Evening star., 1900-09-18
Presidents Instructions to the Taft
Commission.
Transfer From Military to Civil
Authority.
TO BE PREFERRED

commission of which Judge Taft is presi-
dent, through the Secretary Of War; in ref
erence to the transfer of the people of the
Philippine Islands from military to civil
control, have just been made public. They
are as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 7, 1900.
The Secretary of War Washington
Sir: In the message transmitted to the Con-
gress on the 9Th of December, 1899, l said
speaking of the Philippine Islands, "As
long as the insurrection continues the mill
tary arm must necessarily be supreme. But
there is no reason why steps should not be
taken from time to time TO inaugurate gov
ernments essentially popular In their form
as fast as territory is he'd and controlled
by our troops. To this end l am consider
ing the advisability of the return of the
commission, such of the members there
of as can be secured, to aid the existing au-
thorities and facilitate this work through
out the islands"
To give effect to the intention thus ex-
pressed 1 have appointed Hon. William II
Taft of Ohio, Prof. Dean. c. Worcester OF
Michigan, Hon. Luke l. Wright of Tennes-
see, Hon. Henry c. Ide of Vermont and
Prof. Bernard Moses of California commits
sioners to the Philippine Islands to continue
and perfect the work of organizing and
establishing civil government already COM
menced by the military authorities. sub
ject in all respects to any laws which Con-
gress may hereafter enact. ..
The commissioners named will meet and
act as board. and the Hon. William II.
Taft Is designated as president of the board.
1t is probable that the transfer Of author
ity from military commanders to civil Off
GERS will be gradual and will occupy con-
siderable period. Its successful accomplish
ment and the maintenance of peace and
-,
perfect corporation between the civil and
military authorities in the island. and both
should be directed during the transition
period by the same executive department.
The commission will therefore report to
the Secretary of War. and all their action
will be subject to yoyur approval and con-
troll
You will instruct the commission to pro-
ceed to the city of Manila, where they will
make their principal office, and to COM
municate with the military governor Of
the philippine Islands. whom you VIII at
the same time direct to render them every
assistance within his power in the perform
ance Of their duties. Without hamperlng
them by too specific instructions, they
should in general be enjoined, after making
themselves familiar with the conditions and
needs of the country, to devote their at
tenton in the first instance to the estab-
lishment Of municipal governments, in
which the natives of the islands. both IN
the cities and In the rural communities.
age their own local affairs to the fullest
extent Of which they are capable and sub
ject to the least degree of supervision and
control which careful study Of their ca
pacities and observation Of the workings Of
native control show to be consistent with
the maintenance of law, order and loyalty.
Organization of Government.
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
suhSerVed by common administration.
Whenever the commission Is OF the opinion
that the condition Of affairs in the islands is
such that the central administration may
safely be transferred from military to civil
control. they win report that conclusion to
you, with their recommendations as to the
form of central government to be estab-
ished for the purpose of taking over the
control.
Beginning with the 1st day Of September,
1900, the authority to exercise subject to
my approval, through the Secretary of
War, that part of the power of government
in the Philippine Islands which is o. a legis-
lative nature is to be transferred from the
military governor of the islands to this
commission. to be thereafter exercised by
them in the place and stead of the military
governor under such rules and regulation
as you shall prescribe, until the establish
ment of the civil central government for
the Islands contemplated in the last fore
going paragraph, or until Congress shall
otherwise provide. Exercise of this legts-
lative authority will include the making Of
rules and orders having the effect of law
for the raising of revenue hv, taxes customs
duties and impnsts: the appropriation and
expenditure of public funds OF the islands E:
the estabiishment o. an educational system
throughout the islands; the establishment
of a system to secure an efficient civil SER
vice: the organization and establishment OF
courts the organization and establishment
OF municipal and departmental govern
ments. and all other matter OF civil ma
ture for which the military governor il
now competent to provide by rules or or
ders of a legislative character
The commission Will also have power dur
Ing the same period to appoint to office such
officers under the judicial, educational and
civil service systems and in the municipal
and departmental governments as ahal be
provided for. Until the conulete rransfer
of control the military governor will rema n
the chief executive head of the government
or the Islands, and will exercise the execu-
tive authority now possessed by him and
not herein expressly assigned - the COM
mission. subject. howevef to the rules and
orders enacted by the commission In the ex-
ercise OF the leg slative powers conferred
upon them In the meantime the munIc,paI i
and departmental governments will con-
tinue to report to the military governor and
De subject 10 MS administrative supervision
supervision and control will be confined
within the narrowest LIMITS consistent with
the requirement that the powers Of govern
ment In the municipalities and departments
shall be honestly and efrectively exercised
and that law and order and individual free
dom shall be maintained
All legislative rules and orders establish
ments OF government ana appointments to
office by the commission will take effect i'm
mediately, or at such times as they shall
designate, subject to your approval and
action upon the coming In of the comm.s-
sion's reports, which are to be made from
time to time as their action IL taken Wher-
ever civil governments are constituted un-
der the direction of the commission such
military posts, garrisons and forces WI
be continued for the suppression of insur-
rection and brigandage, and the mainte-
nance of law and order, as the military
commander shall deem requisite, and the
military forces shall Be at all times sub
ject under his orders to 9the call of the
civil authorities for the maintenance of
law and order and thu enforcement of their
authority,
Rasis Of Municipal governments.
In the establishment of municipal gov
efnmeHts the commission will take as the
basis of their wark the governments es-
tai hx, ffo