, 1870-12-13

come under this system, which /, however, with
pleasure see that the Honorable Minister of FL
nance will not have further extended, but, to
the contrary, abolished. As the relations now
are, we are indeed still at no small expense for
the islands, without having any revenue from
them. We are, according to the little law pro-
posal, to have a little administration,-no, not
any little one l will hope that it is very good
but a cheap administration, namely for 7,4O0
Rd. a year. To that we must certainly add,
that we yearly in general have a man-of-war w.
ing at the WeStindia Islands, which during the
two last years, according to the state accounts,
has cost us 10000 Rd, yearly. [ know we'll
oE0ngh that q part of these expenses can be
posted under the item for practising but if we
had not the Islands, those practisingS would be
directed in quite a different manner to that of
keeping a vessel the whole year through at St.
Croix. | will mention one of the items which
ii appears to me could be for a great part saved
if the Colonies are to govern themselves wholly
and entirely. 1t is the military expenses, which
indeed amount to SIS, 1000 Dollars, of which St.
Croix pays $4,000. [ cannot easily imagine
otherwise than that the Military in st. Croix
can be understood TO be anything else than DO
lice and it appears clear to me that a police in
an island such as st. Croix must be had for less
than $4,000 Dollars, and if the island be given
self-gOyernment in the most complete manner,
it will then certainly find its police for a much
less expense. 1t has indeed at present 1873, 900
Dollars in Revenue this is, however, no very
mcOnSiderable amount, and when it is applied
advantageOusly, / believe that something will
be remaining, which can be appropriated to-
wards its advancement upon the whole. The
remark which is made by the Government in
the motives, on account of the request of the
c~Ol0nists to obtain a reduced sugar duty, is, l
believe, perfectly correct. / do not consider
that such a measure will in any sensible manner
benefit ST. Croix. They advance that they are
prejudiced by paying duties on their sugar but
there can in reality nothing further be said
than That kind of sugar pays so much, and
that kind so much. 1t goes with US according
to the color, and We have therefore three differ
ent rates of duty. If then the St. Croix sugar
planters bring their wares in the market, the
customs department judges that on this and on
that color is paid this and thai duty and there
is, as far as | can discern, nothing else for them
to Obtain.-There is something to be gained if
they can come in possession OF such remedies
whereby they could furnish clearer sugars, and
there would then also be some clearer prospects
for them. 1t has, however, struck me, and
probably other Honorable members, in looking
over the vouchers, that amongst all the estates
which are therein mentioned, there is not a sin
gle one VIII bears a Danish name it is alto
gether English names from beginning to end.
One of the larger estates is called, for instance,
"Humbug," and another one "Diamond'' and
so forth. l do not by any means say this to ex-
press any thought that the people who have es-
tablished those estates, and who probably are
still working them, are not indeed as good as
we are but it is rather curious, that the entire
colony has got its white stamina, so to speak
from Great Britain, and that, as far as I know,
there are few Danes there besides the Danish