, 1872-08-31
To the Editor of the ''St. CrOix Avis"

Dir,
The Government has gained a victory at the3rC
Discussion on the Draft relating to the salaries tC
the Superior Authority in this Island, and the
much talked Of Table money, by a Majority of 3
Although [ am, and have always heon, opposed
to this table money grant, still | must cOngratu,
late the Government, that success has crowned
the untiring e~xertions and energy, which they
brought to bear on this question, plainly show
ing that whenever Government is determined
to %"force' a measure, however much it might
be opposed to the popular will, and even in de-
fance of public opinion, they nave only to put
all their forces in action and the victory will
be theirs. | only regret that Government
should not display the same energy and activity
in matters for the Public welfare, and not re-
serve these good qualities solely for occasions
where money grants are in QueStion-monPy
wrung from the unfortunate Tax payerS-to iu-
crease the salary, or emoIumentS, OF our aIrea-
dy oyerpaid officials. OF course, in this in
stance "the Government found it to be its duty
to take up the proposal made by the Minority
of the Committee giving the President a sala-
ry of $4,000 and $1,000 Table money."-What
a pity it is, that the Government cannot find
it to be its duty to take up a great many other
things-Which are never taken up-tO improve
bll0 GUIl(lGlOu VI IHC pun pCOpIO III bLlo NIutLNl
[ noticed in your report Of the Proceedings,
that the Vice Governor seemed to imply that
MIR. Clindinen, in his very able and truthful
speech, exaggerated somewhat the miserable
condition of the people in our towns, and the
general state of the Island but, in a matter
concerning the condition of our poor, tn Pub
lie will always put more confidence in a state
ment made by q gentleman who has a thorough
kOnUln1un of tho wants of thn naOTln than in
a statement made by the Vice Governor, or any
Member of the Government, who knows no
thing-and cares less-abOut the sutferings OF
our over-taXed population. For when did
Government ever lay before the Council any
measure tending to relieve US Of any OF our
burdens
I have read very carefully, Mr.. Editor, the
report of the Proceedings, and have found
much to amuse, and at the same time, much to
make one sick al heart. Pray, what have We
(as Mr.. Faber very properly Asked to DO with
the salaries paid to the Governors Of the British
Colonies : Is the Vice Governor ignorant 81
the fact, that in nearly all, if not in all fthe Isl
ands he mentioned, the salaries to the Governors
are borne by the Home Government ConSe
%0uently, what does that concern the C0l0nist;
what amount Of salaries is paid their Governors
And Judge R0senStand'S calculations mer
cy on us, were they %ironical 1.-TWO yearly off
Cial balls in Government house! WHEN
$500 guests invited" calculating the outlay a
$4,000 and then making out that the $500
are spent among sempstresses, milIiners, tallor>
and shoemakers. Why, Mr.. Editor, you knoy
as we'll as | do, that such thing as two ball
i'll one year has never taken place in this Islam
for very many years, and further that very Of
ten we have no balls for 2 or 3years at a time
I thank Judge Rosenstand for the smart lex
ture he gave the Government-he %certainl
showed them up weil-but it would have bee
better had he let alone trying to defend tn
principle of the grant, for in that he failed mos
miserably.
The 5 Crown Members voted right loyal,
in favour of the Governments measure, eve
Mr.. Du Bots, who at the 2nd Discussion d
clared "the allowance for table money to
very Objectionable, and always leaving Il
room open for dissatisfaction, y and Capt. Ra
pach who had also spoken against it at ii
a time. But nevertheless when it came
the 3rd and last Discussion, the Governmel
must be supported, and former opinions and d
clarations, although expressed not quite tv
months before. count for nothing.