The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-04
CIVIL GOVERNMENTS.

The next subject in. order CT importance
should be the organizing of government
in the larger administrative divisions cor
responding to counties, departments or
provinces, in which the common interests
of many or several municipalities falling
in the same tribal lines, OR the same nat
ural geographical limits, may best be sub
served by a common administra ton.
w heneVer the commission is of the opin-
ion that the condition of affairs in the
Islands is such that the central admins
tration may safely be transferred from
military to civil control. they will report
that conclusion to you, with their rec
concentrations as to the form of govern
ment to be established for the purpose of
taking over the control.
Beginning with the first day of eSeptem-
Der, 1900, the authority to authorize, sub
Ject to my approval through the secre-
lary OF war, that part of the power of
which is of a legislative nature. is to be
transferred from the military governor
Of the Island to this commission, to be
thereafter exercised by them in the place
and stead Of the military governor, UNI
der such rules and regulations as you
shall prescribe, until the establishment
Of the civil government forzthe islands,
contemplated in the last foreign para
graph, or until congress shall otherwise
provide. Exercise of this legislative au-
thority VIII include the making of rules
and orders, having the effect of law, for
The raising of revenue by taxes, customs,
GutleS and impoSts; the appropriation and
expenditure of public funds of the
ISLANDS; the establishment of an educa-
uonal system throughout the islands;
the establishment of a system to secure
an efficient civil service; the organization
and establishment of courts; the organi-
cation and establishment of InEnicipaI
and departmental governments and all
other matters of a civil nature for which
the military governor is now competent
TO provide by rules or orders of a legis-
lative character.
The commission will also have power
during the same period to appoint to
offlce such officers under the Judicial,
educational and civil service systems and
in the municipal and departmental gov
ernments as shall be provided for Until
the complete transfer of control the mil
1tary governor will remain the chief exec
utlye head of the government, of the ISL
ands, and will exercise the executive
authority now possessed by him and not
herein expressly assigned to the commits
sion, subject, however, to the rules and
orders enacted by the commission in the
exercise Of legislative powers conferred
upon them. In the meantime the mu-
nlc1pal and departmental governments
Will continue to report to the military
governor and be subject to his admins
trative supervision and control, under
your direction, but that supervision and
control will DE confined within the mar
roWeSt limits conSfsten t1Nith the require
ments that the powers of government in
the municipalities and departments shall
be honestly and effectively exercised
and that law and order and individual
freedom shall be maintained
Al legislative rules and orders, estab-
hShments of government and appoint
ments to Office by the commission will
take effect Immediately, or at such times
as they shall designate, subject to your
approval and action upon the coming In
OF the commissions reports, which are
to be made from time to time as their ac-
ton is taken. Wherever civil govern
ments are constituted under the direction
of the mmission, such military posts.
SarriSonS and forces will be. continued for
the suppression and instruction of brig
2hqage and the maintenance of law and
order, as the military commander shall
deem requisite, and the military forces
shall be at all times subject under his
CfdefS, TO the call of the civil authori-
ueS Tor the maintenance of law and
ofGer and ther enforcement of, their an
thority.
In the establishment of municipal gov
elllnents, the commission will take as the
basis of their work the governments ns
tabllshed by the military governor. 1Inder
bis order of Aug. 8, 1899, and under the
report of the board constituted by the
II6ad6daltafy governor by his order of Jan. 20,
1SuV, TO formulate and report a plan of
huhIclpal government Of which his hon
or, Cayetano Arellano, president of The
audlencla' was chairman, and they win
gave 70 the conclusions of that board thu
weight and consideration which the hioh
character and distinguished abilities of
Its members justify.
In the constitution of departmental or
provincial governments, they will give
especial attention to the existing govern
ment of the Islands Of Negroes, corst: tut n
win the approval of the people OF that
island, under the order Of the military
governor of July %, 1899 and after YER,
lying, so far as may be practicable t7e
reports OF the successful working of that
government they viii be guided nv the
experience thus acquired, so far as if
may be applicable to the conditions ex
lstng IN other portions Of the Philip
pines pines. They will avail themselves, to the
1ullest degree practicable, of the conclu-
sions reached by the previous commits.
sion to the Philippines
In the distribution of powers amonq
the governments organized bv the com
mission the presumption is always to be
III favor OF the smaller subdivisions so
that all the powers which can nronerIv
be exercised by the municipal govern
nent shall be vested in that government.
ana all the powers of a more general
character, which can be exercised by the
departmental government, shall be vest
ed IN that government, and so that in
the government system, which is the re-
SUIT OF the process, the central govern
rent of the islands, following the exam
pie OF the distribution of the POWERS be-
tween the states and the national gov
eminent OF the United States, shall nave
no direct administration except of mat
ters OF purely general concern. and shall
nave only such supervision and control
over local governments as may be neces-
sary TO secure and enforce faithful and
enlclent administration by local officers.
HATIEF AFFsaIAGa