Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1899 — OTIS PROCLAIMS NEW CONTROL [ARTICLE]

OTIS PROCLAIMS NEW CONTROL

He Establishes Provisional Rule for the Island of Negros. Gen. Otis has proclaimed a provisional government for the Island of Negros. The island will be under a military governor, and a civil governor and advisory council will be elected later. This Government is established pending the action of Congress on the constitution for the Island of Negros. Baeolor will be the capital. A cabinet consisting of secretaries of treasury, agriculture and interior will be appointed by the military governor. These, together with an attorney general, will exercise the executive power. All male inhabitants of 21 years of age, who can read and write Spanish, English or Visayan, and who possess SSOO in realty, and who have been residents for one year are eligible to the franchise. The military governor will prescribe the time and place of elections. He will also appoint three judges to sit at times and places designated. A free school system will be established and the teaching of English will be required. The advisory council to.be presided over by the civil governor will devise a system of uniform taxation. The military governor will collect the customs and control the postal service. The secretaries will draw $3,000 a year. The civil governor will receive $6,000 a year. The military governor will have the power of veto in all legislative action, subject to the approval of Gen. Otis. A Washington dispatch says that the President has no intention of relieving Gen. Otis from the military command in the Philippines.