, 1874-12-26
To the Editor of the " st CrOix Avis"
Cir

treating on a subject which concerns US oil
as tax payers very much. And | may as
we'll tell you at once that | am not one Of
those who believe "a Council is but a mock
cry and a farce, - but l am getting more
and more confirmed in q belief which is
shared by not SO few, that this present Coun-
Gil is somewhat |farcical in its ways, and
may be made a splendid cloak for the Gov
eminent, if it wishes to do nothing.
For years past, our voices, in and out Of
Council, IN town and in the country, have
been heard IN The most vociferous manner,
yelling f0r-What2 Retrenchment, Reduc-
ton. Every political conversation turns
upon that darling wOrd--Retrenchment. In
q word, it has been a regular "warwhoop"
all over the island, especially among plan
ters, who, by the way, ought to do every
possible thing in their power to effect savings
in the public expenses Of the island, as
they are the only ones who directly benefit by
it, getting bureau advances from the savings,
if any, and reduction of export duty before
that Of any other tax, if we understand cor
rect!y.
The moment a stranger arrives in the
island, and happens to enquire into our
political affairs, be is readily told of our
financial embarrassments, caused by a too
expensive administration, in proportion to
our present agricultural and industrial rcla-
items, and the need Of reduction in every
branch of it. This being the case, is it
not strange that the Council loses every
opportunity offered it for effeoting reductions =?
10 mention . comparatively unimportant
reduction, the adjustment of that never-to-
be-tOrgOtten table money, which was lost
through the strange gymnastics of some
members. Again we are now furnished,
through the energetic e~XertiOns Of Governor
Garde. a plan for rem0deling and simplifying
the military department., by concentrating
all the scraps in the capital-without re.
moving them from the island--Which was
the f%aVOurlte plan a couple years ago--and
thereby effect a saving of some $4,000 per
annum, besides making that body more eff
cient in case of need. What is the result
Nearly every voice in the Council is raised
against it. Some country member, if | re-
member we'll, would rather see a little moro
paid to retain them as they are, than have
any alterations Then, what is the continual
jabbering for The Governors bill was as
clear as daylight, and showed up in figures
the savings already mentioned. In what
other department then can so great yeduc-
tons be made 1t certainly cannot be in
the salaries OF officials, for it was plainly said by
the same side, i'll am not mistaken, hat that
would not be advisable. Nor can it be done
with the pensions, for they are only another
form Of salary. Then, if all this be 50 what is
all the talk about reduction fora That must
evidently now be given up. But what other
pet topic can the stern retrencher get hold Of
for discussion at evening gatherings, "on
change" and last-I hope not least, in the
Council ? Have these good people fully real
lied the fact that their darling topic is about to
be lost to them for ever Yes indeed Gov
ernor Garde is about making an exchange with
them, by taking over their darling retrenchment
scheme and giving them instead a "mouth
piece" which [ hope will be properly put Oh,
and thereby save US hereafter flom the in-
Fiction Of the continual prating about re-
trenchments which can only be "pickings "
ofno consequence.
There has always been much fault found land
| believe justly too) with our late Governors
consecutively, Birch and Billie, and the littlethey
did for the island. Well, Can it now be honest
ly said that Governor Garde has not tried his
best, both by getting up our only industry and
reducing our heaviest expense, but what help
has he found in the Council or out of it2
[ cannot help making a few remarks before
concluding upon the discussions Of the military
bill. One member remarked that it was not
the active service of the military which was
so much required at Kingshill Station as the
moral influence which their presence exercised