The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-22
|NS(lAR G|V|L RULE
Is the Center of Interest and
Hope in the Philippines.
--LATEST MILITARY SCHEME
Is a Good One out Encounters
Native DiStruSt

Native DiStruSt.
| Correspondence of the Associated Press.
Manila. April 10.-The interest as well a!
the hope of Manila is centered in the civil
commission. The general public knows lit
tie of the details of the commissions pro
| gram but there prevails the impression
| that it will establish a good civil govern.
| ment in the islands and that We shall
soon enjoy the privilege Of living under
| laws ms tead of individuals, that we shall
| have courts of equity, and that native and
| foreign rights shall receive due considera-
i ton and protection. The native element
| is overjoyed at the prospec tot civil au-
| thority and control Already preparations
| are making to welcome the commission
with music, speeches and general jollity.
Into the midst of these hopeful feelings.
rejecting, as they undoubtedly do, a GER
tain satisfaction at the promised passing
of the military as civil governors, the
military authorities launch a twenty two
page booklet, entitled General Orders
No. 40, in which they set forth the details
of their plan for the immediate establish
ment of civil municipal governments in
the Philippines.
On January %, $780, board, composed
of several American army officers and
several prominent Filipinos, with Cayet-
ano Arellallo, chief justice of the Philip
pines as president, was appointed to sub
init a form of municipal government for
such of the municipalities of the islands
as are prepared to adopt representative
control over their own civil affairs, and
which may become applicable to others
as soon as they demonstrate a fitness for
self-administration. General Otis consid-
ers the report made by this board TO be
satisfactory and in general orders No. 40,
under date of March %, he made it law.
The details of the regulations as ex-
pr essed in No. 40 are conceded to be ex-
ceTient; they are a compilation of the best
of TWO or three codes of municipal law
wisely made applicable to local conditions.
Under it the people are granted more lat
itude and freedom than they have ever
before enjoyed. In chaptr l of the enact
mnt it is stated that the former town
boundaries shall be maintained; that duly
Incorporated towns may sue and be sued
manila is exempt from this provision);
that municipal officers are elected for a
term Of two years, and that the towns of
the islands shall be divided into four
classes, those of 5000. 1900, 10000 and
more than 1900 inhabitants.
In chapter the matter of suffrage is
determined as follows: First. those who,
prior to the 18th of August, 1898, he'd the
,s
lieutenant or caheze de Barangay; Sec
ond those who annually pay 80 pesos (S15
in gold or more Of the established taxes;
third. those VINO speak. read and write
English or Spanish
The tax clause SHUTS out many of the
poorer classes, and the language resttic-
tion prevents from voting hundreds of
thousands of natives VINO only talk dia-
lects. Both clauses are considered fair
and just, and it is estimated that their
enforcement will accord the suffrage to
about 10 per cent of any given commun-
ity. The fact that each elector must take
an oath of allegiance to the United
States is stated in this chapter. Inasmuch
as every Filipino living outside of Manila
is in more or less danger Of assasana-
ton by his countrymen if he takes the
oath Of allegiance to our country and the
truth Of this statement is attested by the
almost daily killing, in one part or an
other of the islands Of men who have evil
denced their good will toward us, this
clause will prevent many men from quail |
flying TO vote unless between now and
the time Of the first election a most radi- |
cal change comes over the feelings Of the
natives.
Chapter is devoted to a description OF |
the qualifications and duties of the .Yu-
n-cipal council, OF which there shall be !
elected eighteen for towns of the first |
class. fourteen for those Of the second |
ten for those of the third and eight for |
those Of the fourth class. The duties of |
these councils embrace the administration |
of police, health, plantations. irrigation. |
licenses, public works. schools. roads and |
other municipal affairs
Chapter deals with the taxation and |
finances. Concerning taxation, chapter ) |
contains the statement that taxation |
shall be uniform and just Persons deem
ing themselves injured by any tax levy
may protest to the council, who shall con-
slider and determine such protests Should |
the protest be disregarded the protestant
may appeal to the provincial governor"
Chapter defines the duties and powers
Of the provincial governor in relation to
the towns. Great power IS vested in this
official, who is given general supervision
and control Of the municipal affairs of
the towns and cities IN his district. Until
the appointment Of provincial governors.
their duties SHAH Uv performed by the
officers Of esch military dis
trict; it is not Yet made clear who viii
I'll these positions Of civil governors. TIL
present military authority viii wait for
the new civil commission 10 act in this
respect. and the impression prevails that
American civilians will eventually be ap-
pointed 10 these important posts.
Chapter contains four provisional ar;i-
Giles. It orders Commanding officers %