The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-23
70 GOVERN IN PHILIPPINES.
PRESIDENT OUTLINES THE PLAN
HE HAS PREPARED.
instructions to the Commission Now
at Manila Are Made Pubiic-Fafr-
ness, Peace and Prosperity for the


ipptne commission were made public here
TO-DAY. They bear date OF April II, 1900
ana Hre addressed to the secretary OF
war At the outset the president says:
~ IL probable that the transfer OF
authority from military commanders TO
ciVil onicers VIII be gradual and viii &C.
cupy considerable period Its success
ful accomplishment and the maintenance
OF peace and order in the meantime will
require the most perfect cooperation be-
tween the civil and military authorities
IN the islands. and both should be d.
rected during the transient period by the
same executive. The commission viii
therefore report 10 the secretary OF war
and all their actions win be subject 10 hts
approval and control"
The president instructs that on septem-
per l. 1900 that part OF the power OF
government of the Philippines which is
OF an executive nature shall PASS from
the military governor to the commission.
OF the duties OF the latter he says that
without hampering them by too specific
instructions. they should be enioined
first, 10 establish municipal governments.
giving to the natives the opportunity
to manage their own affairs to the fullest
extent which they are capable. and sub
jeet 10 the least degree OF supervision
and control consistent with the nnainten-
ance of order; and second, to extend the
government by the natives to the large
ADMINISTRATORS, corresponding to counties
or provinces. He adds:
Whenever the commission Is OF the
opinion that the condition OF affairs In
the Philippines is such that the central
administration may be transferred from
military to civil control they viii report
that conclusion TO you. with further rec.
concentrations as to the form of central
government TO be established for the pur-
l1ng n al taa~ Al.
Military Governor ns Chief
Until the complete transfer Of tho con
troll the president directs the military gov
ernor Will remain the chief executive head
OF the government, exercising all author
ity previously possessed by him. and not
expressly assigned to the commission, and
subject TO the legislation enacted by tho
commission. and approved by the score
tary OF war. Municipal and depa rtmcntal
governments will continue to report to the
military governor.
Afts- directing that municipal officers
TO administer the local affairs Of he peo-
pie shall be selected by the people. and
that where officers Of more extended 1urls-
diction are 10 be appointed natives are 10
be preferred of men competent and willing
can be found, the president says
1T Will be necessary to III some Offices
for tho present with Americans, which.
after time, may be well filled by ma.
tivss OF the islands As soon as prac-
ticabie system of ascertaining the merit
and fitness OF candidates for civil Offices
should be put in force Indispensable
qualification for all Offices and positions
of trust and authority in the Islands must
he absolute, and unconditional loyalty 10
the United States. and absolute and UNI
hampered authority and power to remove
and punish any officer deviating from that
~fa IA r1 Iat at I'M h.. IN faslt
In the hands OF the central authority OF
the islands"
Peace and Prosperity.
Continuing, the president says that tho
commission should have In view In the
Philippines, peace and the prosperity OF
tho people OF the islands, and that the
measures should conform TO their Gus
TOMS habits. and even prejudices. to the
fullest extent consistent with just and
effective government He adds:
at the same time. the commission
should bear In mind, and the people OF the
islands should be made plainly TO under
stand. that there are certain principles
OF government which have been made the
basis OF our government system. which
we deem essential 20 the rule of law and
the maintenance OF individual freedom,
and OF which they have unfortunately
been denied the experience possessed by
US; that there are also certain practical
rules of government which we have found
10 b. essential 20 the preservation of these
great principles % liberty and law, and
TINT these principles and rules OF govern
fnent must be established and maintained
IN their islands for the sake OF liberty and
happiness however much they may con-
fiict with the customs or laws ~ proceed
ure with which they are familiar"
Justice for All.
Irnon every division and branch 81 the
government the president imposes as in
yiolahie these rules;
THAT no person ~han 10 deprived of
liSe. liberty or property without due pro-
cess ~ law. that private property shah
not be taken FOR public Use without lust
conformation. that on al criminal prose-
cutions me accused shall enjoy the right
70 a public trial. % be- informed 81 the
nature and cause ~ the accusation. 10 be
confronted wlth the witness against him.
10 have compulsory process FOR obtaining
witnesses IN his favot and 90 have The
assistance Of counsel Tor hts defense.
that excessive hail shall not bA required.
nor excessive hues imposed. nor cruel and
unusual punishment inflicted. that no
person shall be nut twice in Jeopardy Tor
tho SAME ofFense or be compelled in any
criminal case to be a witness against
himself, that the right 20 he secured
against unreasonable searches and seiz-
rrcs shan not hc violated: that neither
slavery nor involuntary servitu6e shall
exist rxtsnt rs punishment for crimes.
that nn pln ~ attainer 0F ex post facio
law SHALL he PASSED, thar no law shall ~
raser4 abrlartug the freedom ~ spueeh
or ~ the rress or the rights az the pca-
plo o. peace8hly assemble and petition
the government fer redress os ergsv.
awrea, that m 'aw SHAH be made re-
SpeelnE an establishment ~ religion. ar