The development of Philippine politics

PRESIDENT MCKINLEY'S INSTRUCTIONS ETC.

in the meantime will require the most perfect cooperation between
the civil and military authorities in the Islands, and both should be
directed during the transition period by the same executive department. The Commission will therefore report to the Secretary of
War, and all their action will be subject to your approval and control.
You will instruct the Commission to proceed to the city of
Manila, where they will make their principal office, and to communicate with the military governor of the Philippine Islands, whom
you will at the same time direct to render to them every assistance
within his power in the performance of their duties. Without hampering them by too specific instructions, they should in general be
enjoined, after making themselves familiar with the conditions and
needs of the country, to devote their attention in the first instance
to the establishment of municipal governments, in which the natives
of the islands, both in the cities and in the rural communities, shall
be afforded the opportunity to manage their own local affairs to the
fullest extent of which they are capable, and subject to the least
degree of supervision and control which a careful study of their
capacities and observations of the workings of native control show
to be consistent with the maintenance of law, order, and loyalty.
The next subject in order of importance should be the organization of government in the larger administrative divisions corresponding to counties, departments, or provinces, in which the common
interests of many or several municipalities falling within the same
tribal lines, or the same natural geographical limits, may best be
subserved by a common administration. Whenever the Commission
is ofthe opinion that the condition of affairs in the Islands is such
that the central administration may safely be transferred from
military to civil control, they will report that conclusion to you,
with their recommnendations as to the form of central government
to be established for the purpose of taking over the control.
Beginning with the 1st day of September, 1900, the authority
to exercise, subject to my approval, through the Secretary of War,
that part of the power of government in the Philippine Islands
which is of a legislative nature is to be transferred from the military
governor of the Islands to this Commission, to be thereafter exercised
by them in the place and stead of the military governor, under
such rules and regulations as you shall prescribe until the establishment of the civil central government for the Islands contemplated in the last foregoing paragraph, or until Congress shall otherwise provide. Exercise of this legislative authority will include
the making of rules and orders, having the effect of law, for the
raising of revenue by taxes, customs duties, and imposts; the appropriation and expenditure of public funds of the Islands; the establishment of an educational system throughout the Islands; the establishment of a system to secure an efficient civil service; the organiza