The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-07

be honestly and effectively exercised.
and a law II order and individual
freedom shall be maintained
"An legislative rules and orders. es-
Establishments OF government. and ap-
pointments to office by the commission
will take effect Immediately. or NJ such
times as they shall designate. subject
10 your approval and action upon the
coming in OF the commissions reports.
which are to be made from time to
time as their action Is AIKEN. Wherever
civil governments are constituted un-
der the direction Of the commission
such military posts, garriSons andforces
will be continued for the suppression
of instruction n brigandage and the
maintenance Of law and order as the
military commander shall deem requi-
site, and the military forces shall be a.
all times subject. under his orders. to
the call OF the civil authorities for the
maintenance of law and order and the
enforcement OF their authority.
In the establishment OF municipal
governments the commission viii take
as the basis OF their work the govern
ments established by the military row.
ernor under his order Of August s.
1899, and under the por of the board
constituted by the military governor
by his order Of January %. 1900, to for
Lluldlc ALB ISpOIl q ptd4t VI --u4liI4pdA
government of which His Honor Cage
tar Arellano. president of the Audi
encia, was chairman, n they will give
TO the conclusions of that board the
weight and consideration which the
high character and distinguished abili-
ties Of its members justify.
I'm the constitution OF departmental
or provincial governments they Will
give especial attention to the existing
government of the island of Negros,
constituted, with the approval of the
people Of that island. under the order
of the military governor OF July %,
1899. and after verifying. so far as may
be practicable, reports of the success
full working of that government they
will be guided by the experience thus
acquired so far as it may be applicable
to the condition existing in other por-
tions of the Philippines. They will
avail themselves, to the fullest degree
practicable. of the conclusions reached
by the previous commission to the
Philippines.
In the distribution of powers among
the governments organized by the COM
| mission, the presumption is always 10
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 of a
| more general CHdTdClcT Which, d NC
exercised by the departmental govern
ment shall be vested in hat govern
| ment, and so that in the governmental
system, which is the Iecult of the pro-
cess, the central government OF n is
lands, following the example of the
| distribution of the powers between the
| states and the national government OF
the United States, shall have no direci
| administration except CT matters OF
purely general oncern, and shall have
only such supervision and control over
local governments as may be necessa-
nv to secure and enforce faithful and
efficient administration by local OIL
GERS.
1.-The many different degrees of civil
cation and varieties of custom and ca
pacity among the people of the differ
ent islands preclude very definite in
struction as to the part which the peo'
pie shall take in the selection of theil
own officers; but these general rule:
are to be observed: That in all cases
the municipal officers, who administel
the local affairs of the people. are t.
be selected by the people, and tina
wherever officers of more extended Ju
risdiction are to be selected in any way
natives of the sland are to be prefer
red, and if they can be found compe
tent and willing to perform the duties
they are to receive the offices IN PREF
erence to my others.
ut will be necessary to fill some OIL
ceS for the present with American
which after a time may we'll be flle'
by natives of the islands. AS soon a
practicable a system for ascertainin'
the merit and fitness of candidates 70
civil office should be put in force. Al
Indispensable qualification for ell office
and positions of trust and authority L
the islands must be absolute and un
conditional loyalty to the United State
and absolute and u~nhampered authori
ty and power to remove and punlSI
any officer deviating from that stand
ard must at all times be retained i
the hands of the central authority O
the islands.
I'm all the forms of government an
administrative provisions which the
are authorized to prescribe the com
mission should bear in mind that tn
government which they are establish
ing is designed not for u satisfaction
or for the expression of u theoretica
!, views, but for the happiness, peace
and prosperity of the people of tn
Philippine islands, and the measure
adopted should be made to conform [
|, their customs, their habits, and eve
their ~prejudices, to the fullest exten
| consistent with the accomplishment G
the indispensable requisites Of just an
effective government.