, 1874-10-14

~A~~A &tAOu ia
are under preparation by the Government, and
will without loss of time, 10 fact very shortly,
be submitted to the Council. How far the
changes will be great, or whether our circum-
stances permit of extensive changes, is another
questlon.-That there are serious defects in
the system of taxation, everybody who knows
anything at all about the matter will admit.
Whether the changes to be made will satisfy
the parties, can only be seen when the matter
comes on. He for his part, and others with
him, did not think there is any extensive field
for reducing the administrator expenses,
which have already been considerably reduced,
as can be noticed by comparing the Budgets
of former days with those OF late nor did he
think the taxes could be reduced, but simply
remodeIled according to what justice and
equity demands.
1st Member for Frederiksted (Surauw) said
this declaration from His Excellency is so far
satisfactory, but be should have liked tbs il
had been a little more explicit because SO
often promises have been given in the same
direction, and although His Excellency now
goes further, for he says the Drafts are being
prepared, still he thinks the Council would
like to hear if those Drafts will be submitted
before the next Budget comes 90.
The President said he could not anticipate
the action of the Government, but as far as the
Presidency is concerned, the matter had pass
ed out of its hands but he did not think
that longer time would clapso before tho Drafts
are submitted than that mentioned by the
honorable Member.
End Member for Frederikstel Country
District (LatimpJ said he agreed with the lst
Member for Frcderiksted TSarauw that the
Council would have been rather bett, y pleased
to hear something more explicit from the Gov
ernment on this most important point. His
ExceIIency says, we eau expect a rcvl-
sion or " remodellinQ" uf the taxation he,
the Speaker, should have hailed with
pleasure a reduction of taxation, instead OF
merely change, whereby is meant simply to
take from one head and add to another Next,
His Excellency says we may not expect impOr-
tant changes in the branches of the Administra-
ton We must not buoy ourselves up with the
hopes Of seeing any Of The changes or reductions
advocated by Committee Reports year after
year Of late; the Council must Danish from its
mind the e2peCta ion Of ever seeing any Of those
reforms recommended by Governor Birch'J
Commission in 1867 taken as the standpoint Of
the Government. But the Speaker think it his
duty to state to-day, that if the Government
does not lake the Report Of that Commission
and the proposals Of several Committees as tho
basis Of its proposals to the Council, there will
be great disappointment in the Council and
among he Inhabitants.
LIST Member for Frederiksteds Country Dis
trict (Femiug) enqaired if it would be necessa-
ny to take the vote Of the Council after the Do
c~laration from His Excellency.
The Chairman replied that as the matter
stands now before the Council a vote would bg
taken.
LIST Member for Fredoriksted (Sarauwj OBJ
served that he had already stated that for him
self His ExceIlency's answer was quite salts
factory, especially after the last explanation
but he must Of course leave TO the Council if it
will vote on the proposal and adopt it. His
Excellency had very rightly observed that def
mite action in the matter alluded to does not de-
pend on him, as it is the Chief Government who
has to decide in it, and to whom the memorial
will be addressed.
The President said he would not wish to in
Auence the vote Of the Council, but he would
beg to offer what would have suggested itself
to his mind, if he had been q Member of the
Council. He had stated that he expected that
before the term mentioned by the honorable
1st Member for Frederiksted (Sarauw) Drafts
would be brought forward in the desired direo-
ton if now, in the face of that, the Council
were to pass q vote to remind the Government,
would it not be having a somewhat uuoourteous
appearance to the Government? This remark
he did not make in his official capacity, but it