The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-18
CLASH IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Civil and Military Authorities at
Odds Over Methods.
cHAFFEE ISSUES ORDERS
INsTRUcTs HIS MEN TO CARE
FULLY OBSERVE THE RULES.

III ASHINGTON. March 11.-Rumors
w Of cases OF conflict Of authority
between the civil and military
authorities in the Philippines find sub
stantial confirmation in an order re-
Gently issued by Generai Chaffee, the
division commander 1T Manila, TO the
commanding officer of the Fifth sepa-
rate brigade, operating in Hoilo. The
order follows
There appears 10 be some misun-
Outstanding as TO the extent and under
what circumstances the military may
act Of its own motion in provinces
where civil government has been put
into operation BY the Philippine com
mission. The division commander de-
sifes to avoid friction with the civil
authorities, and you are informed that
the civil government entertalns a
strong suspicion that the army in many
instances wilfully and for Interior mo-
tives unnecessarily interferes with the
civil officials in their prescribed duties,
making arrests when they should not
do so, usually Oh suspicion rather than
for just cause: IL not for cause. then
unwarranted arrests, because of the
fact that the civil authority, not mill
tary should act.
Many Complaints Made.
''You are advised also that the vice
civil governor has been informed by
the c0nstabulary and others that the
presence Of the army IS no longer nec-
essary or advisable at a very large
majority of the stations now occupied
by il in what is known as pacifled
provinces. The division commander de
sires that a strict Interpretation be put
upon paragraphs l and ?, general or
der No. 179, series 1901. these head
quarters. and act No. 173 of the Phil
ippine commission, published in same
order, which, properly construed, en-
braces the idea of noninterference by
the military in civil affairs, as stated
! by the division commander in para
graph 1 of the general order referred
to above.
Provinces passing to civil contro
since the publication of general order
l1S have been announced from time Ia
time in orders from these headqUar-
| teTs.
Attention is also invited to act No
| 272 of the Philippine commission, spec
/ flying cases when writs Of habeas cor
! pus shall not apply. In all other cases
1 they may apply, therefore arrests and
| holding Of prisoners by the military il
! cases not mentiO7ed are questionable
are to be avoided when practica.
I bic to do 50.
Must Be Humane.
"The military viii be upheld in at
/ lacking all armed bodies which officer.
I believe are intended to disturb the or
4 derby and peaceful authority OF tn,
4 United States in these islands 1T vii
I be wei, however, TO determine in ad
vance whether it is United States an.
/ thority aimed at or whether a mer,
/ local disordelIy band is out for rob
bling, the supp ession Of which the civil
authorities may prefer to deal witt
single-handed. unaided By the army o.
/ the United States. You are advised
: also that many complaints are re.
4 ceiVed by the civil governor to the ef
feet that soldiers are disorderly in ths
communities where stationed. tha
! they are harsh and ill-treat inhabit
l ants. No excuse can be accepted fol
I complaints Of this sort, if true. from
1 any station Of our troops in the Pacific
/ provinces. The duty of every office
I TO maintain good discipline of hi.
/ troops and TO redress at once every dis
/ orderly act committed by soldiers OF
( the inhabitants. Military necessity Il
one thing lawlessness is another. an,
/ quite a different matter.
The division commander directs tina
! a copy OF this letter be furnished a
| once to the commanding officer Of ev
/ cry station and enjOins action in stric
/ accordance with its spirit"