issued the fol-
lowing executive order, not heretofore
published, for the government of the
islands which came under control OF
the United States Government as a re-
suit of the war with Spain:
Executive Mansion, Washington, d.
c., May s, 1899.
BY virtue of the authority vested in
me as the Commander in Chief of the
army and navy of the United States,
hereby order and direct that during
the maintenance of military govern
ment by the United States in the ISL
and of Cuba and all islands in the West
Indies west of the nth degree, west
longitude, evacuated by Spain, there
are hereby created and shall be main
tanned the offices of Auditor of the ISL
ands, one Assistant Auditor for audit
ing the accounts of the Department OF
Customs, and one Assistant Auditor fer
auditing the accounts of the Depart
ment of Postoffices, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Secretary of War, and
counts of the islands.
There is hereby created and shall be
maintained the office of Treasurer of
the island, which shall be filled by the
appointment thereto of an officer of the
regular army of the United States The
Treasurer of the island shall receive
and keep all moneys arising from the
revenues of the island; shall disburse
or transfer the same only upon war
rants issued by the Auditor of the ISL
and, and countersigned by the Gov
ernor General.
'All rules and instructions necessary
to carry into effect the provisions Of
executive orders relating to said ISL
ands shall be issued by the Secretary
of War. VIM MCKINLEY"
Similar orders We're issued as to Por-
to Rico and the Philippines, so that all
the groups are to be identical AS to
government.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, who
has charge of insular matters in the
War Department, conferred with the
Secretary of the Treasury as to the
best method of carrying out the order,
and after careful consideration decided
that the islands shall be kept autono-
nous and that all affairs shall be
under the direct control of the Gov
ernor General. The government of the
islands, their finances and officers will
be wholly under the control of the Mil
itary Governor until Congress shall
otherwise provide The officers in re-
sponsible positions will all be army
officers
Mr.. Meiklejohn has prepared explicit
rules and regulations governing the
islands and for the guidance of the
officers. These provide that the Audi
tor and Assistant Auditors shall ex-
anime and settle all accounts pertain
ing to the resources, receipts and ex-
penditures, one Assistant Auditor to
have charge of the postal and other
customs and other moneys. The Aud
itor shall issue and sign all warrants
for money for the approval of the Gov
ernor General. All officers who re-
ceive 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 re-
port to the Secretary of War.
The Treasurer shall keep a separate
account of receipts. classifying them as
customs, postal internal and miseel-
in the money of the United States, and
receipts in foreign coins shall be re-
duced to United States money
The Treasurer will be required to sub
nit a report to the Secretary of War
ten days after the end of each month
The Treasurer, who will be an army
officer, shall give a bond for the faith
full performance of his duties
The Governor General is required TO
make examination quarterly or oftener
if deemed expedient, of the books and
accounts of the Auditor and Treasurer,
and make account of money in the
hands of the Treasurer and submit his
report to the Secretary of War
The Governor General, in passing
upon acquisitions for money may re-
turn the same to the Auditor and state
what changes are necessary to secure
his approval. He will be absolute mas
ter of the expea aditures in his govern
ment.
Should the Governor General fail to
sustain the action of the Auditor, the
matter should be referred to the Secre-
tary of War, whose instructions shall
be final.
The object of the order and the in
structions is to keep the accounts of
the islands wholly separate from each
other and from the other accounts Of
the treasury of the United States