Major General William Ludlow, U. S. Volunteers, is designated as the military governor of the city of Havana, and will report direct to the division commander. He is charged with all that relates to collection and disbursement of revenues of the port and city, and its police, sanitation, and general government, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the President. R. A. ALGER. Secretary of War. Establishment of military government, Philippine Islands. To the SECRETARY OF WAR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 21, 1898. SIR: The destruction of the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila by the United States naval squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Dewey, followed by the reduction of the city and the surrender of the Spanish forces, practically effected the conquest of the Philippine Islands and the suspension of Spanish sovereignty therein. With the signature of the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain by their respective plenipotentiaries at Paris, on the 10th instant, and as the result of the victories of American arms, the future control, disposition and government of the Philippine Islands are ceded to the United States. In fulfillment of the rights of sovereignty thus acquired, and the responsible obligations of government thus assumed, the actual occupation and administration of the entire group of the Philippine Islands becomes immediately necessary, and the military government heretofore maintained by the United States in the city, harbor and bay of Manila is to be extended with all possible dispatch to the whole of the ceded territory. In performing this duty the military commander of the United States is enjoined to make known to the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands that, in succeeding to the sovereignty of Spain, in severing the former political relations of the inhabitants and in establishing a new political power, the authority of the United States is to be exerted for the security of the persons and property of the people of the islands and for the confirmation of all their private rights and relations. It will be the duty of the commander of the forces of occupation to announce and proclaim in the most public manner that we come, not as invaders or conquerors, but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in their employments, and in their personal and religious rights. All persons who, either by active aid or by honest submission, cooperate with the government of the United States to give effect to these beneficent purposes, will receive the reward of its support and protection. All others will be brought within the lawful rule we have assumed, with firmness if need be, but without severity so far as may be possible. Within the absolute domain of military authority, which necessarily is and must remain supreme in the ceded territory until the legislation of the United States shall otherwise provide, the municipal laws of the territory, in respect to private rights and property and the repression of crime are to be considered as continuing in force, and to be administered by the ordinary tribunals so far as practicable. The operations of civil and municipal government are to be performed by such officers as may accept the supremacy of the United States by taking the oath of allegiance, or by officers chosen as far as may be practicable from the inhabitants of the island. While the control of all the public property and the revenues of the State passes with the cession, and while the use and management of all public means of transportation are necessarily reserved to the authority of the United States, private property, whether belonging to individuals or corporations is to be respected except for cause duly established. The taxes and duties heretofore payable by the inhabitants to the late government, become payable to the authorities of the United States unless it be seen fit to substitute for them other reasonable rates or modes of contribution to the expenses of government, whether general or local. If private property be taken for military use, it shall be paid for when possible in cash at a fair valuation, and when payment in cash is not practicable receipts are to be given. All ports and places in the Philippine Islands in the actual posession of the land and naval forces of the United States will be opened to the commerce of all friendly nations. All goods and wares, not prohibited for military reasons by due announcement of the military authority, will be admitted upon payment of such duties and other charges as shall be in force at the time of their importation. Finally, it should be the earnest and paramount aim of the military administration to win the confidence, respect and affections of the inhabitants of the Philippines by assuring to them in every possible way that full measure of individual rights and liberties which is the heritage of free peoples, and by provng to them that the mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation, substituting the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary rule. In the fulfillment of this high mission, supporting the temporary administration of affairs for the greatest good of the governed, there must be sedulously maintained the strong arm of authority, to repress disturbance and to overcome all obstacles to the bestowal of the blessings of good and stable government upon the people of the Philippine Islands under the free flag of the United States. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. The Major General commanding the United States forces in Cuba and the senior naval officer of the American fleet in the port of Havana are directed to observe such arrangements and ceremonies for the evacuation of Havana, to take place on January 1, 1899, as may be communicated to them by the United States Commissioners on Evacuation. They will aid in carrying out such arrangements. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. Franchises and concessions, Philippine Islands. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 22, 1898. Until otherwise ordered, no grants or concessions of public or corporate rights or franchises for the construction of public or quasi public works, such as railroads, tramways, telegraph and telephone lines, waterworks, gas-works, electriclight lines, etc., shall be made by any municipal or other local governmental authority or body in the Philippine Islands, except upon the approval of the Major General commanding the military forces of the United States in the Philippine Islands, who shall, before approving any such grant or concession, be so especially authorized by the Secretary of War. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. Franchises and concessions, Cuba. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 22, 1898. Until otherwise ordered, no grants or concessions of public or corporate rights or franchises for the construction of public or quasi public works, such as railroads, tramways, telegraph and telephone lines, waterworks, gas-works, electriclight lines, etc., shall be made by any municipal or other local governmental authority or body in Cuba, except upon the approval of the Major General commanding the military forces of the United States in Cuba, who shall, before approving any such grant or concession, be so especially authorized by the Secretary of War. