The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-04


forces shall be at all tImss subject, u,l-
der. his orders, TO the call Of the civil
authorities for the maintenance OF law
and orderan the enforcement OF thel.
authority. 5Ari L.E RI. gf3 III.
IN the establishment OF municipal
| governments the commission will take
ms the basis of their work the govern
ments established by the military gov
ernor under his order of August s. 1899,
] and under tho report of the board
constituted by the military governor
by his orden of January 20, 1900, to for
\ mulate and report plan OF municipal
4 government, OF which His Honor Cay
| etano SArellaRo. President OF the Au-
dlencla, was chairman. and they will
give to the concluslons OF that board tho
weight and consideration which the
high character and distinguished abil-
tiles OF Its members justify.
| I'm the constitution OF departmental
or provincial governments they !, will
give especial attention to the existing
government OF the island Of Negroes,
constituted. with the approval OF the
people or that Island, under the order
Of the military governor Of July o.,
1899. and after verifying, so far as may
| tal practicable. the reports OF the sue
cessful Working of that government
they Will be guided by the experience
/ THUS acquired SO far as 1t may be ap-
! Ilcablep to the condition existing in 9th
Or PORTIONS Of the Philippine. They will
| 'hyhipthemselves. to the fullest degree
| practicable, OF the conclusions reached
Fly the previous commission to the
fPhllIhianes,
Est.6. Distribution Of Powers.
"In's, the distribution of powers
iahiong'the governments organized by
| the, commission. the presumption Is al
Ways 70 be in favor of the smaller sub
dlviaion.' so that all the powers which
! can properly be exercised by the mn
nlcipal government shall be vested In
That government, and nll the powers OF
n more general character which can he
| exercised by the departmental govern
| tnent' shall be vested In that govern
| nient, and so that In the governmental
| system, which Is the result of the pro-
cess. the central government Of the Is
lands, following the example OF the
distribution of the powers between the
states and the national government OF
THE United States. shall have no direct
administration except OF matters Of
purely general concern. and shall have
why 'ouNi hllu CUHllUl ONtI
local governments as may be ncces-
sary TO secure and enforce faithful and
efficient administration by. local OIL
GERS.
i"The many different degrees OF civil
lzatiOn and varieties OF custom and ca
paclty among the people OF the differ
ent Islands preclude very definite in
struction as to the part which the pco-
pie shall take In the selection Of their
own officers: but these general rules arc
to- be observed: That In all cases the
|. municipal officers. who administer the
local affairs of the people, are to be So
lected by the people. and that where
ever officers Of more extended jurisdic-
ton are 10 be selected In any way, ma
tlves OF the islands are TO bt preferred,
and 5fHthey can be found competent
and willing to perform the duties. they
are to receive the offices In preference
to any others.
Some Offices Filled by Americans.
TT VIII be necessary 10 fill some Of
fees for the present with Americans,
which, after time, may we'll be filed
BY natives of the Islands. AS soon rs
practicable n system for nscertaining
the merit and fitness OF candidates for
civil Office should be put In force. An
Indispensable qualification for all Offices
aud. positions Of trust and authority In
the, Islands must be absolute and I'M
conditional loyalty to the United States.
and absolute and unhampered author
itya and power TO remove and punish
any, officer devlating from that stand
ard must nj all times be retained In the
hands Of the central authority of the Is
lands.
: "1n all the forms OF government and
administrative provisions which they
are authorized, to prescribe the commits
l,sion should bear in mind that the gov
I,alnlngnt which, they are establishing Is
dpagQRd not. for our satisfaction, or for
the expression OF our theoretical views.
{but for the happiness. peace and pros
perity of the people o! the Philippine
Islands. and the measures adopted
should BE- made TO conform to their
customs. their habits, and even their
prejudiccs. to the fullest extent consist
ent with the accomplishment of the In
dispensable requisites of Just and ef-
tCctive government.
'.At the same time the commission
should bear In mind. and the people of
the Islands should be made plainly to
understand that there are certain
great principles Of government which.
have been made the basis of our gov
ornamental system which We deem es-
I sen tialc to the rule OF law and the
maintenance OF individual freedom. and
| OF which they have, unfortunately,
been denied the experience possessed
/ by us; that there are also certain prac-
teal rules OF government which we
have found to be essential to the pres
crvatlon Of these great principles Of
/ liberty and law. and that these princi-