, 1873-12-10

rum, they could then buy for $50 a
puncheon. Besides, we were in those
times favoured with good crops, with
visits from American merchants ships,
and frequently from Men of War. Now
q day the former come "Iike angels visits
few and far between and the latter have
ceased to come at all.
In this an fully supported by the hon-
orabIe 3rd member for Christiansted
(Hanson) and 2nd member for Frederik-
sted (Faber) who very Justly remarked
"that the business does not pay as well now
Gas formerly, and if the tax on the license
"could not be removed, it ought certainly
''to be reduced"
On the contrary, however the honorable
end member for Christiansted's Country
District (Latimer) while candidIy acknow-
lodging his ignorance of "the working and
profits Of these Shops" asks "why is the
number increasing if the business were not
profitable ? and to strengthen his argu-
ment refers to a person who had lately
given up ali other business for that of Rum
shop keeping, and again to the increase of
shops in West End.
With all due Difference to the honorable
member, | would on the first point beg to
say, that the very increase of these shops,
which is entirely controlled by the Gov
eminent, and which is altogether against
the interests Of those already existing, is
one of the chief causes why the business
cannot pay this is evident from the sim
pie rule ofthree calculation, that if n GER
tain given number gives a certain dividend
with 4, the dividend will unquestionablY
be less with 5 or 6 or in more suitable
terms If he he'd a valuable horse and drove
him daily in a heavy Wagon, and at night
allowed his food to be eaten from him by
his neighbors, would he expect that horse
to last as long, or thrive as well, as if he
had been moderately driven in a light
pheaton and protected from the intrusion
Of his %neighbors horse ? Or, when forage
is scarce. Will the food that barely serves
to keep 4 horses alive, be enough to keep
5 in good working conditions
On the second point Chat Of a person
giving up all other business for that Of tile
rum) [ would beg to be allowed to correct
the honorable member, as he is quite mis-
taken. 1t is we'll known, that OF two evils
we generally chose the lesser, and SO it
was in this case, the person alluded to, did
not give up all his other business, but all
his other business gave linn up-lrom the
fact that be was virtually a bankrupt, and
could no longer continue it. Whether
his fortunes Will be recruited by the rum
business or not, is a matter of great doubt
under existing circumstances. Again [
would draw the honorable members atten-
ton to the opposite side of the question,
i. e.. the decrease of shops. Within the
last s years about, there have been in the
town Of Frederiksted alone 4 Rum licenses
voluntarily thrown up, and the holders
thereof resorted to some other business.
How will the honorable member account
for this? Is it because it paid SO we'll, that
they were tired of making money ? Or is
it that they found the balance on the
wrong side Of the Profit aud Loss account
Were it not that the honorable mem
Der had acknowledged his ignorance of
what he was arguing about, I would
have been tempted to call his remarks
nonsense, but as it is, | give him credit
for great candor, and am willing, at any