, 1875-07-24

never been whitewashed ; it is certainly advisa-
BILE that they should be and that fine washing
be frequently repeated.-The Committee for
Frederiksted has repeated the previous recon-
rnendation that officials having public buildings
In charge be authorized within certain limits
to have necessary repairs done at once when
necessary and he thought such a measure was
much required the floor of the Brokers' aud
POstmaster's Office in Christiansted is, to give
an instance, in such a state that the Official
cannot continue writing when any one walks
across the room, which cannot be remedied as
long as no grant on the yearly Bill has been
SLOWED, whereas it could after all not take
mach to have it rectiied.-Ths Voting List will
shew that the proposals Of the Committee will,
II adopted, cause a reduction of $344.8O in the
amount proposed for building repairs.
The Presidsnt: With references to the reduc-
ton of 1914 so of which the honorable Mem
Der spoke, it will be remembered that that sum
includes a reduction of $500 10 the amount for
covering casual deficiencies and defraying ,ua-
foreseen expenses. This item Of the Estimate
IS merely a Calculatory expense, aud no more
Will be spent Of it than Is really necessary. He
could on the whole not appreciate the plan
followed oflate to reduce this merely nominal
SUM and if in the course of the year the
sum that may now be granted should prove in-
sufficient to meet The absolute Requirements,
She Administration would either have to intro
duce an Additional Grant, which he thought
ought to be avoided if possible, or else to let
alone mourning expenditures which good econ
omy would require, if the interests in question
are to be preserved from injury. He did not,
however, consider it Of any use to raise ohiec-
tons to the proposal, but would repeat that he
could not consider this a good way Of dealing
with this question.-With reference to tho point
OF allowing Officials to use certain sums on the
repairs 'f Aablc buildings, the reason why, as
stated by him during the discussions last year,
1t had been found necessary to limit this disore-
tonary power, Was because 1t was found moro ex-
penslVe than the system introduced instead
thereof; it is bRtnatural and quite pr%liseworthy
that officials would seek TO have buildings
under them 10 as perfect a state a. possible, aud
Che natural consequence was that they were
less anxious to observe the greatest economy
possible, than would otherwise be the caSe.-A7
for the Lightning-Rod, the amount Of $50 put
down in the Presidency's amendment is merely a
maximum sum whatever the actual expenses
may prove less would be saved.
lstMsnber for Frederiksted (Sarauw) refer
red TO the report as far as regards The Buildings
IN Frederiksted. In connection with the ptopo-
sal about the Hospital, tho Committee repeats
the recommendation of former Committees that
Officials having public buildings in chlrge should
be al.owcd-within certain Iimits-to have the
necessary repairs doao at once when required,
without waiting for estimates from Building ln-
spect, rs or Committees Last year the President
gave a statement of the reasons that had i'd
20 a change in the former system, when Off
cials had such authority, and he had stated shat
the Bystem was found Inconsistent With public
Interest; this would settle the matter, but tha
could not entirely agree with the
views expressed, and it had therefore brought
III the matter again for reconsideration In
former times the greater number of public
buildings was under the administration of the
Burgher Council and only a small number un-
der the State Treasury aud therefore under the
Government directly. Now, it is not always
said that the Governor is a pratical man pos
sessing knowledge Of building works, therefore
IL might for so far have been right that the
former system in reference to Statetreasury
buildings might not have served public interests;
but 1t was not SO in regard to the buildings
under the administration of the Burgher Coun-
oil, for instance the Hospitals, the Prisons
and ScGoolhouses. The reason why these
buildings were chea per administered under the
Burgher Council was because there was in the
Council men who understood building works.
Now all buildings are under the control Of the
Colonial Council, and, be was sorry to say it,
the Council is very little allowed to deal with
administrative affairs, although the meaning
was that IL ahnuld ho r. r;rbt not IN coma to