, 1873-08-28

SaIdIIGS GlFCu lIO Al0uJtIlutU OOF6luUIb vi
the British Islands in proof of the justice
Of our giving similar amounts. But even
if His Excellency had proved the similarity
of resources, of population and the like be-
TWEEN the two parties, that could only and
solely be an argument in regard to the al
lowance Of salary. But it is worthy Of
note, that not one of those colonies he al
luded to, pays the salary to their Chief
Authorities, not even the rich Island Of
Barbados pays such salary, but the Brit
ish CroWn,-which makes q vast differ
ence, If the Danish Realm will pay the
President and will give him table money
(but l doubt very much if the Diet would
be willing to give iO-then the comparison
would suit now it is One-fo0ted. More
over, the acting VicegoyernOr showed no
instance where table money is allowed in
those Islands, although we all know that
entertainments of quite a different nature
to those here, are frequently given in those
places and although the Goyernor in Chief
often visits the Lieutenant-G Governors.
The acting Vicegovernof pointed to the
saving that would at once be obtained by
the Draft if it be passed now, as it would
be temporarily sanctioned whereas other
wise the old rates of salaries will remain.
l am, Sir, at a loss to find where the
warrant of such provisional sanction would
or could be afforded by the Colonial Law
that the acting Governor is deputy Vice
governor aud President too, wo4,d not be
sufficient warrant. The post as Vicegov-
ern0r and President is as yet legally va
cant the salary and table money need
ed not to have been the same as in St. Tho.
mas, because the deputy officer had
had it there if rightly managed a grant
would in due time have been obtained.
The Administration itself has, in fixing
and ~defraying the salary ard table money
with an arbitrary sum, given proof that
there existed no letters in that respect
The acting VicegoVernor denied the Coun-
CLIPS competency to touch on the Presi-
dents use Ofthe GoYernmenthouse, as such
use is based on other rules. But those
rules, be they ever so binding and fixed Z y
can not be otherwise than that the ordina-
ry Legislative Power can alter them. Aud
the moment the Office is vacant, (and in
my mind it is not only vacant, but it is
now for the first time to be estabIished),
any rule for emoluments or other alloWQu-
ces to the Office can be altered illegally and
cleyerly", In this very Ordinance then. a
clause could have been inserted limiting
or diVestjng The future President Of St,
Croix q in the use Of observation-disclosures,
the property of this Community.
With Mr.. Clindinen's statements [ cannot
in all respect agree l do not intend for one
moment to deny the truth Of the discrip-
ton he gives Of the present state Of this
island, which, in fact, it would be useless
to deny, as they are borne out by facts, and
not all the ~vitality-hidden it must be
of which the acting Vicegovernor spoke,
can avail as long as that is the case. But
Mr.. Ciindinen's argument proves some
thing else than what he meant to prove.
The state Of things he describes could in.
q great measure be remedied by providing
or opening some other means of occupa-
ton than those at present existing
insufficient and unrenumerative. But
at the same time, / do not 90 in for
Mr.. Rosenstand's views in this respect
since if 81 900 be saved in the objectiona-
BILE table money-and that saving would
be followed by others-the public expenses
would be less, the taxes could be reduced,
and the rents together with other
expenses for the poorer part of the popula-
ton thereby reduced. To give table mo-
ney for the purpose of putting money in
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