The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-08

NEW YORK, March IA dispatch
to the Tribune from Washington
says:
Renewed interest in the situation in
the Philippine Islands is awakened by
the establishment at Manila of the
civilian members of the commission
which has been designated by the Pres
ident to represent him in the archipel-
ago. The speculation regarding the
duties of this commission and the au-
thority it will have in the colonial Gov
eminent are set at rest by the publ
cation of the order issued by the Pres
ident. 1t will be noted that the mill
tary government of the islands under
General Otis will be continued without
interference until Congress makes 9TH
er provision, and that the commissions
powers, while important, are very
largely advisory. The order says:
In order to facilitate the most hui
NAME specific and effective extension of
authority throughout these islands and
TO secure with the least possible delay
the benefits of a wise and generous pro-
lection of life and property to the in
habitants, 1 have named Jacob G..
Schurman, Rear Admiral George Dew
ely, Major General Elwell S. Otis,
to constitute a. commission to aid in
the accomplishment of these results.
In the performance of this duty the
Commissioners are enjoined to meet at
the earliest possible day in the city of
Manila and to announce by a public
proclamation their presence and the
mission intrusted to them, carefully
setting forth that While the military
government already proclaimed is to be
maintained and continued so long as
necessity may require, efforts will be
made to alleviate the burden of taxa
ton, to establish industrial and COM
mercial prosperity, and to provide for
the safety of persons and of property
by such means as may be found COLI
ducive to these ends.
THE Commissioners will endeavor,
without interference with the military
authorities of the United States now in
control of the Philippines, to ascertain
what amelioration in the condition of
the inl1a bitants and what improvements
in public order may be practicable, and
for this purpose they Will study atten-
lively the existing social and political
state of the various populations, par
ticularly as regards the forms OF local
government the administration OF JUS
tice, the collection of customs and other
taxes, the means of transportation and
the needs of public improvements.
They will report through the State
Department, according to the forms
customary or hereafter prescribed Tor
transmitting and preserving such COM
munications, the results of their OBJ
servations and reflections and will rec
ommend such executive action as may
from time to time seem to them wise
and useful
THE Commissioners are hereby an
thorized to confer authoritatively with
any persons resident in the islands
from whom they may believe them
selves able to derive information or
suggestions valuable for the purposes
of. their commission, or whom they may
choose to employ as agents as may be
necessary for this purpose.
THE temporary government OF the
islands is intrusted to the military au-
thorities and will continue until Con-
gress shall determine otherwise. The
commission may render valuable SER
vices by examining with special care
the legislative needs of the various
groups of inhabitants and by reporting,
with recommendations, the measures
which should be instituted for the
maintenance of order, peace and pupiic
welfare either as temporary steps TO De
taken Immediately for the perfection OF
the present administration or as sus
gestiens for future legislation.
I'm so far as immediate personal
changes in the civil administration may
seem to be advisable the Commission
ers are empowered to recommend SUIT
able persons for appointment to these
offices from among the inhabitants Oh
the islands who have previously ac-
knowledged their allegiance to TINS
Government r
1T is my desire that in all their reia-
lions with the inhabitants of the ISL
ands the Commissioners exercise que
respect for all the ideals, customs ana
institutions of the tribes and races
which compose the population, en-
phasizing upon all occasions the Just
and beneffcent intentions of the Gov
....x,o,,t Of the Tinted States