The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03

hampering them by too specific instrtie-
tons they should In general be eD3oined,
after making themselves familiar with
the conditions and needs OF the country,
to devote their attention in the first in
stance to the establishment OF municipal
governments, In which the natives of the
islands, both in tina cities and in the rural
communities, shall be afforded the oppor-
tunity to manage their. own local affairs
to the fullest extentof which they are ca
pable and subject to the least degree OF
supervision and control which careful
study of their capacities and observation
of the workings Of native control show TO
be consistent with the maintenance OF
Law. order, and loyalty.
THE next subject in order Of Importance
should be the organization 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
within the same tribal lines, or the same
natural geographical limits, may best be
subserved by a common administration.
Whenever 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 recon-
uaeT5a lions as to the form OF central gov
eminent TO be established for the purpose
of taking over the control.
Military Authority Reduced.
Beginning with the first day of Septen-
Der, 1900, the authority - exercise, sub
jeet to my approval, through the Seere-
tary of War. that part of the power of
government in the Philippine Islands,
which is Of legislative nature is to be
transferred from the military governor
of the islands TO this commission, 10 DC
thereafter exercised by them in the place
and stead Of the military governor, under
such rules and regulations as you snail
prescribe until the establishment OF the
civil central government for the ISLANDS
contemplated in the last foregoing para
graph, or until Congress shall otherwise
provide. Exercise Of this legislative au-
thority will include the making OF rules
and orders, having the effect Of law, ior
the raising OF revenue by taxes customs
duties, and imposts; the appro-
priation and expenditure of pub
lie funds of the Islands; the establish
ment OF a system to secure an efficient
civil service; the organization and estab-
lishment of courts; the organization and
establishment OF municipal and depart
mental governments, aud all other mat
Sers of civil nature for which the mill
tary governor is now competent to provide
By rules or orders of a legislative charac-
ter.
THE commission viii also have power
during the same period TO appoint to ONCE
such officers under the judicial, education
al and civil service systems and in the
municipal and departmental governments
as shall be provided for. Until the CON-
plete transfer of control the military gov
ernor will remain the chief executive head
Of the government OF the islands, and Will
exercise the executive authority now pos
sessed by him and NOT herein expressly
assigned to the commission, subject, how
ever, 10 the rules and orders enacted by
the commission in the exercise of the leg
islaIive powers conferred upon them In
the mean time the municipal and depart
mental governments viii continue TO re-
port TO the military governor and be sub
ject to his administrative supervision aad
control under your direction, but that
supervision and control VIII be confined
within the narrowest limits consistent
with the requirement that the powers OF
government in The municipalities and de-
partments shall be honestly and effective
" exercised and that Law and order and
individual freedom shall be maintained
All legislative rules and orders, estab-
ishments OF government, and appoint
ments 70 Office by the commission will
Z
as they shall designate, subject to your
approval and action upon the coming in
Of the commissions reports which are 20
be made from time to time as their action
Is taken Wherever civil governments are
constituted under the direction Of the
commission such military posts, garrisons,
and forces win be continued for the sup
preston Of insurrection and brigardage
and the maintenance Of law and order as
-
/ quisite, 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 en-
foreement Of their authority.
In the establishment OF municipal gov
ernments the Commission will take as the
basis Of their work the governments es-
tablished by the military governor under
his order Of August s. 1899, and under the
report of the board constituted BY the
military governor by his order OF January
%, 1900, to formulate and report a plan
OF municipal government, OF which his
honor Cayetano ATeiIano. President OF the
Audiencia, 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
In the constitution of departmental or
provincial governments they will give es-
pecial attention to the existing govern
ment OF the Island OF NegTos. constituted,
with the approval Of the people Of that ISL
and, under the order Of the military gov
| eTnor Of July %, 1899. and after verifying,
so far as may be practicable, the reports
OF the successful working OF that govern
ment they viii be guided by the expe-
rience thus acquired so far as II may be
applicable to the condition existing in
/ other portions OF the Philippines They
/ viii avail themselves, to the fullest degree
! practicable. Of the conclusions reached by
/ the previous Commission to the Philip
pines.
In the distribution Of powers among the
governments organized by the Commission.
| the presumption is always to be IN favor
/ Of the smaller subdivision. so that all the
/ powers which can properly be exercised
! by the municipal government shall be
vested in that government. and all the
powers &C a more general character which
! can be exercised by the departmental gov
| eminent shall be vested in that govern
ment. 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 distribution Of
! the powers between the States and the
! National Government Of the United States
| shall have no direct administration ex-
| cept OF matters Of purely general concern.
/ and shall have only such supervision and
| control over local governments as may
/ be necessary to secure, and enforce faith
/ ful and efficient administration by local Of
| fceTs
'.The many different degrees of cfviiiza-
| ton and varieties of custom and CAPACITY
! IL g.