New-York tribune., 1900-09-18

0en 7T nalr,irf
is1arss 80 gLInrnents in which the natives of the
r711ri+f ooth IN the cities and in the rural com
manago sL1aA oe anorded the opportunity to
= ~ ~ OF which they are capable and subject
- ne least degree Of supervision and control
,hS-I d careful study of their capacities and
stSSerNatlon OF the workings Of native t.onTroI
Iav9 - oe consistent With the maintenance Of
'aT, order and loyalty.
The next subject in order o4 ;-,,,o-+a,,,. = -.
oI sanitation OF government in the larger
81 .iatlVe div istons corresponding 70 coun-
common interests Of many or several r7Tnfci
t,@Iilles railing within the same tribal lines or
be s1,h turaI geographical limits, may best
V-,sps,-a- -, y Z common administration.
-. er the Commission is of the opinion
s1IcL +L. C4uoltlon Of affairs in the islands is
~ - t"e central administration NAV safely
- - transferred from military to civil conrroI
t+fS VIII report that conclusion TO YOU. with
-. - recommendations as to the form Of central
government to be esta blished FOR The nurnosa
OK taxing over the control
E'iisLATIYE AUTHORITY OF COMMISSION.
Beginning With September 1ooo the .,,+,,o-
- - - exercise subject 10 my approval through
,-.----- SNeiy OF W ar, that part Of the mower Of
.LI--Ll IN the Philippine Islands which IS of
iesIslative nature is 10 be Starred ron, the
-1ttLLtdTy Governor of the islands 10 this Com
mission TO be thereafter exercised b,. = in +bA
p-oGe ana stead OF the Military Governor under
SuCa rules and regulations as you shall rra-
-, until the establishment OF the civil cen
- - @ 5oN @NethTlent for the Islands contemplated in
ne tasJ foregoing paragraph or lntN ConaT ess
IAN o{herWlse provide Exercise Of this Iae5s-
a i'm lT T-1E1.
.;-:r-t = A4'-11s the erect of law, for the
raising Of revenue by taxes customs duties and
t3s -,ts1s, me appropriation and expenditure OF
ESN- AU-lt-S OF the islands the establishment OF
an educational system throughout the islands
ne esL3 oushnlent Of system to secure an efi-
Slf!4l OlNli service, the organization and estab
:lshInent Of courts. the organization and estal,-
HSnTnenr of municipal and departmental gov
ernmeDJs, and all other matters or q civil ,afrIre
-oI winch the Military Governor is now COM
leIent 10 provide by rules OF orders Of a Iegis-
iaIIFe character.
me same period to appoint office such officers
under Ihe Judicial, educational and Civil Ser
wee systems and in the municipal and depart
T-.- SLiI governments as shall be provided for.
Cn-iI the complete transfer of control the Mill
taTy Governor VIII remain the chief executive
80 H1dd OF tLle government Of the islands and Will
exercise the executive authority now possessed
~ MIN and not herein expressly assigned 10 the
CoIlIniSslon subject, however, to the rules and
orders enacted by the Commission in the exer-
Csc o. the legislative powers conferred upon
them. In the mean time the municipal and de-
parlInental governments viii continue to report
70 the Military Governor and be subject TO his
administrative supervision and control, under
your direction, but that supervision and control
VIII be confined within the narrowest limits con-
slstenr with the requirement that the powers Of
government in the municipalities and depart
hents shall De honestly and effectively exercised
ana that law and order and individual freedom
shall be maintained.
All legislative rules and orders. establish
TaenJs of government and appointments to Office
oE the Commission VIII take effect Immediate
", or such times a. they shall designate. sub
ltcI 10 Your approval and action upon the COM
ing in OF Jne Commissions reports which are
20 be made from time 10 time as their action is
taken Wherever civil governments are con-
sututed under the direction Of the Commission,
Such military posts, gaTrisOns and forces viii be
~o--tltl1Eu -oI L--@ suppression OF LnSurre'Ilon
anG Pfisandage, ana 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 orders to the call
Of the civil authorities for the maintenance Of
law and order and the enforcement Of their au-
In The establishment oT r,,77rirfrs1 r--z-arr7
u-ents the Commission viii take as the basis Of
their work the governments established by the
Nj ltary Governor under his order Of August 5
IH55 and under the report Of the Board con
sGruted by the Military Governor by his order
q January - 1900 70 formulate anc report a
pan OF municipal government. OF which His
Honor CayeJauO AreIanO president OF the Au-
dIeucia. was chairman. and they will give 10
the conclusions Of that Board the weight and
consideration which the high character and dis
tinguished abilities Of its members justify
THE EXAMPLE OF NEGRos
IN the constitution Of departmental or pro-
Einci2l governments, they viii give special at
tention 70 the existing government Of the island
or Negros constituted with the approval Of
- -
Military Governor Of July -, 1889. and after
verifying. so far as may be practicable, the re-
ports Of the successful working Of that govern
-le1t. they viii 5e guided by the experience thus
acquired. so far as il may be applica ole to the
Philippines They viii avail themselves to the
fullest degree PRACTICABLE Of the conclusions
reached by the previous Commission 70 the
Philippines
IN the Distribution Of powers among the gov
ernments organized by the Commission, the pre-
sumption IS always TO be in favor OF the smaller
81 bdivisiou so that al the powers which can
properly be exercised by the municipal govern
uleut shall be vested in that government, and
su TIE powers OF more general character
which csa be exercised by the Departmental
government shall be vested in that government
and 50 that in the governmental system which
IS the result Of the process the central govern
ne1t Of The islands. following the example Of
the distribution OF the powers between the
States and the National Government Of the
United States shall have no direct admlntstra-
ton except Of matters Of purely general con-
cern, and stall have only such SUPERVISOR ana
control over local governments as may De neces-
sary TO secure and enforce faithful and efficient
administration by local officers
The many different degrees Of civilization and
varieties Of custom and capacity among the
people Of the different islands preclude very
definite instruction as TO the part which the
people shall take IN the selection Of their own
officers. but these general rules are TO be op-
served. That IN all cases the municipal officers,
who administer the local affairs of the people,
are 10 be selected by the people, and that Wher-
10 be selected in any way. natives Of the Islands
are 70 be preferred. and if they Dc found
competent and willing 70 perform the duties
they are TO receive The Offices in preference 10
any others
MERIT SYSTEM TO BE ESTABLISHED.
Il will be necessary TO fill some Offices for
rhe present with Americans, which after a
time. may well Be filed by natives OF the
Islands AS soon as practicable a system for
ascertai ming the merit and fitness Of candida tes
for civil Office shOul- be put IN force An lndls-
rEnSable qualification for all Offices and posi-
lions Of trust and authority in the Islands
must be absolute and unconditional loyalty 70
the United States. and absolute and unEarn-
uered authority and power TO remove and pun
isb any officer deviating from that standard
must at all times be retained in the hands Of
r-1r