, 1872-08-21

existing rules for It's application has been effect
ed by the Ordinances Of 18th March a. C. con-
corning the Organisation of the Military Forces
and the Law OF the same date concerning certain
alterations ct the enactmeuts Of : SIS Of the Co
lonial Law. Under the said Ordinances the
military expenses are, principally, regarded as
special expenditures, with exception of certain
salaries. IT. wit: Tae Bandmaster's pay, extra
pay to the Dapot-Oficer, to the Governors Aid
de-camp and military Secretary to the Gun
smith, the Depot Sergeant and the Clerk of the
Forae) Of which amounts, according to the last
mentioned Law one. hall shall heuceforward be
betrayed by each Colonial Treasury while peu-
sions to privates and Observation-Disclosures
shall in future be betrayed jointly and proper
tionate to the pensioners term of service in each
island. BY this latter enactment the same rule
which, in accordance with the pension-law Of It'll
December 1868 ) 2 applies to the pensions ofOf-
ticers and military Officials, will be carried cut
With regard to the pensions Of the subordinate
military. With regard to the proportion OF dis.
tribution between the two Colonial Treasures
Of the pensions f6rme7y-prior to 25th May 1872
granted to Officers and military Officials and
to military Of the subordinate class, the now ex-
isting rules will remain in force, in such a man
ncr that these said pensions shall as hitherto be
distributed according TO the separate proportion
al rules fixed in the concluding sentence Of Co.
lonial Law s So.
The Joint expenditure enacted by Colonial
Law 50 to wit: The augment Of an amount Of
1860 Rd. RM. to the Superior Authority and
the Colonial Revision in the Nothor-Country,
has been omitted in consequence Of Law dated
% March 1871, by which the said expenditure
is made incumbent on the finances of the Mo-
ther-Country. The enactment found in the
Conclusion Of tue concerning a contribution
of 8 1000 p a from the Colonial Treasury of St,
Thomas to the Colonial Treasury of St, Croix
towards the common Local Superior Administra-
ton as long as St. Croix is the seat Of Govern
ment, is omitted in consequence Of Royal Reso-
luton Of 9 tn MarcL 1872 by which the seat of
Government from the Ist April 1872 is definite
ly removed to ST. Thomas. With regard to
the question whether the Colonial Treasury OF
St. CroiX shall in future pay any contribution
towards the expense for the common Superior
Authority Government has thought, that this
matter should, for the time being, rest undeci-
ded until The discussions on the Draft of Ordi-
nance concerning the relations of salaries Of the
Superior Authorities, now before both Colonial
Councils. will be brought to en- issue.
a6 S SO
During the discussions to which the question
of a contribution to Tue General State-expenses,
by the passing of the Colonial Law, and on va
gi3us later occasions has been subjected, it
has seldom, if ever, been contested that the
principle, upon which the payment of such a
contribution is founded, is legitimate, but it has,
Gu the other hand, been the prevalent opinion
that the contribution o. 5 . 5000, incumbent
upon ST. Thomas for a term of 10 yerrs, was toe
high, the annual Budget Of the municipality be-
ing thereby burdened to the extent of excluding
many measures,- especially the erection of
public buildings- that were urgently necessary
for the welfare Of tie community. Awaiting the
period fixed 10 the Colonial Law for revising the
enactment in question, the Home Government
has hitherto eyinced readiness to comply with
public opinion on this point in SO far that it in 3
years out of the past S financial years 1863
10, has, with the prompt consent of the Diet,
entirely rolinquished the contribution, which
hence has In fact been paid with an average of
only 1850 Pc. AZ, however, d general revi-
sion of the Colonial Law now offers a suitable
opportunity for considering the amount Of the
contribution, the Administration has gladly
a7ailed itself hereof in order to obtain the Mi
nistry's sanction for proposing a considerable
reduction of the contribution, and to fix a new
and ehorter period on the expiration of which a
new revision shall take place. Government is
Of opinion, that an unbiased and thorough in
quiry in the financial state of the municipality,
must result in the admission that the alteration
of Sc, as effected 10 the present draft, re-
moves the cause of complaint which has been