Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-04

as the basis of their work the gov.
ernments established by the military
governor under his order of Aug. s.
1885, and under the report Of the board
constituted by the military governor
by his order of Jan. 2s, 1900 to formu-
late and report plan of municipal
government, of which his honor, Cay
etano Arellano. president of the audi
encia, was chairman, and they will
give to the conclusions Of that board
the weight and consideration which
the high character and distinguished
abilities of its members justify.
I'm the constitution of departmental
or provincial government they will give
especial attention to the existing gov
eminent of the island of Negroes, con-
stituted, with the approval of the peo-
pie of that island, under the order of
the military governor of July %. 1895,
and after verifying, so far as may be
practicable, the reports of the success
full working Of that government they
will be guided by the experience thus
acquired so far as it may be applica-
BILE to the condition existing in other
portions of the Philippines. They will
avail themselves, to the fullest degree
practicable, of the conclusions reached
by the previous commission to the
Philippines.
"In the distribution of powers among
the governments organized by the COM
mission, the presumption is always to
he in favor Of the smaller subdivision.
so that all the powers which can prop.
erly be exercised by the municipal gov
eminent shall be vested in that gov
eminent, and all the powers of more
general character which can be exer-'
cised by the departmental government
shall be vested in that government,
and so that in the governmental system,
which is the result Of the process, the
central government of the islands, fol-
lowing the example Of the distributions
of the powers between the states and
the national government OF the United
States, shall have no direct administra-
ton except Of matters of purely gem
eral concern, and shall have only such
supervision and control over local gov,
ernments as may be necessary to secure
and enforce faithful and efficient adj
ministration by local officers.
"The many different degrees Of civili-
zation and varieties Of custom and ca
pacity among the people of the differ
ent islands preclude very definite i'm
struction as to the part which the peo-
Pile shall take In the selection Of their
own officers; but these general rules
are to be observed: that in all cases
the municipal officers who administer
the local affairs Of the people, are to be
selected by the people, and that wher-
ever officers of more extended jurisdic-
ton are to be selected in any way. ma
tives of the islands are to be preferred,
and If they can be found competent
and willing to perform the duties, they
are to receive the offices in preference
to any others.
1T will be necessary to fill some Of
fees for the present with Americans
which after a time may we'll be filed
by natives of the islands. AS soon as
practicable system for ascertaining
the merit and fitness of candidates for
civil office should be put in force. An
Indispensable qualification for all Of
fees and positions of trust and authoc-
ity in the islands must be absolute ana
unconditional loyalty to the United
States. and absolute and unhampered
authority and power to remove and
punish any officer deviating from that
standard must at all times be retained
in the hands of the central authority
of the islands.