They were probably not as a rule men of means.

Many of them, perhaps most of them, had been clerks and employees under the Spanish government, and they saw no reason for changing the methods of town administration which had then been followed.

The municipal taxes, the estimates for expenditures, and the regulations for town government, were but little modified from those they found in force.

In many ways such changes as were made were for the worse.
Once installed in power, Aguinaldo's officials were required to exercise over the mass of the people about the same control that had always been exercised over them.

The governing group considered that they were perfectly capable of providing for the welfare of the islands, and that it was the duty of the people to obey them without question.
When the insurgent force was increased in preparation for war with the Americans a large number of municipal officials resigned, or attempted to do so.