The evening times., 1899-12-05

establishment Of peace and order and tn
inauguratfon of self-goyerning municipe
life In many portions Of the archipelago
A notable beginning has been made in IN
establishment OF . government in tn
Island Of Negros which Is deserving O
special consideration. This was the Grs
island to accept American. sovereignty
4 lis people uIreservedly proclaimed allie
| glance to the United States and adopted
constitution looking TO the establishmen
! of popular government. It was impossi
BILE to guarantee to the people Of Negro
that the constitution so adopted should b
the ultimate form Of government. Sucl
a question. under the treaty with Spa.i
| and In accordance with our own Consti
tuition and laws, cau,s exclusively within tn
jurisdiction Of the Congress. The govern
| ment actually set up by the inhabitants o
Negros eventually proved unsatisfactor,
| to the natives themselves. A new system
was put into force by order Of the Majol
General Commanding the Department, o.
which the following are the most import
ant elements:
1t was ordered that the government ol
the Island Of Negros should consist OF q
military governor appointed by the United
States Military Governor of the PM J.
pines. and a civil governor and an ad-
military governor was authorized to .ap-
point secretaries Of the treasury, interior
agriculture. public instruction, an attor-
ney general, and an auditor The seat oi
government was fixed at BacOlod. The
military, governor exercises the supreme
executive power. He is to see that the
laws are executed. appoint to Office, and fill
all vacancies in office not otherwise pro-
yided for. and may, with the approval Of
the military governor Of the Philippines.
remove any officer from ofice. The civil
governor advises the military governor
on all public civil questions and presides
over the advisory council. He, in general,
performs the duties which are performed
by secretaries of state in our own system
OF government.
The advisory council consists of eight
members elected by the people within ter
ritorial limits which are defined in the
order OF the commanding general.
The times and places OF holding elections
are to be fixed by the military governor
of the Island OF Negros. The quaIifica-
tions of voters are as follows:
ID voter must be male citizen Of the
Island OF Negros. t2) OF the age of
twenty-one years. go He shall be able
to speak. read, and write the English,
Spanish, or visayan language or he must
own real property worth $500. or pay
rental on real property of the value of
$1,000. tD He must have resided in the
island not less than one year preceding.
and in the district in which he offers to
register as a voter not less than three
months Immediately preceding the time he
offers TO register. tJ) He must register at
time fixed by law before voting (6)
Prior to such registration he shall have
paid all taxes due by him to the Govern
ment. 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 ii
not disapproved by the military governor
Of the Philippines.
The advisory council discharges all the
ordinary duties OF legislature. The usual
duties pertaining to said Offices are TO be
performed by the secretaries OF the treas
ury, interior, agriculture, public instruc-
ton. the attorney general. and the auditor
The judicial power is vested in three
Judges. who are 10 be appointed by the
military governor of the island Inferior
courts are TO be established
Free public schools are 10 be established
throughout the populous districts of the
island, in which the English language shall
be taught, and this subject will receive the
careful consideration OF the advisory coun-
Gil
The burden of government must be dis
tributed equally and equitably among the
people The military authorities will COL
ieet and receive the customs revenue. and
will control postal matters and Philippine
inter-island trade and commerce.
The military governor. subject 10 the ap-
proyal of the military governor of the Phil
ppines. determines all questions rot spe-
,hcally provided for and which do not comp
under the jurisdiction of the advisory com
ell.
The authorities of the Sulu Islands have
accepted the succession of tine United States
o the rights of Spain, and our flag floats
,ver that territory. On the 10th OF August !
1899, Brig. Gen. ]. c. Bates" United States /
Volunteers, negotiated an agreement With |
he Sultan and his principal chiefs. which |
transmit herewith. BY Article l the SOW |
.reignty of the United States over the whole |
of Jolo and its dependencies is |
leclared and acknowledged.
The American Flag to Stay.
The United States flag will be used in |
he archipelago and its dependencies, OF |
and ard sea. Piracy is TO be suppressed, |
md the Sultan agrees to cooperate heartily |
With the United States authorities to that /
'uu " every tuOTI &c {
Irrest and bring to justice all persons en-
,aged in piracy. All trade in domestic !
PRODUCTS of the archipelago of Jolo when !
arried on with any part of the Philippine |
siands and under the American flag shall 1
,e free, unlimited, and undutiable The /
United States will give full protection 10 I
he Sultan in case any foreign nation /
hould attempt TO Impose upon him. The i
United States will not sell the i-aId OF .
Olo or any other island of the Jolo archi-
elago TO any foreign nation without the
ensert Of the Sultan. Salaries for the |
ultan and his associates in the administra-
ion OF the islands have been agreed upon
o the amount OF s760 monthly
Article X provides that any slave in the
rchipelago of Jolo shall have the right to
urchase freedom by paying to the master
he usual market value. The agreement
y General Bates was made subject to con-
rmation by the President and to future
notifications by the consent of the parties
4 interest. l have confirmed said agree
1ent, subject to the action of the Con-
ress, and with the reservation, which l
ave directed shall be communicated to the
ultan Of Jolo. that this agreement is not
o be deemed in any way to authorize or
i've the consent of the United States TO
he existence Of slavery in the Sulu arehi-
elago / communicate these facts to the
congress for its information and action.
Everything indicates that with the speedy
Impression of the Tagalo rebellion life in
he archipelago will soon resume its ordi-
ary course under the protection of our
overeignty. and the people Of those IA
ored islands will enjoy a prosperity and
freedom which they have never before
nown. Already hundreds of schools are