ruction, 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 military authorities will collect and receive the
customs revenue, and will control postal matters and Philippine
inter-island trade and commerce.

The military governor, subject to the approval of the military governor
of the Philippines, determines 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 accepted the succession of
the United States to the rights of Spain, and our flag floats over
that territory. 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 I the
sovereignty of the United States over the whole archipelago of Jolo
and its dependencies is declared and acknowledged.

The United States flag will be used in the archipelago and its
dependencies, on land and sea. Piracy is to be suppressed, and the
Sultan agrees to co-operate heartily with the United States authorities
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
undutiable. 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 without 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 archipelago of Jolo shall have
the right to purchase freedom by paying to the master the usual market
value. The agreement by General Bates was made subject to confirmation
by the