Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-18
THE INSTRUCTIONS
Of Pres. Mckinley to the
Philippine Commission.
Sent for Sole Purpose Of Establishing
a Form Of Government
For Which FiIipinos Will Hereafter Be Thank
full TO American People

! w dShingtCn, sept. 1.-THE text Of
/ the instructions Of President Mckinley
! 70 the Philippine commission. COM
posed Of Hon. w. II. Taft Of Ohio. Prof
! Dean q. Worcester Of Michigan, Hon.
l.. l.. Wright Of Tennessee. Hon. ii. III
| lde Of Vermont. and Prof. Bernard
| Moses of California. was made public.
/ today. as follows:
Executive Mansion April Z. 1900.
/ The SecretaIy'of War, Washington:
! Sir.-In the message transmitted to
| the Congress on the 9TH Of December.
| 1899. | said. speaking Of the Philippine
| islands. "As long az the insurrection
continues the military arm must nee
| rrliy De supreme. But there is no
reason Why steps should not be- taken
4 from time 20 time To inaugurate gov
I crnments essentially popular in their
! form as fast as territory IL held ana
controlled by our troops. To his end
I ! am considering the advisability Of
| the return "a the commission, or such
Nj the members thereof AS can be se-
cured. tp aid the existing authorities
ana facilitate this work throughout the
/ islands
/ To give effect To the intention thus
1 expressed ! have appointed Hon.
\ William a. Taft, of ohio. Prof. Dean
I C. Worcester. W Michigan. Hon. Luke
I /. Wright OF Tennessee. Hon. Henry
+ g.. Idr, Of Vermont. ana Prof. Bernard
1 NJ ,s-s. uf california. commissioners to
I th- Philippine islands to continue ana
I perfect the work NJ organizing ana es-
tabli=hing civil government already
commenced by the military authorities
subject in AN respects to any laws
I which Congress may hereafter enact
I The commissioners named win meet
ana act as a board. ana the Hon.
William II. Taft is designated as pres
/ dent Of the board. 1t is probable that
| the transfer of authority from military
I commanders to civil officers will be
gradual ana viii occupy a considerable
period. Its successful accomplishment
and the maintenance Of peace and or
I der in the meantime Will relsire the
most perfect cooperation between the
/ civil ana military authorities in the
, island. and both should be directed
during the transition period by the
same executive department. The COM
mission Will therefore report to the
secretary We war. ana all their action
viii De subject to your approval and
/ control.
You WiN instruct the commission to
proceed XVI the ,ity WI Manila. where
they viii make their principal Office
ana TO communicate with the military
governor Of the Philippine Islands.
whom ynu will at the same time direct
to render tn them every assistance
within his power in the performance
" their duties Without hampering
them by too specific instructions. they
should in general be enioined after
making themselves familiar With the
conditions ana needs " the country, to
devote their attention in the first in
stance To the establishment Of munic-
ipll governments in which the natives
NJ the islands. both in the cities ana in
thu rural communities shall tie afford
cd the opportunity To manage their own
local affairs To- the fullest extent of
which they are capable and subject To
the least degree Of supervision and
control which careful study Of their
capacities ana observation Of the work
iugs OF native control show to be CON
Sistent with the maintenance If law,
order. and loyalty.
The next subject III order NJ import
ance should be the organization Of
government in the larger administra-
tive divisions corresponding 70 coun-
ties departments. Or provinces in
which thu common interests of many
or several municipalities falling with
in the same tribal lines. or the same
natural geographical limits may best
be suhscrved BY a common administra-
ton. Whenever the commission ~ Of
the opinion that the condition Of affairs
in the islands is such that the central
administration may safely be trans
ferrcd from military to civil control.
they will report that conclusion to YOU.
with the recommendation as to the
form Of central government To be es-
tablished for the purpose of taking
over the control
beginning with the 1st day Of Sep
tcmbar 1900. the authority to exercise,
subject 10 my approval, through the
secretary Of war, that part of the
power of government in the Philippine
islands which il Of a Legislative nature
is to De transferred from the military
governor of the islands to this COM
mission. to be thereafter exercised by
them in the place and stead Of the mil
itary governor, under such rules and
regulations rs you shall prescribe, I'M
til the establishment of the civil central
government for the islands contemplate
ed in the last foregoing paragraph. or
until Congress shall otherwise provide. |
Exercise Of this legislative authority
will include the making Of rules and
orders. having the effect Of law. for
the raising Of revenue by taxes. GUS
toms duties, and imposts; the apprO-
priation and expenditure Of public
funds OF the islands; the establishment
of an educational system throughout
the islands: the establishment of a sys-
TEN to secure an efficient civil service:
the organization and establishment Of
courts. the organization and establish
ment Of municipal and departmental
governments. and all other matters of
Il civil nature for which the military
governor Is now competent to provide
bv rules or orders Of a Legislative char
acter.
The commission will also have power
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