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. Franchises and concessions, Porto Rico. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 22, 1898. Until otherwise ordered, no grants or concessions of public or corporate rights or franchises for the construction of public or quasi public works, such as rail roads, tramways, telegraph and telephone lines, waterworks, gas-works, electriclight lines, etc., shall be made by any municipal or other local governmental authority or body in Porto Rico, except upon the approval of the Major General commanding the military forces of the United States in Porto Rico, who shall, before approving any such grant or concession, be so especially authorized by the Secretary of War. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. Payment of customs, taxes, etc., in Cuba-Value of foreign currency. EXECUTIVE ORDER. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 28, 1898. It is hereby ordered that on and after January 1, 1899, and until otherwise provided, all customs, taxes, public and postal dues in the island of Cuba shall be paid in United States money or in foreign gold coin, such as the Spanish alphonsinos (centen) and the French louis, which will be accepted in payment of such customs, taxes, public and postal dues at the following rates: Alphonsinos (25-peseta piece) Louis (20-franc piece) $4.82 3. 86 That all existing contracts for the payments of money shall be payable in the money denominated in such contracts, and where French and Spanish gold shall be the stipulated money of payment they shall be received in their present decreed inflated values, i. e., alphonsinos (25-peseta piece), $5.30; louis (20franc piece), $4.24, or in United States money at the relative value set forth in the above table, namely, $4.82 for alphonsinos (25-peseta piece) and $3.86 for louis (20-franc piece). It is further ordered that on and after January 1, 1899, and until further provided, the following Spanish silver coins now in circulation in the island of Cuba shall be received for customs, taxes, public and postal dues at the following fixed rates in American money: Bronze and copper coins now current in the island of Cuba will be received at their face value, for fractional parts of a dollar in a single payment to an amount not exceeding 12 cents (1 peseta). WILLIAM MCKINLEY. Proclamation of the military governor to the people of Cuba. To the People of Cuba: Coming among you as the representative of the President, in furtherance and in continuation of the humane purpose with which my country interfered to put an end to the distressing condition in this island, I deem it proper to say that the object of the present Government is to give protection to the people, security to person and property, to restore confidence, to encourage the people to resume the pursuits of peace, to build up waste plantations, to resume commercial traffic, and to afford full protection in the exercise of all civil and religious rights. To this end, the protection of the United States Government will be directed, and every possible provision made to carry out these objects through the channels of civil administration, although under military control, in the interest and for the benefit of all the people of Cuba, and those possessed of rights and property in the island. The civil and criminal code which prevailed prior to the relinquishment of Spanish sovereignty will remain in force, with such modifications and changes as may from time to time be found necessary in the interest of good government. The people of Cuba, without regard to previous affiliations, are invited and urged to cooperate in these objects by exercise of moderation, conciliation, and good will one toward another, and a hearty accord in our humanitarian purposes will insure kind and beneficent government. The military governor of the island will always be pleased to confer with those who may desire to consult him on matters of public interest. JOHN R. BROOKE, Major-General, Commanding Division of Cuba and Military Governor. Proclamation of the military governor to the people of the Philippines upon the establishment of military government. PROCLAMATION. OFFICE OF THE MILITARY GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, To the People of the Philippine Islands: Instructions of His Excellency the President of the United States relative to the administration of affairs in the Philippine Islands have been transmitted to me by direction of the honorable the Secretary of War, under date of December 28, 1898. They direct me to publish and proclaim, in the most public manner, to the inhabitants of these islands that in the war against Spain the United States forces came here to destroy the power of that nation and to give the blessings of peace and individual freedom to the Philippine people; that we are here as friends of the Filipinos; to protect them in their homes, their employments, their individual and religious liberty, and that all persons who, either by active aid or honest endeavor, cooperate with the Government of the United States to give effect to these beneficent purposes, will receive the reward of its support and protection. The President of the United States has assumed that the municipal laws of the country in respect to private rights and property and the repression of crime are to be considered as continuing in force in so far as they be applicable to a free people, and should be administered by the ordinary tribunals of justice, presided over by representatives of the people and those in thorough sympathy with them in their desires for good government; that the functions and duties connected with civil and municipal administration are to be performed by such officers as wish to accept the assistance of the United States, chosen in so far as it may be practicable from the inhabitants of the islands; that while the management of public property and revenues and the use of all public means of transportation are to be conducted under the military authorities, until such authorities can be replaced by civil administration, all private property, whether of individuals or corporations, must be respected and protected. If private property be taken for military uses it shall be paid for at a fair valuation in cash if possible, and when payment in cash is not practicable at the time, receipts therefor will be given to be taken up and liquidated as soon as cash becomes available. The ports of the Philippine Islands shall be open to the commerce of all foreign nations, and goods and merchandise not prohibited for military reasons by the military authorities shall be admitted upon payment of such duties and charges as shall be in force at the time of importation. The President concludes his instructions in the following language: Finally, it should be the earnest and paramount aim of the Administration to win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the Philippines by insuring to them in every possible way the full measure of individual rights and liberty which is the heritage of a free people, and by proving to them that the mission of the United States