, 1870-02-08

LAllOAO WIZ III Oi4@' ~ 1AS4@
service. lie would vote against any increase.
The 2nd member for Cbristiansted CJdrs)
stated, in his capacity as Chairman of Christian
Sted's Poor Commission, that there had not this
year been expended more for support in money
to the paupers in ChriStiansted thanin the last
year; SO that in reality there was retyenchment
rather than an increase in the public eXpendi-
ture, for,pecuniary assistance TO paupers, since
it was undeniable, that pauperism had increased
in the last year, partly owing to the results of
the poor crop, and all that could be expected
and achieved was to try to keep the.eXpenditure
WithiE the present limits. He also offered some
detailed statements in reference to the eXpendi-
tUre in question, and could but regret the posi-
ton which the Colonial Council had taken in
reference to ChriStiansted'S POor-Commission,
while the Body was perfectly conscious Of hay-
Ing discharged its duty with scrupuIous con
scientiousness. So much was certain, if the
Council refuses The present additional Grant,
the Poor-C Commission will be unable to continue
its action. With reference to the proposal, made
on a previous accession by the 4th Member for
CAtistiausted's Country District Iatimer) about
dividing the Island into 4 Districts, two for
Town and two for Country, each District with
a Superintendent, he, the Speaker would with
the greatest pleasure agree to such an arrange
IlNuN' NV MULTI - ilNttlllA nm VI q CptlolOlC1
able, amount Of work But he must observe that
he thought such an arrangement is entirely i'm
practicable, as no such Superintendent would
be able to discharge the duties, not even for
one month. As regards work-hous9s, in which,
agreeable to another Members opinion, the pen
sioners could be furnished with work, he would
here state, that scarcely one fthe pensioners in
ChriStianSted would be able to do any work at
all, SO weak and infrm are they. The speaker
offered some calculations regarding burial-eX-
pcnses for paupers; and remarked that these
expenses were certainly high, but the Police
Authorities did every thing in their power to
prevent gratis collins and graves being given to
persons who leave sufficient TO cover those eX-
penSes. AS regards collins, the delivery of them
had since 1927 been in the hands of the same
man and subsequently his widow. The pay
ment had in the course of time been reduced a
couple times, and at present it was 81. so for a
coffin for an adult and 81. rs for a coffin for a
child. 1t would be impracticable to put up the
furnishing thereof to public l~icitatioR, rs Q
might thereby run the risk Of its falling into the
hands Of contractor without means and without
credit to get the materials. The reason why
burial expenses in Christiansted were so dispro-
portionately high, was to a great extent owing
to this circumstance, that individuals from all
parts Of the Island are admitted into the Hos
pltaI at Richmond, and when they die there,
they are buried in Christiansted. Respecting
the medicine supplied to paupers in Christian
sted, it would seem at first view, that the amount
expended was improportionately high, especially
when compared with the cost of this item at
Frederiksted during the last 8 months IS. IS;
but 1t must be kept in mind, that the cause of
the small amount expended in Frederiksted is,
that only one medical practitioner had been in
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