, 1867-10-29
FOR ST. CROIX.

4 OOuOluoiOn " II ulCCtluS VI IA ONPSCAI 81
The 2nd member for Frederiksteds town
(Faber) stated, that the Budget before tW
Council was the third brought in during his
membership, and that although he had not par
taken mnch.in the several discussions, he had
Notwithstanding followed them with interest, and
had the impression, that there were few matters
on the subject of which all the members agreed
as in this "that the whole administration, at
least a part of its branches, was too extensive
and too expensive in proportion to the resources
of the Island, and required to be considerably
simpliied.' His Excellency himself had partly
acknowledged this and promised to do his best
to effect retrenchments and diminutions. lie
considered it difficult for individual members to
enter upon further detail in the several branch
es of the administration and pointed out where
the changes and savings may be effected to the
purpose, and that no one could do this better
than His Excellency. in as much as his propo-
sails in that direction seemed to be most easily
promoted it was therefore to be hoped, that
many such proposals would be seen coming
from him next year. 10 one branch of admin
~istration the Speaker would however direct His
Excellency's special attention, the most expen-
sive of all, viz. the Military amounting to
almost ] of the total item of expenditure of the
Island, in which it was supposed, that retrenh-
ments may be effected.
The Chairman observed, that it could not be
considered opportune now again to raise the
question about retrenchments in the military
force, just at the time when the Police admins
tration in the towns has been separated from the
other judicial offices there, and 9 new police
/ masters appointed through energetic means, to
establish a better regulated state of things than
that hitherto maintained. In order to perform
their charge with vigor and safety the Police
masters must be able to reckon on support from
the strength of the Executive, and the danger
Gus elements among the inhabitants OF the ISL
and must not be strengthened by q dlminution
of the military force, which is to bring them to
order if required.
The end member for Christiansted's country
district (Ratcliffe) stated as his conviction, that
the retrenchments that may be introduced IN
some of the items of expenditure in the Budget
would not be of great Specification, and that the
finances of the Island could only be actually
improved, either by the mothercountry assuming
the expenses for the local administration and
for the military, as is done in the English West
indian Islands, or that there be allowed some
alienation with regard to the Duties in the
mothercountry on the produce of the Island.
He thanked His Excellency for the calculations
received to-day regarding the revenue of the
Island during the last financial year; but with
respect to the savings touched on in the last
meeting, he only desired to be informed,
whence these were derived, and if they possibly
were only the result of the non-execution of
works calculated to be done under items eff ex-
penditure. With regard to the Lund-Hansen-
bills Of exchange he would like to know, if the
Councils consent would not be required for
their payment out of the sum of $4,000 applied
or laid aside for the purpose.
The 3rd ~crown-member (DuBois) stated, that
thu EnoIscl Gororr1 mani in u0un of tho Vast
indian Colonies paid the expenses attendant on
the local administration, and that the military
had been withdrawn from all the colonies with
the exception of Demerara, Barbados and ia
maica.
The Governor explained that during the dis
~cussions which preceded the introduction of the
Colonial Law, the future position Of the Colo
NAL Treasury to the mothercountry's finances
was agreed upon after q careful inquiry. and