Guam Organic Act of 1950 - President Truman Steps In

President Truman Steps In

To pacify the island until the U.S. Congress could pass an Organic Act, U.S. President Harry S. Truman, issued Executive Order No. 10077 on September 7, 1949, which stipulated that:

• The administration of the island of Guam is hereby transferred from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior, effective on July 1, 1950 (later amended to August 1, 1950 by Executive Order No. 10137).

• The Department of the Navy and the Department of the Interior shall proceed with plans for transfer of administration of the island of Guam as explained in the above mentioned memorandum of understanding.

• When the transfer of administration made by this order becomes effective, the Secretary of the Interior shall take such action as may be necessary and appropriate, and in harmony with applicable law, for the administration of civil government in the island of Guam.

• The executive departments and agencies of the government are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Departments of the Navy and Interior in the effectuation of the provisions of this order.

• The said Executive Order No. 108-A of December 23, 1898 is revoked, effective July 1, 1950 (later amended to August 1, 1950 by Executive Order No. 10137).

• "The people of Guam were afforded the opportunity to set and administer policy and laws for the island of Guam."

In accordance with this order, Carlton Skinner, a public relations officer in the Department of Interior, was selected by Interior, nominated by the Navy, and then appointed by President Truman to serve as Guam’s first civilian Governor. He took the oath of office on September 17, 1949.

On October 3, 1949, the House Public Lands Committee reported that H.R. 4499, containing provisions that later became known as the Organic Act of Guam, would be enacted. Guam, as an unincorporated territory, was also granted, among other things, some leeway in establishing its judicial branch.