Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-04
TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY.
It VIII Be Gradual, and VIII occupy
Considerable Period.

1t VIII Be Gradual, and VIII occupy q
Considerable Period.
1.-THE commissioners named will meet
and act as board, and the Hon. WILL
lam II. Taft is designated as president
of the board. 1t is probable that the
transfer of authority from military
commanders to civil officers will be
gradual and will occupy considerable
period. Its successful accomplishment
and the maintenance of peace and or
der in the meantime will require the
most perfect cooperation between the
civil and military authorities in the
island and both should be directed dur
ing the transition period by the same
executive department. The commission
will therefore report to the secretary
of war, and all their actions will be sub
ject to your approval and control.
You will instruct the commission to
proceed to the city of Manila, where
they will make their principal Office,
and to communicate with the military
governor of the Philippine islands,
whom you will at the same time d.
rect to render to them every assistance
within his power in the performance
Of their duties. Without hampering
them by too specific instructions, they
should, in general, be enjoined. after
making themselves familiar with the
conditions and needs of the country, to
stance to the establishment of murici-
pal governments. in which the natives
of the islands, both in the cities and
in the rural communities, shall be af-
forded 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 and observation of the work
ings Of native control show to be con-
sistent with the maintenance Of law,
order, and loyalty.
The next subject in order Of impor-
lance should be the organization of
tive divisions corresponding to coun-
ties departments, or provinces, 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 administra-
ton. Whenever the commission is OF
the opinion that the condition of af-
fairs in the islands is such that that
central administration may safely be
transferred from military to civil con-
troll they will report that conclusion
to you, with their recommendations as
to the form Of central government to
be established for the purpose of TAX
ing over the control.
Beginning with the first day Of Sep
TENDER, 1900. the authority to exercise,
subject to my approval, through the
secretary Of war, that part of the pow
er of the government in the Philippine
islands which is of a legislative nature
is to be transferred from the military
governor Of the islands to this commits
sion, to be thereafter exercised by them
in the place and stead Of the military
governor, under such rules and regula-
lions as you shall prescribe. until the
establishment of the civil central gov
eminent for the islands contemplated
in the last foregoing paragraph, or I'M
til 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 revenues by taxes, Gus
toms duties. and imposts; the appro-
priation and expenditure of public
funds of the islands; the appropriation
and expenditure of public funds of the
islands; the establishment of an educa-
tional system throughout the islands:
the establishment Of a system to secure
an efficient civil service; the organiza-
ton and establishment Of courts: the
organization and establishment Of mu-
nicipal and departmental governments,
and all other matters of civil nature
for which the military governor is now
competent to provide by rules or orders
of a legislative character.
THE commission will also have power
during the same periods to appoint to
Office such officers under the judicial,
educational and civil service systems
and in the municipal and departmental
governments as shall be provided for
Until the complete transfer of control
the military governor will remain the
chief executive head of the govern
ment of the islands, and will exercise
the executive authority now possessed by
him and not herein expressly assigned
to the commission, subject, however,
to the rules and orders enacted by the
commission In the exercise of the legis-
lative powers conferred upon them In
the meantime the municipal and de-
partmental governments will continue
to report to the military governor and
be subject to his administrative super
vision and control, under your direc-
ton, but that supervision and control
will be confined within the narrowest
limits consistent with the requirements
that the powers of government in the
municipalities and departments shall be
honestly and effectively exercised and
that law and order and individual free
dom shall be maintained.
REPORTS OF COMMISSION.
They Will Be Made from Time to Time as