Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-07

the municipalities and departments shall
that law and order and individual free
dom shall he maintained.
All legislative rules and orders, estab-
lishments of government and appoints
ments to office by the commission will
take effect Immediately, or at such times
as they shall designate. subject to- your
approval and action upon the coming IN
action is taken. Wherever civil govern
ments are constituted under the direction
garrisons and forces 's win be- be continued
for the suppression of instruction and
brigandage and the maintenance OF law
sha deand re ehe the mtar
forces shall be at all times subject, un.
der. his orders, to the call of the. civil
authorities for the maintenance Of law
and order and the enforcement of their
authority.
Basis of Commission.s Work.
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 unaer
his order of August s, 1899, and under the
report of the board constituted by the
military governor by his order of January
municipal government, of which his hon
or, Cayetano Arellano, president of the
audiencia, was chairman, and they VIII
weight and consideration which the high
character and distinguished abilities of
its members Justify.
provincial governments they. will give
especial attention to the existing gov
eminent Of the island Of Negros, constie
that island, Under thee order Of the mil
itary governor of July o. 1899, and after
verifying, SO far as may be practicable:
the reports OF the successful working %, OF
the experience thus acquired so far as 1t
may be applicable to the condition exist
ing in other portions of the Philippines.
degree practicable. of the conclusions
reached by the previous commission to
the Philippines.
To Favor Home Rule.
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
vested in that government, and all the
powers of a more general character which
can be exercised by the departmental gov
ermmen. Shaia De fes.eq IN ina, gDsern1
system, which is the result of the process,
the central government OF the ISLANDS. FOL.
the. powers between the states and the
national government of the United States,
shall have no direct administration except
Of matters of purely general concern, and
troll over local governments as may be
necessary to secure and enforce faithful
and efficient administration by local off,
GERS.
The many different degrees of civilization
and varieties of custom and capacity
among the people of the different islands
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,
people, are to be selected by the people,
and that wherever officers of more eX-
tended Jurisdiction are to be. selected in
any. way, natives of the Islands are to be
preferred, and, II they can be fond COM
petent and willing to perform the duties.
they are to receive the offices in preference
to any others.
American officials at Present.
1t will be necessary to fill some offices
for the present with Americans. which,
after a time. may we'll be filled by ma
t OF the islands. AS soon as prac-
merit and fitness of candidates for civil
ONCE should be put in force. An indis-
pensable qualification for all offices and
islands must be absolute and uncondi-
tional loyalty to. the United States, and
absolute and unhampered authority and
deviating from that standard must at all
times be retained in the hands of the
central authority of the islands.
M tns 1orms el and ad
thorized to. prescribe the commission
should bear in mind that the government
not for our satisfaction, or for the ex-,
preston Of our theoretical views. but for
the the I happiness peace and prosperity Of
the measures adopted should be made to
conform to their customs, their habits,
and even their prejudices; to the fullest
ment of the Indispensable requisites of
just and effective government
AT the same time the commission should
lands should be made plainly to under
stand, that there are certain great prin-
clpies OF government which have been
mace the basis of our governmental sys-
OF law and the maintenance of individual
freedom, and of which they have: un-
fortunately, been denied the experience
possessed by us; that there arc also Ger
tam practical rules of government which
we have found to be essential to the
preservation of these great principles Of
pies ana these rules of government mnst
be established and maintained In their
Islands for the sake of their liberty and
happiness. however much they NAV con
fict with the customs or laws Of nroced-
ure with which they are familiar
Principles Are Appreciated.
u Is EVIDENT that the most enlightened
th au OF :, the Philippine islands fully ap-
pies and rules, and they will Inevitably
within short time command univer saI
assent. Upon every division and branch
OF OF lhe government of the Philippines,
therefore, must be imposed three inviol-
able rules:
That no person shall be deprived of life
liberty, orproperty without due process Of
law; that private property shall NOT lie
taken for public use without just com
pehsation; that in all criminal prosecutions
the accused shall enjoy the right TO a
speeay ana public trial, to be informed
OF the nature and cause of the accusation.
TO be confronted with the witnesses against
MN, 10 nave compulsory process for oh
tanning witnesses in his favor and 10 have
that excessive bail shall not be required.
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishment inflicted; that no per-
son shall be put twice in jeopardy for the
same offenss. or be compelled in any GRIM
lnal case TO be witness against himself:
that the right to be secure against unrea-
sonable searches and seizures shall not be
violated; that neither slavery nor inyo!un-
tary serv!tude shall exist except as a pun
ishment for crime; that no bill OF attain
DER or e4 post facto law shall be passed
mat no lay shall be PASSED abr!aglng the
freedom of speech or of the press, or the
rights OF the people to peaceably assemble
and petition the government for redress
OF grievances that no law shall be made
respecting an establishment of religion OF
prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and
that the free exercise and enjoyment OF
religious profession and worship without
discrim!nation or preference shall forever
be allowed.
To Investigate Land Titlex.
1t will be the duty of the commission
to make a thorough investigation into the
titles to the large tracts OF land held OF
ders; into the justice of the claims and
complaints made against such iand-hold.
ers by the people of the island or any
and peaceable measures a just settle
ment of the controversies and redress OF
wrongs which have caused strife anG
hlnnAShal in the In 10