152 



CONGRESS. (THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



in every direction, and now look forward confi- 

 dently to a speedy completion of their task. 



The unfavorable circumstances connected with 

 an active campaign have not been permitted to in- 

 terfere with the equally important work of recon- 

 struction. Again 1 invite your attention to the 

 it-port of the commissioners for the interesting and 



nrnuraging details of the work already accom- 

 plished in the establishment of peace and order 

 and the inauguration of self-governing municipal 

 life in many portions of the archipelago. A nota- 

 able beginning has been made in the establishment 

 of a government in the island of Negros which is 



It-serving of special consideration. This was the 

 first island to accept American sovereignty. Its 



I pie unreservedly proclaimed allegiance to the 



Tinted States and adopted a constitution looking 

 to the otalilishment of a popular government. It 

 \va> impossible to guarantee to the people of Ne- 

 gros that the constitution so adopted should be the 

 ultimate form of government. Such a question, 

 under the treaty with Spain and in accordance 

 \\ith our own Constitution and laws, came exclu- 

 sively within the jurisdiction of the Congress. 

 The government actually set up by the inhabitants 

 i>t Negros eventually proved unsatisfactory to the 

 natives themselves. A new system was put into 

 force by order of the major general commanding 

 the department, of which the following are the 

 most important elements: 



It was ordered that the government of the island 

 of Negros should consist of a military governor 

 appointed by the United States military governor 

 of the Philippines, and a civil governor and an 

 advisory council elected by the people. The mili- 

 tary governor was authorized to appoint secre- 

 taries of the treasury, interior, agriculture, public 

 instruction, an attorney-general, and an auditor. 

 The seat of government was fixed at Bacolod. The 

 military governor exercises the supreme executive 

 power. He is to see that the laws are executed, 

 appoint to office and fill all vacancies in office not 

 otherwise provided for, and may, with the approval 

 of the military governor of the Philippines, remove 

 any officer from office. The civil governor advises 

 the military governor on all public civil questions 

 and presides over the advisory council. He, in 

 general, performs the duties which are performed 

 by secretaries of state in our own system of gov- 

 ernment. 



The advisory council consists of eight members 

 elected by the people within territorial limits 

 which are defined in the order of the commanding 

 general. 



The times and places of holding elections are to 

 be fixed by the military governor of the island of 

 Negros. The qualifications of voters are as fol- 

 low: 



( 1 ) A voter must be a male citizen of the island 

 of Negros. (2) Of the age of twenty-one years. 

 (.'}) He shall be able to speak, read, and write the 

 Knglish, Spanish, or Visayan language, or he must 

 own real property worth $500, or pay a rental on 

 real property of the value of $1,000. (4) He must 

 liave roiiled in the island not less than one year 

 preceding, and in the district in which he offers to 

 register as a voter not less than three months im- 

 mediately preceding the time he offers to register. 

 i.". i ||c uiii^t register at a time lixed by law before 

 voting, (to I'rior to such registration he shall 

 have paid all taxes due by him to the Government. 

 1'rovided. that no insane person shall be allowed 

 to register or vote. 



The military- governor has the right to veto all 

 hills or resolutions adopted by the advisory coun- 

 cil, and his veto is final if noi disapproved by the 

 military governor of the Philippines. 



The advisory council discharges all the ordinary 

 duties of a legislature. The usual duties pertain- 

 ing to said offices are to be performed by the secre- 

 taries of the treasury, interior, agriculture, public- 

 instruction, the attorney-general, and the auditor. 



The judicial power is vested in three judges, who 

 are to be appointed by the military governor of 

 the island. Inferior courts are to be established. 



Free public schools are to be established 

 throughout the populous districts of the island, in 

 which the English language shall be taught, and 

 this subject will receive the careful consideration 

 of the advisory council. 



The burden of government must be distributed 

 equally and equitably among the people. The mili- 

 tary authorities will collect and receive the cus- 

 toms revenue, and will control postal matters and 

 Philippine interisland trade and commerce. 



The military governor, subject to the approval 

 of the military governor of the Philippines, deter- 

 mines all questions not specifically provided for 

 and which do not come under the jurisdiction of 

 the advisory council. 



The authorities of the Sulu Islands have ac- 

 cepted the succession of the United States to the 

 rights of Spain, and our flag floats over that terri- 

 tory. On the 10th of August, 1899, Brig.-Gen. 

 J. C. Bates, United States Volunteers, negotiated 

 an agreement with the Sultan and his principal 

 chiefs, which I transmit herewith. By Article 1 

 the sovereignty of the United States over tin- 

 whole archipelago of Jolo and its dependencies is 

 declared and acknowledged. 



The United States flag will be used in the archi- 

 pelago and its dependencies, on land and sea. 

 Piracy is to be suppressed, and the Sultan agrees 

 to co-operate heartily with the United States au- 

 thorities to that end and to make every possible 

 effort to arrest and bring to justice all persons 

 engaged in piracy. All trade in domestic products 

 of the archipelago of Jolo when carried on with 

 any part of the Philippine Islands and under the 

 American flag shall be free, unlimited, and undu- 

 tiable. The United States will give full protection 

 to the Sultan in case any foreign nation should 

 attempt to impose upon him. The United States 

 will not sell the island of Jolo or any other island 

 of the Jolo archipelago to any foreign nation with- 

 out the consent of the Sultan. Salaries for the 

 Sultan and his associates in the administration 

 of the islands have been agreed upon to the 

 amount of $760 monthly. 



Article X provides that any slave in the archi- 

 pelago of Jolo shall have the right to purchase free- 

 dom by paying to the master the usual market 

 value. The agreement by Gen. Bates was made 

 subject to confirmation by the President and to 

 future modifications by the consent of the parties 

 in interest. I have confirmed said agreement, sub- 

 ject to the action of the Congress, and with tin- 

 reservation, which I have directed shall be com- 

 municated to the Sultan of Jolo, that this agree 

 ment is not to be deemed in any way to authori/e 

 or give the consent of the United States to the 

 existence of slavery in the Sulu archipelago. I 

 communicate these facts to the Congress for its 

 information and action. 



Kverything indicates that with the speedy sup- 

 pression of tlie Tagalo rebellion life in the archi- 

 pelago will soon resume its ordinary course under 

 the protection of our sovereignty, and the people 

 of those favored islands will enjoy a prosperity 

 and a freedom which they have never before 

 known. Already hundreds of schools are open and 

 filled with children. Religious freedom is sacredly 

 assured and enjoyed. The courts are dispensing 

 justice. Business is beginning to circulate in its 



