, 1872-11-23

opinion quite Super1uOuS to nave q local
Chief Authority in st. CrOix nay, it is
even detrimental, in so far as the Govern
or, who must be the real Head and who
must bear the responsibility, may easily be
induced to leave the administration o. the
one island entirely to his subordinate, the
Vicegoyernor, and he only occupy himself
with the affairs of St Thomas exclusively,
where he will be permanently residing.
This was the result Of the existing state OF
things during Governor BiIle's administra-
ton he was but seldom seen in st. Croix,
he received all his impressions through the
VicegOVernOr, and his views were conse-
qucntly the ruling ones. In this manner
the one island will become estranged to-
wards the Governor, and that reciprocal
relation so important for the successful
working of tie governor, cannot exist,
But this is not the only point on which it
would appear that rctrenchments can be
made. If we proceed in the Office Alma
mack, We find that the islands have an
Upper Court with its Upper Judge, with
5 Upper Court Lawyers and 4 Lawyers at
the Lower Court. lii each OF the islands
there is an ofiice-pers0ne!, almost as nu-
merous as that Of ANY of the ministries.
In St. Croix there are 3 PoIicemasters, in
st. Thomas one, and in st. Johns a Giant
foged". In each Of the islands there is,
besides, a Judge Of the Common Court.
Each island has its Landphysiciau ; St.
CroiX has 2, ST. Thomas / Lutheran Clergy
man. Each island has it's Building H.
spector; in The Customs Department there
are 2 Inspectors, an Iuteniant with Assist
amt and 4 Controllers. There are 3 Post
masters and | Dispatcher. To this comes
the Hart our-persOuel, the Military, Brand
corps etc. 1t is undeniablc that so long a
list of officials does not appear to be pro-
portionate to the size of the islands aud he
number Of inhabitants. 1t does not come
within our province to propose definite re-
auctions; we shall only beg to mention
that in the islands themselves it is not con-
sidered necessary to have 9 Policemasters,
but it is believed that the functions can be
executed by one man possessing the necos-
sary ability and energy. Whether it be
possible, also on other points to cut away
from the enormous official apparatus, we can
not express an opinion but it seems to be
probable, AMI here a problem is set before
the new Governor, the solution of which is
difficult, but which in return, if success
fully solved, will greatly contribute to-
wards securing him the attachment OF the
inh lbitants.
This problem is, as a matter of course,
far from being the only one or the most
important one presenting itself; but ii
Governor Garde can only establish the con-
viction that he will honestly endeayour to
effect retrenchmcnts wherever WarrantabIe
and not detrimental to the good conduct OF
Government, it will be so much easier for
him to carry out the other reforms that
are also on the order of the day. We have
already mentioned the most important Of
these, and we shall furthermore add the re-
adjustment of the oor-Establishment Re
form in the rison-Department, which lat
ter has proved very defective on several
occasions during the last year, the remoi~
cling of taxation and the extension OF
several of the laws of the MothercOuntry.
There is plenty to do for an active man,
as the present Governor undoubtedly IS,
and if he, during the last tWelvemonth, has
followed the course of things and matters
out there, he will know which those
shoals are on which his endeavours are eX-
posed to get wrecked. He will have learnt
that he must first and foremost see and