, 1868-05-22

MONDAY THE 4rH OF MAY 1868, IL O'Clock,
at noon, the Colonial Council held an ordinary
meeting.
The members were present with The excep-
ton of the Sd crown-member OuBoisl the 3rd
member for ChristianstedS country district
DAM and the 4th member for Frederiksted's
country district (Heilbuth) on account of re-
ported illness.
The minutes of the last meeting were read.
According TO the order Of the day the Coun-
Gil proceeded to-:
/, The LIST discussion of the draft of the Budget
for the Municipality of St. Croix for the fl
nanciaI year from the 1st of April 1868 to
the 31st of March 1859 with the drafts of the
respective Money-Grants.
The I'd member for ChristianSteds country
district (Ratcliffe) had sought in vain for the
surplus of the previous years and stated, that
in case these SURPRISES together with the cash
transferred from the former Landtreasury adj
mitted of so doing, steps should be taken for
reducing the taxation. He considered the Alb
sentee-Tax and the CustomS-R Revenues calcula-
ted too high. and according to an other princi-
pie than hitherto the Quartprocent-Tax he
thought ought to be abolished.
His Excellency the Governor observed, that
he on a previous occasion had informed the
Council of the SURPRISES of the years 1665-66
and lS66-67 as we'll as of the balance transferred
from the former Landtreasury. 1t must, how
ever on the other hand be kept in mind, that
the Colonial Treasury yet owed the State
Treasury an amount of about $4,000, being a
part of the State Treasury's cash on hand here
on the 3lst of March 1865, which sum is to be
RENTED gradually as it is collected. Moreover
when it is considered, that several building
works of great extent are in view, he was of
the opinion that for the present no reduction in
the taxes could be thought of. The Customs
Revenue had given in 1S65-66 above SIC, 900,
and in .1S67-6S above $72,0 900 therefore it
had been considered most correct to estimate
the amount to something above $4,000, with
out taking the intervening year 1S66-67 into
calculation, in which year it had amounted to
about $65, 900 in consequence of the Cholera in
the Island of St. Thomas. The Absentee-Tax
was posted with the same amount.a it brought
last year but if even this tax should diminish
in the event of the properties, now administered
for account of Absentee Proprietors, were to go
over into the hands. of other owners, it is not
certain that the Colonial Treasury would suffer
any loss, as the production of the estates may
be increased in such a manner as to augment
other revenues. For his part he would willing
ly see a change in this respect.
The Chairman inquired, what the Govern
ment intended to do as regards the paper-money,
and if they may not be used for renting the
State Treasury's claim.
The I'd member for Christiansted's country
district (Ratcliffe) inquired in what proportion
the paper-bills were apportioned between this
Island and that of ST. Thomas.
The 9Th crown-member (Walker) was of the
opinion, that the present paper money might be
RENTED and the Colonial Treasury issue new
notes.
The Governor referred to 5 81 of the Colo
NAL Law and pointed out, that the intention
with the paper-issue no doubt in time gone by
was to furnish the Islands with a sufficient
means of money-circulation according to their
requirements in addition to the Silver-coin,
which he thought could not be dispensed with
without Inconvenience, because the doubloon
in itself is not a convenient coin in daily bust
ness The paper-bills consequently belong to
the Colonial Treasures in as far as they are on
hand. but for the rest to the holders of the bills.
What portion of the whole amount $685. 900 is.
in the Island of st. Croix or in ST. Thomas