is one of beneficent assimilation, which will substitute the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary rule. In the fulfillment of this high mission, while upholding the temporary administration of affairs for the greatest good of the governed, there will be sedulously maintained the strong arm of authority to repress disturbance, and to overcome all obstacles to the bestowal of the blessings of good and stable government upon the people of the Philippine Islands." From the tenor and substance of the above instructions of the President, I am fully of the opinion that it is the intention of the United States Government, while directing affairs generally, to appoint representative men now forming the controlling element of the Filipinos to civil positions of trust and responsibility, and it will be my aim to appoint thereto such Filipinos as may be acceptable to the supreme authorities at Washington. It is also my belief that it is the intention of the United States Government to draw from the Filipino people so much of the military force of the islands as is possible and consistent with a free and well-constituted government of the country, and it is my desire to inaugurate a policy of that character. I am also convinced that it is the intention of the United States Government to seek the establishment of a most liberal government for the islands, in which the people themselves shall have as full representation as the maintenance of law and order will permit, and which shall be susceptible of development, on lines of increased representation and the bestowal of increased powers, into a government as free and independent as is enjoyed by the most favored provinces of the world. It will be my constant endeavor to cooperate with the Filipino people, seeking the good of the country, and I invite their full confidence and aid. E. S. OTIS, Major-General, U. S. V., Military Governor. Quarantine Service in Cuba and Porto Rico. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 17, 1899. To prevent the introduction of epidemic disease, it is ordered that the provisions of the act of Congress approved February 15, 1893, entitled "An act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine Hospital Service," and all rules and regulations heretofore prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury under that act are to be given full force and effect in the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico, and the following additional rules and regulations are hereby promulgated: The examination in ports of the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico of incoming and outgoing vessels and the necessary surveillance over their sanitary condition as well as of cargo, passengers, crew, and of all personal effects, is vested in and will be conducted by the Marine Hopital Service, and medical officers will be detailed by the Secretary of the Treasury as quarantine officers at the ports of Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Santiago immediately, and at other ports in the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico as soon as practicable or necessary. Quarantine officers shall have authority over vessels, their wharfage and anchorage in infected seaports, in so far as is necessary to prevent the infection of vessels or their personnel, and all vessels, including vessels of the Army Transport Service and merchant and coastwise vessels, leaving ports in the islands of Cuba or Porto Rico for the United States or for other ports in the islands of Cuba or Porto Rico, vessels of the United States Navy excepted. Quarantine officers will enforce necessary measures on incoming vessels through collectors of customs at ports of entry, who will not permit entry without quarantine certificates, and bill of health shall not be given to an outgoing vessel unless all quarantine regulations have been complied with. All officers of the Army Transport Service and medical officers of the Army and Marine Hospital Service on duty on Army transports will use every precaution to prevent danger of exposure to infection of crews while in ports in the islands of Cuba or Porto Rico. Since the quarantine service herein provided is for the protection of the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico as well as the protection of the United States against both, the expenses arising therefrom will be charged at present both against the revenues of these islands and the epidemic fund; said expenses will be divided equally against both, payments, however, to be made out of the epidemic fund and reimbursement made thereto from the revenues of the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. Instructions of the President to the Schurman Commission. The SECRETARY OF STATE: EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 20, 1899. My communication to the Secretary of War, dated December 21, 1898, declares the necessity for extending the actual occupation and administration of the city, harbor, and bay of Manila to the whole of the territory which by the treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, passed from the sovereignty of Spain to the sovereignty of the United States, and the consequent establishment of military government throughout the entire group of the Philippine Islands. While the treaty has not yet been ratified, it is believed that it will be by the time of the arrival at Manila of the commissioners named below. In order to facilitate the most humane, pacific, and effective extensions of authority throughout these islands, and to secure with the least possible delay, the benefits of a wise and generous protection of life and property to the inhabitants, I have named Jacob G. Schurman, Rear-Admiral George Dewey, Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis, Charles Denby, and Dean C. Worcester to constitute a commission to aid in the accomplishment of these results. In the performance of this duty, the commissioners are enjoined to meet at the earliest possible day in the city of Manila and to announce, by a public proclamation, their presence and the mission intrusted to them, carefully setting forth that, while the military government already proclaimed is to be maintained and continued so long as necessity may require, efforts will be made to alleviate the burden of taxation, to establish industrial and commercial prosperity, and to provide for the safety of persons and of property by such means as may be found conducive to these ends. The commissioners will endeavor, without interference with the military authorities of the United States now in control of the Philippines, to ascertain what amelioration in the condition of the inhabitants and what improvements in public order may be practicable, and for this purpose they will study attentively the existing social and political state of the various populations, particularly as regards the forms of local government, the administration of justice, the collection of customs and other taxes, the means of transportation, and the need of public improvements. They will report through the Department of State, according to the forms customary or hereafter prescribed for transmitting and preserving such communications, the results of their 7345°-S. Doc. 173, 63-1-32 |