, 1875-03-03

GHRGST8ANSTED, ST. CROCK.
Wednesday 3rd March 1875.

'OO'AON NA"o ClAlDC W 'lClA4OOSS
Hanson, Jolliffe, Mac Evoy, Coulter,
Sarauw, Elliott, and J. Farrelly will &C
cording to the Colonial Law retire from
the Council on the 18th of April next.
The Chairman caused to be read a commu-
~nication from the Presidency according
to which the Diet had passed, and His
Majesty sanctioned, a law by which the
Colonial Treasures are required to con-
tribute towards the State Expenses to
an amount OF $3.50 yearly, each treasury
the half. In the Ministry's draft it was
proposed that both Municipalities should,
for the term of two years, be exempted
from paying contribution, but the Commit
tie OF the Diet had proposed hat they
should be assessed to an amount equal to
the cost of the Colonial Administration at
home, it being argued that although the
State Treasury could not expect to have
any pecuniary advantages from the colo
MES, yet the State Treasury should not be
burthened with an expense for the Ad,
ministration. The Chairman spoke against
the principle involved in this argument,
and pointed out that all European States
possessing colonies had to bear expenses
for these.
The first item on the order of the day
was the first discussion of draft of addi-
tional grant for 1874 Is under the Poor
Department. After q few explanatory
remarks from the President, and some
observations from Faber and Sarauw, the
draft passed to second discussion.
Number two was discussion on a letter
from the Presidency asking the Councils
consent to certain privileges and facilities
to the Central American Telegraph Com
pany, viz. The use of a piece of public
land to the East of the Point Battery''
for q te~Iegraph-hut, permission to plant
telegraph posts and establish land lines
from the hut to town, free use of a build
ing in the barrack yard for telegraph pur-
poses, exemption from taxes on the income
or business of the telegraph establishment,
and exemption from import duty on teIe-
graph appearances on their first importa-
ton into the isIand;-all these privileges
being warranted by the concession granted
to MessIs. Tietgen and Erickson on the 2Ist
of December last, and by them conveyed
to the said company.
Before entering on the discussions on
this matter, the Council resolved to charge
its Chairman with the dispatch of the fol-
lowing telegram to His Excellency Gov
cgnor Garde
The Colonial Council Of ST. Croix in en-
tcring on the discussion OF the Govern
ment's proposal concerning privileges for
the Telegraph Company is under the full
impression Of the great importance to this
island Of being placed in this communica-
ton with St. Thomas and thereby with
the whole world We beg to send to your
ExceIlency our greetings, and beg you to
accept the expression OF the pleasure we
feel on this occasion.
The Chairman, while he was by no
means disposed to lay any objection in the
way of the facilities proposed, still found
it inconsistent with former practice and
with the precise provision of the conces-
sion to grant exemption from future taxes
and import duty by a mere resolution OF
the Council instead of an ordinance.
Sarauw expressed the same opinion and
called attention to the possibility OF the
enactment in the concession about free use
of land for establishing lines being mlsun-
derstood as if it were meant that the Gov
eminent should secure the use not only OF
public but private property.
The President stated that the consent OF
the only private landowner In question
I H. Avn m nnfJJ