The Sulu Archipelago and its people, by Sixto Y. Orosa ...

CHAPTER THREE

AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION
MILITARY GOVERNMENT
ON May 19, 1899, Jolo was occupied by American troops
under Captain Pratt, and on the following day the
Spanish garrison evacuated the town. The entire
Archipelago was gradually occupied by American
troops, who, upon their arrival, found the important
chiefs at war with one another.
Major Bolton became the first military governor, in
July, 1899. On August 20 General Bates made the
Bates Agreement, by the terms of which the sultan of
Sulu was granted $250 monthly and his chiefs were
granted lesser amounts in lieu of privileges that they
surrendered. The agreement was confirmed by the
President of the United States, except for an article in
which slavery was recognized.
On June 1, 1903, the Moro Province was created and
General Leonard Wood became the first governor, Sulu
being one of the five subdivisions of the province. In the
same year the cedula law (requiring each adult male
annually to purchase a registration certificate at a
charge of two pesos) caused bitter resentment, and
there were a number of juramentados. The cedula tax
is still a cause of dissatisfaction among some of the
Moros.
During 1903 also began the series of cotta (trench)
fights between the American forces and the Sulus. The
latter had at their disposal several thousand rifles,
several hundred lantacas (small brass cannon), plenty
of ammunition, and perhaps nearly 10,000 men ready
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