Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-12-11

! governments essentially popular in their
form as fast as territory Is held and con-
appointed the commission named above TO
continue and perfect the work of organic
Ing and establishing civil government al
ready commenced by the military authori-
1 ties. subject In all respects to any laws
which Congress may hereafter enact.
Without hampering them by too specific
instructions, they should in general be en-
/ Joined, after making themselves familiar
1 with the conditions and needs of the coun-
/ try, to devote their attention in the first in
stance TO the establishment of munIcipal
governments, in which the natives of the
islands, both in the cities and In the rural
communities, shall be afforded the oppor-
tunity to manage their own local affairs to
the fullest extent of which they are capa-
| bic and subject to the least degree of super
! vision and control which a careful study of
/ their capacities and observation of the
workings of native control show TO be con-
\ sistent with the maintenance of law, order
j and loyalty.
+ Administration of the Islands.
The next subject in order of Importance
should be the organization of government in
the larger administrative divisions CORE
1 spending to countries, departments or PROV
inces in which the common interests of
many or several Municipalities falling with-
/ in the same tribal lines or the same natural
! geographical limits may best be subserved
] by common administration.
Beginning with the LIST day of September
/ 1900. the authority to exercise, subject to
my approval, through the Secretary of War
I that part of the power of government In
/ the Philippine Islands which is of a legiS-
/ latiye 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 anilitary gov
! ernor
/ In the establishment Of municipal govern |
ments the commission will take as the basis |
/ of its work the governments established by
/ the military governor under his order of
| Aug. s, 1899, and under the report of the
4 board constituted by the military governor
/ by his order of Jan. 20, 1900 10 formulate
and report plan OF municipal government.
! Native Officials Preferred.
+ The many different degrees of civilization
/ and varieties of custom and capacity arfong
/ 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 observed: That in all cases the
municipal officers who administer the local
! affairs of the people are to be selected by
/ the people, and that whatever officers of
more extended jurisdiction are to be selected
/ in any way, natives of the islands are to be 1
! preferred, and If they can be found compe- 1
/ tent and willing to perform the duties they |
any others 1t will be necessary to fill some !
! offices for the present with Americans
which after time may well be filled by ma
! tives of the islands.
In all the forms of government and adj
ministrative provisions which they are
authorized TO prescribe the commission /
which they are establishing is designed not |
for our satisfaction or for the expression of
our theoretical views, but for the happiness. |
| peace and prosperity of the people of the !
Philippine Islands, and the measures adopt /
ed should be made TO conform to their Gus |
toms, their habits, and even their prejudices, |
to the fullest extent consistent with the I
accomplishment of the Indispensable requi- /
sites of just and effective government
At the same time the commission should I
bear in mind and the people of the Islands I
should be made plainly TO understand, that |
1 there are certain great principles of govern I
ment which have been made the basis of our |
governmental system which we deem essen |
tial to the rule of law and the maintenance |
of individual freedom, and of which they |
nave, unfortunately, been denied the expert |
ence possessed by us; that there are also |
certain practical rules of government which |
we have found to be essential to the presef !
walton of these great principles of liberty |!
and law and that these principles and these
rules of government must be established and
maintained in their Islands fol the sake of
their liberty and happiness, however much !
they may conflict with the customs or laws |
or procedure with which they are familiar !
Status OF LandhoIders.
1t will be the duty of the commission to
make a thorough investigation into the titles
to the large tracts of land held or claimed
by individuals or by religious orders; into
the Justice of the claims and comDlafnts
made against such andholders by the peo-
pie of the Island. or any part of the people,
and TO seek by wise and peaceable measures t
4.
redress Of wrongs which have caused strife !
and bloOdShed in the past.
! 1t will be the duty of the commission to
promote and extend, and as they find occa-
sion, to improve the system Of education /
already inaugurated by the military authori- |
ties.
1t may be well that the main changes
which should be made in the system of taxa |
ton and in the body of the laws under which /
the people ere governed, except such I
changes as have already been made by the /
military government, should be relegated to /
the civil government, which is to be estab- |
lished under the auspices of the commission.
Pledge of American Army.
The articles of capituation of the City of /
Manila on the 18th Of August 1888, CON /
Guided with these words: This city, its IN !
habitants, its churches and religious wor- I
/ ship, its educational establishments, and its |
private property of all descriptions are T,
placed under the special safeguard of the
faith and honor of The American army" /
| believe this pledge has been faithfully kept. |
Coineidentally with the entrance of the /
commission upon its labors | caused 10 be /
issued by General Macarthur, the military /
governor of the Philippines on June "A, 1900, !
a proclamation of amnesty in generous /
terms. of which many of the insurgents took /
advantage among them number Of import /
ant leaders.
This commission made great progress from
the outset. AS early as Aug. -, 1900 it sub /
united Il preliminary reporI which Wii be /
laid before the Congress, and from which |
Y T..
returning 0Tder are felt, that business. Inc
terrupted by h0stiHties, is improving as I
/ peace extenus; that larger area Is under /
sugar cultivation tlan ever DetOlei that the (
customs revenues are greater than at any /
time during the Spanish rule; that economy /
aud efficiency in the military administration /
have created a surplus fund 0f S6,GUO,U0O, |
available for needed public Improvements, /
that j stringent civil service law is in prep /
aratton; that railroad communications are |
expanding opening UP rich districts, ana |
a puUrutlDU
Is being organized.
Later reports from the commission show
yet more encouraging advance toward IN |
surfing the benefits OF liberty and good gov |
eminent to the Filipinos, in the interest OF |
humanity and with the aim Of building up |
an enduring self-suppOrting and self-admln- |
stering community in those far Eastern |
seec. | would impress upon the Congress |
that whatever legislation may be enacted |
In resl@es TO the Philippine Islands should |
be along these generous lines The fortune |
OF war has thrown upon this nation an nh- |
sought trust which should be unselnshly |
discharged, anu deyoived upon this govern |
ment a moral as we'll as material responsible !
ity toward these millions whom we have |
| freed from an oppressive yoke.
The civil government OF Porto Rico pro-
vided for by the act Of Congress approved !
April IL, 1900, Is in successful operation
1 The courts have been established |
/ The Governor and his associates. working |
tntelligently and tremendously, are meeting |
( with c0mmendable success.
On the 9th or November general election 1
was held in the island for members OF the |
( legislature, and the body elected has been |
4 called to convene on the rrst Monday Of De- |
cember.
recommend that legislation be enacted /
/ BIZ the Congress comforting upon the Sec
Rotary of the Interior supervision over the /
public lands in Porto Rico and that he be !
/ directed TO ascertain the location and guam |
/ tity OF lands the title TO which remained In !
( the crown OF Spain at the date Of eessiOn OF /
Z Porto Rico 10 the United States. I
Constitution for Cuba.
On the 25th Of July, 1900. l directed that
a call be issued for election IN Cuba fer
members Of u constitutional convention 10
I frame constitution basis for stable /
and independent government in the Island /
The election was held on the 18th Of Sep !
tember. and the convention assembled on the
Z 18th Of November. 1860. and Is now In session. !
+ Ia calling the convention 70 order the Nil !
itary Governor OF Caba made the following I
statement.
1T viii be ycur duty, FIRST. 70 frame and
adopt a constitution for Cuba, and when
tAaf has been done 10 formulate what IN
f.t- rl.taF