Background
The act was preceded by the Spooner Amendment to the Army Appropriations Act of 1901 (31 Stat. 910, enacted 2 March 1901) which had provided that:
... all military, civil, and judicial powers necessary to govern the Philippine Islands ... shall until otherwise provided by Congress be vested in such person and persons, and shall be exercised in such manner, as the President of the United States shall direct, for the establishment of civil government, and for maintaining and protecting the inhabitants of said Islands in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and religion.
This was complemented by a cable from the Secretary of War Elihu Root to the Philippine Commission on 5 March 1901:
Until further orders government will continue under existing instructions and orders.
The comprehensive Spooner Amendment, and these instructions and orders, virtually constituted for many months the charter of government for the Philippine Islands. Between September 1900 and August 1902, the Second Philippine Commission (the Taft Commission) issued 499 laws.
Read more about this topic: Philippine Organic Act (1902)
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