, 1872-04-24

self evident to what an extent our neighbours
would be the gamers, while ST. Croix would be
the looser. According to the original plan for
the present organisation, each community would
have had 10 bear $4,000 Of the total expenses
for the Administration but it was considered
best to fix the sum for each community separate
y, and the $1,000 were fixed as a contribution from
u. Thomas with perfect agre ement and consentof
the Representatives of ST. Thomas, then assem-
bed in a joint Colonial Council. Aud vheo tina
proposal for removing the seat of Government
to St, Thomas was advanced, SO far
trom being any question Of the one Island pay
ing TO the other, i, was expressly stated that
81 Thomas was fully prepared to bear all tho
expenses, aud St, Thomas could not expect ST.
Croix should be placed in a worse position bv
the removal cur neighbours proposed to bear
those expenses in a very liberal way thew
would have given q salary of $4,000 to the
Governor, l8t Secretary $500, End Secretary
$3,200, Bookkeaper and Treasurer each $4,000;
their offers were very tempting, and had wo
here entered on the removal at that time, it
would have been with great advantage it had
never entered any mans head to expect that
We should give up the seat Of Government and
besides pay; the matter was dropped however.
aud it was left to His Majesty to decide. We
could very well conceive why St. Thomas desires
u nave lLO ucau VI LuG 1Sialu5 luCTB Uub VIC
have been TOO good -natured we remained 81
lent, made no objections to it, made no contra
demands; and We had been so because We very
naturally expected our interests would be just
os we'll served with a Superior Magistrate alone.
and that we would thrive as well under such 8
one but we had never expected a financial sa-
crjfoe to be imposed along with if SO, wo
would not have remained silent and it is so
far unfortunate that the financial adjustment
bad not been made before the Royal Rescript
emanated ,tfacting the final removal since
that, the arrangement will be more difficult, all the
more as not a voice has been heard in the Colonial
Council of St. Thomas, to shew that it was but
just and reasonable that when they there got
the benefit of the Chief Administration we here
should not be the sufferers by their gain. 1t il
difficult to come to the conclusion of paying any
contribution TO St. Thomas but we need not
now give n fat refusal, and if we had a joint
Colonial Council now as in 1868 an understand
ing could be arrived at easier. But there is
yet another way, that of asking the Statetreasu-
~ to defray the expenses for the Governor.
The idea that the Rigsdags-C Committee
in 1870 declined every thing and that there is
no hope of assistance from that quarter, is not
quite warranted; the Committee declined to
entertain the proposal then because the money
was for purposes they could not recommend,
but they were ready to give assistance for
other purposes the colony might need. And it
appears that the Home-G Government ought
naturally to be DESTROYS of bearing a portion of
the expenses for the State Representative here.
while the colony pays him for his duties as
Chief Authority. This way would however
take time, and he would not like to see the
matter in the Draft postponed, it ought to be
settled now. If we arrive at an understanding
now, so much the better; but if not, it would
be most natural to let it remain as it is now,
until the Colonial Law comes under discussion
the Rigsdag will then be the arbitrator, and We
need not give up hopes that the arbitrator
himself will come to the conclusion to defray q
portion of the expenses. The question of a
Superior Authority here ought to be settled on
its own merits, Independent of its connection
with the financial point. He then explained
the several amendments proposed in the Com
mittee's Report. The Vlcego0ernor said he
had been instructed by Governor Bile, who
was prevented from being present personally,
to state that he was ready to meet the other
wishes of the Committee, but he could not give
up the clause of the minority that the salary of
the Governor be $4,000 and table money $1,000.
The proposal in the Draft is based on what had
actually been the case for many years in st.
Thomas, but a reduction made in the tabls