, 1872-10-19

CAAO 1919 Il - -
be remembered, that at the 2nd discussion
of the Draft, a lengthy discussion took
place as to whether the President should
be allowed $1,000 p. a. for table money ;
the Majority of the Committee on the Draft
having disrecommended such a grant.
Governor Bile insisted strongly on having
the table money, and he even declared,
that if it were not granted, he would not
recommend the Draft for Royal sanction.
In the Council, many voices strongly Oppos-
ed the grant of table money and in sup
port thereof, it was urged that all that
could be required of the President of St.
Croix would be the proper and competent
discharge of his administrative duties, but
no representation, which would rest with
the Governor alone and the result was,
that in the meeting on the oath July the
President was allowed a salary Of $4,000
p. a., but the table money was refused
with 7 votes against 6. Towards the close
of this discussion Governor Billie seems 10
have retracted somewhat from his previous
stand, for he stated that at the 3rd discus
sion on the Draft there would only be pro-
posed mere alterations in the wording OF
some of the clauses, and on that assurance
it was taken for granted that the matter
was decided by the vote then given. In
the meantime Billie left the Islands before
the Draft could come to the Bird discussion,
and Vicegoyernor Stakemann, who it is
considered pretty certain, will also be the
future President of St. Croix, was Constltu-
ted as Governor, while his Son-in-Law,
Non,co1lD. TJo+tC,ro, ,v,oc oODc+itU{n6 10
President of st. Croix. Tie matter
remained dormant a couple months,
and not till the 14th Of August
did the Draft come to third discussion
in the Council. This body had in the
meantime undergone several changes of
Members, and it was expressed by Couns.
Rosenstand-who, although In favour OF
the table money, sharply criticised the
Governments proceedings in this affair."
that the recent elections and nominations
had been made with a view to the table
money. This especially referred to the
circumstance, that two new C~roWnmem-
bers, Mr.. Jurs "a S0p-in-LaW Of Stakemann)
and Mr.. Hvjd, were on Governments side,
as also that Mr.. Forsbcrg, who had but re-
Gently returned from a voyage to Denmark,
supported Goyornmcnt,-Whiie one OF the
foImcr opponents, Dubois (who also,
as Inspector of Immigration, stands near to
Government had changed opinion, and
some few other Members had been led to
abstain from voting. After the personalities
of the Council had undergone these changes,
the Draft, as stated above, was brought IN
for 3rd discussion, and, contrary to all eX-
pectations, the Government again proposed
an amendment for having $1,000 fixed as
table-money for the President. The dis
c~ussions on this point were very animated.
They were opened by the acting Ncegover-
nor Hattensen with o recommendation of the
grant, in support of which he alluded to
the amounts of salaries given in several Of
the British Islands. After aim, Clindinen
rose and gave q very dark picture of things
as they are in st. Croix, and on those
grounds opposed the grant. After a few
short replies from Dubois and the Vice
governor, RoSenstand made a longer speech,
in which he in several respects contradict
ed Clindinen's statements, and pointed out
that the grant of table money, and the en-
tertainments afforded thereby in the Gov
ernmenthouse, would be placing an amount
of money in circulation, MANIFOLD larger
than the sum in question, and in that man
ner alleviate some of the poverty and want
| ~ -rEIn 4 Mn