New-York tribune., 1900-12-04

ana The stafutes 20 upboId the sovereignty OF
the United States in those distant ISLANDS as IN
all other places where our flag rlghtfully noats,
riacing 10 that end at the disposal OF the Army
and Navy all the means which the hheraIity
Of the Congress and the people have provided
No contrary expression OF the will OF the Con
greSs having been made l nave stedoIasIly
pursued the purpose so declared, enlployylntg the
civil arm as well toward the accompaniment
Of paciication and the institution or locai gov
ernments within the lines of authority ana law
Progress in the hoped for direction mas peeh
favora ble our forces have successfully con-
trOlled the greater part Oe the ISLANDS, oVercohl
ing the organized forces OF the insurgents and
carrying order and administrative regularity
10 all quarters. What opposition remains Is Tor
the most part scattered obeying concerted
plan of strategic action, operating only Oy the
methods common to the traditions OF suerlila
warfare, which. while ineffective to alter the
general control now established, are stil sur
fcient to beget insecurity among the populations
that have felt the good results of our contrcI
fuller measures of local self government, of
education and of industrial and agricultural de-
3 Velopment which we stand ready to give them.
BY the spring of this year the effective oppo-
sitOn Of the dissatisfied Tagals to the authority
, Of the United States was virtually ended, thus
( opening the door for the extension OF stable
administration over much Of the territory of the
archipelago Desiring to bring this about
appointed in March last a civil commission COM
posed Of the Hon. William II. Taft. of Ohio Pro-
fessor Dean c. Worcester, Of Michigan; the Hon.
Luke l. Wright, of Tennessee: the Hon. Henry
c. Ide, OF Vermont, and Professor Bernard
Moses of California. The aims OF their mission
and the scope OF their authority are clearly set
/ forth In my instructions OF April {, 1900, ad-
dressed TO the Secretary Of War TO be trans
mitted to them:
In the Message transmitted the Congress
December lssS said speaking Of the Philippine
military arm must necessarily be supreme. But
lron time 10 time 10 inaugurate governments
essentially popular to their form fast terri
end am considering The advisability Of the re-
tbt9 b2{ oI IN me Eois.0T m or such 81 & the members
thorities and facilitate this work throughout the
To give effect to the intention thus expressed
nave appointed the lion william H. tart, OF Ohio;
Hon Luke l. Wright. Of Tennessee: the Hon.
Henry &. Ide, of Vermont, and Professor Bernard
Moses. OF California. Commissioners to the Philip
pine Islands TO continue and perfect the work Of
ready begun by the military authorities. subject
@ IN an respects to any laws which Congress may
The Commissioners named will meet and act as
mated as president of the Board. It is probable
thal me transfer of authority from military COM
occupy a considerable period It's successful ac-
order in the mean time viii require the most per
iee{ co9-operation between the civil and military
TSetea duriGS the transition period by the same
therefore report 10 the Secretary Of War and ali
their action VIII be subject 20 your approval ana
You VIII instruct the, Commission 70 proceed to
0ripcipsI en-, "a annS' "i'eIe lney VII iaake Iasr
tar{ GoN9rnor of the Philippine Islands whom you
every assistance within HIS power in the perform
hhce OF their duties Without hampeTng them by
TOO specific Instructions. they should in general be
tnJolned, after making themselves familiar with
their attention in the FIRST instance no the estabsb
naeht oI municipal governments in which the
rural communities, shall be afforded the oppor-
fullest extent OF which thev are eanab ana s,b uhe
jeet 10 the least degree o supervision and control
seryatlon OF the workings Of native control show
to to be consistent with the maintenance OF law.
The next subject in order of importance should
administrative divisions eorrfsponding to ne counties
tacpartmentsS or provinces, In which the common
within the same tribal lines. the same natural
common ADMINISTRATION Whenever the Co,nmis>
SION Is 2i ne opinion that the condition 81 affairs
tion safely be transferred rom mifi.ary 70
von Win tbe yhry viii rfp9ft that conclusio3 ::
Geadrat az soyeTnment 70 be established for the pur
Begnning with the ist day of September 1902 TIE |
authority 10 exercise. subject 10 my approval
powr of IN hs PbppPSs an1 part q 1se
which Is Of legislative nature Is 70 DC transferred
Commission. 10 be thereafter exercised by them In
such rules and regulations as vo9 sbn re G
scribe until he establishment OF the civil central
last foregoing paragraph until Congress shall |
RFGnde Exercise OF this legislative au
ders having the effect Of law. for the raising Of
the Islands the establisbme1t % rG'c % Iu'ds oi
~ system secure an efficient civil service: The
ORGANIZATION and establishment of courts: the or
ganiZaton and establishment OF municipal and de-
civil nature for which the Mfsry cnyarn mSreTs 2t
now competent 10 provide by rules or orders Of a
The Commission will also have power during the
same Period 10 appoint TO office such officers under
the judicial, educational and civil service systems
and In the municipal and departmental govern
transfer Of control the Military Governor NH eve
main The chief executive head Of the government
Of The islands and Will exercise the executive au-
thonty now possessed by him and not herein ex-
ever, to the rules and orders enacted by the Com
mission in the exercise of the Legislative powers
nieipal and departmental governments will con
tinue 10 report 30 the Military Governor and be
subject TO his administrative supervision and con-
troll, under your direction but that supervision and
control viii be confined within the narrowest limits
consistent with the requirement that the powers OF
government IN the munlcipaties and departments
SHAH be honestly and enectyely exercised and that
law and order and individual freedom shall he
All legislative rules and orders establishments
OF goTsshieh! III, ah1 apPo9ements % 70 once by the
such times as they shall designate. subject to your
approval and action upon the coming in OF the
Commissions reports. which are 10 be made from
time 10 time as their action is taken. Wherever
civil governments constituted under the drec-
lon OF the Commission such military posts, garri-
sion OF insurrection and brigandage and the main
tenanee Of law and order as the Military Com
forces shall be at all times subject under his OF
ders TO the car OF me civil authorities fer abe
| % their authority.
| In the establishment OF municipal governments
| the Commission will take as the basis OF their
work the governments esta blished by the Military
G0X ernor under his order OF August g. 1899 and nm
/ der the report of the Board constituted bv the
Military Governor by his order of January 9 1890
/ 10 formulate and report plan of municipal gov
ernment % which HIS Honor Cayetano AreIlsno
President of the Audiencia. chairman and
| they will give to the conclusions OF that I3oard
the weight and consideration which the high char
acter and distinguished abilities OF its members
/ Justify.
| In the constitution of departmental or provin-
cial governments they will give especial attention
| 20 the existing government OF the island OF Ne
gros, constituted with the approval OF the people
/ Of that island under the order of the Military
Governor of July % 1888 and after verifying so far
as may be practicable the reports Of the success