The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04


Ineffective % alter the general control
Row established. are stiil sufficient TO be-
get insecurity among the populations thEr
/ have felt the good results OF our control
aIld thus delay the confofment up q
them Of the fuller measures OF local sc.{-
government. Of education. and OF MISS
trisl and agricultural development which
VIC stand ready 90 give them.
BY the spring Of this year the effective
opposition of tire dissatisfied Tngals <,
the authority Of the United States was
virtually ended. thus opening the door
for the extension OF a stable admiuistra-
ton over much Of the territory Of the
archipelago Desiring 10 bring this about.
/ appointed In March last civil commls-
sion composed Of the Hon. William ~
Taft. cf Ohio; Prof. Dean G. Worcester.
Of Michigan: the Hon. Luke |. Wright. u
Tennessee: the Hon. Henry G. ldc, ~
Vermont. an1 Prof Bernard Moses. OF
California. The aims u their mission
and the scope OF their authority are clear
ly set forth ga nlT Instructions Of AQTil l.
lsC0. addressed 20 the Secretary OF War
to he transmitted 10 them:
The TAFT Commission.
TN the message transmitted 70 the Congress On
the s,a Of December isss. i said, speaking oi the
Philippine Islands: As long the insuTrsctiea
continues the military muss aseessarily hs
not be taken fron time 70 tine 10 inausurate gov
ernmsnts essentially Popular In their form a. fast
ss territory ss held and controlled BY our troops.
To thIs cad I eoaElderiag TIE adyisahility OF ne
return Of the commission. or sach of the msmSHs
thereof as can he secured 70 aid the existing aE'
thorities and facilitate this work throughout the
islands,
TO give effect to tse intention thus expressed.
have appointed Hon. william r. Taft, Ot Ohio;
Prof. Dean c. Worcester. OF Michigan; Hon. Luke
l. Wright OF Tennessee: Hon. Heary C. Ide, of
Vermont. and Prof Bernard Moses. Of California
Commissioners to the Philippine Isiaads. to eoa-
tinus and perfect the work OF orEaniEiag and es-
tablishing civil government already commenced by
the military authorities subject in all respects 70
any laws which Congress may hereafter enact
The commissioners named will meet and act IS
a board and the Hon William H. Taft is desik-
mated as president OF the board. Il is probable
that the transfer Of authority from military eonl-
manders to civil officers viii be gradual and viii
occupy a considerable period. It's successful ae-
eomplishment and the msnteenos Of peace and
order in the meantime will require the most per
| feet cooperation between the civil and military
authorities in the island and both should be d.
rected during the transition period by the same
executive department. The commission VIII there
fore report to the Secretary Of War and all their
action will be subject your approval and control
''You will instruct the commission to proceed 10
| the city Of Manila. where they will make their
principal Office and 10 eommunieste with the mill
tary governor OF the Philippine Islands, whom you
will at the same time direct to render to them
every assistance within his power in the perform
ance of their duties Without hampering them BY
too specific instructions they should In genera! be
enioined after making themselves familiar with the
conditions and needs OF the country. 70 devote
their attention In the first instance 70 the establish
ment Of municipal governments, in which the ns-
tlves of the islands both in the cities and In ths
rural communities. shall be Afforded the opportu-
nifty 10 manage their own local Affairs to the full
es. extent Of which they are capable and subject
to the least degree Of supervision and control when
a careful study of their capacities and observation
of the workings Of native control show 10 be con-
sIsteet with the maintenance Of law, order, and
| loyalty.
The next subject in orcer Of importance should
be the organization OF GOV erHmont In the larger
administrative divisions corresponding to COUNTIES
| departments. provinces. In which the common
interests OF many or several municipalities falling
within the tribal lines, or the same natural
geographical limits may best be subsersed BY
| common administration. Whenever the commission
is OF the opinion that the condition q affairs In
the islands is such that the central administration
may safely be transferred from military TO civil
control they will report that conclusion to you.
with their recommendations as 10 the form Of cen
trail government to be established for the purpose
Of taking the control
Beginning with the ist day OF September. 1900.
the authority 10 exercise. subject my approval.
through the Secretary Of War. that part Of the
power OF government In the Philippine Islands
which is of legislative nature, Is to be transfer
red from the military governor Of the Islands 20
this commission. to be thereafter exercised By
them in the place and stead Of the military gov
ernOr, under sueh rules and regulations as yOu
shall prescribe until the establishment Jf the civil
central government for the Islands contemplated in
the last foregoing paragraph until Congress slsl
otherwise provide Exercise Of this legislative su-
| thority will include the making Of rules and
dsrs having the effect OF law. for the raising 0f
revenue by taxes. customs, duties. and impCsts.
the appropriation and expenditure Of public funds
Of the islands the establishment Of an educational
system throughout the Islands; the establishment
Of system 10 secure an eaeent civil service; the
organization and establishment Of courts: the
ganizstion and establishment Of municipal and
departmental governments. and ali other matters
of civil nature for which the military governor
is competent 10 provide by rules or orders Of
q legislative character.
THE commission will also have power during the
same period appoint to ONCE such officers under
the judicial educational, and civil service systems
| and In the munieipsi and departmental govern
transfer Of control the military governor will re-
main the chief executive head Of the Government
OF the islands. AMI will exercise the executive
authority now Possessed b. him and not herein
expressly assigned to tie commission. subject how
ever 70 the rules aad orders enacted BY the com
mission In the exercise OF the legislative powers
conferred upon them. In the meantime the mu-
nicipa and departmental governments will continue
70 report 70 the military governor and be subject
10 his administrative supervision sad control IN
der your direction, but that supervision aud con-
troll will be confined within the n.rrosest limits
consistent with the requirement that the powers
Of government in the municipalities and departments
shall be honestly sad effectively exerei4ed ana that
law and order and individual freedom shall be
maintained
''Al legislative rules and 0Fdsrs establishments
Of government and appointments 10 once By ths
commission will take effect Immediately. or at
such times as they shall designate. subject to
your approval and action uDoa the coming in Of
the commissions reports, Which are 20 be maas
from time to time their action Is taken Wber-
ever civil governments are constituted under the
direction OF the commission. such military pos.s
gaFrisons, and forces will be eon,inssd for the
suppression Of nsarreetiOB and brigandsge and tho
maintenance oi la% and order the military CON-
mahdsr shall deem reguiEite, and the military
forces shall be az all times subject under ais
orders, 70 tbs 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 ss the basis Of their work
the governments established By the military gov
eFnoF uader his order Of August Z. 1852 and under
the report Of the board constituted By the military
governor BY his order Of January g. 1860. 70 for
niulate and report plan Of municipal government.
Of which his honor Csys,aBo Arei.sn0. president OF
the sgdisnels. chairman. and they wiH give
20 the conclusions o. that board the weight asd
| eoasiGegalioE which tbs high character and dis.
ungulshed abilities Of rs members justify.
In the constitution Of departmental Or pre-
yineisi governments thsy viii give especial at,ea
tion to the existing government of the Island u
Ssgfgs Constituted with the approval o. the people
Of thst island uhder TIE order Of the military gov
srnsr af july q. iss. And aftar verifying. far
as nay b pFseilosbis. the reports Of the
eessfgl working Of that government. they viii bs
guided b. ths experience thus seqsssd far a. Il
- IA It'll