, 1876-12-20

- UANa WV - rs ~ ~ RANESSO0
Building Works he would not dwell, but
refer to the Report. He would only, 10 refer
ence TO what the Vice Governor very recently
had gtAted,-hat a heavy expense could be ex-
psoted for repairs 10 the Courthouse, for
shiloh the Inspector WAS already then about 20
make an estimate, beg to observe that the Mill
taFy Depot might, perhaps, be used as Court
House, withouthowever, intending to express any
opinion as TO whether the building was suitable
Tor that purpose, or not. There is Sill left the
old question whether the Military shall be used
as Tide Walters AID as drivers Of the Mall
Coaches, or whether 1t should be done by civil.
lana. In Frederiksted the matter will 90 far
as the C~ustomh0use service Ia concerned regu.
late itself after the R0rcs lie withdrawn. As
for Chrstiansted the COMMITTEES expresses the
hope that it may continue as hitherto. It haS
been put as O motive for having civilians TO do
Aha york az the Cust0mholse, that when only
one comptroller is appointed, It would beneoes'
sarv to have such Tldo.W~ aitoTs. But We have
2 Gomptrollers, and when, Ia the case Of 8
change, one Of them 10 to b. pensIO9ed, Ghis
you'd Of course Increase the expense and the
new Arrangement would then after ell not be
cheap. There Is no proposal that could 10 this
respect besshs subject Of q vote, the Govern.
ment. would not likely, just as little as any
previous Government. BIO willing to bind itself
10 have a certain number Of men ever at the
disposal OF the CustOmhouse, and whatever.
might be the opinion entertained on this point,
u should not have AM Influence on the voss
In tba main subj ct, on the Draft itself.
Whether the Govs.nor will allow tho military
90 act as Tide Wait 10 a year more, or rot, wa
should ell vote fox giving him authorization
TO reduce the military force sbe Council should
not be willing 10 take!he responsibility for not
getting Che proposed reduction AID With II tbs
intended saving 10 the public expendI9ure.-
Us would, then, recommend tina amendments
10 the honorable Members and lastly but not
least 10 The kind consideration OF tho Govern
ment; the Committee has been careful to avoid
such points on which IL thought an agreement
could not fsaily be arrived at.
Tha Governor, Il was now , years sinss
he had introduced this Draf Ia the Council
be had then anticipated shat the financial POSI-
sion Of the Island would become bad, although
he had still hoped that it would not be so bad
a. II had since shgwn itself. II had moreover
coDsidered It duty to lay this Draft before the
Council, "a be had felt convinced that the
aupp0rt which We needed and which has since
been proved could noi have been dispensed
With, would Ia a great measure BIZ dependent
on the fact u our giving evidence ofboing able
20 regulate our public expenses as economically
as possible. lie would further beg to call at.
Gontl0n 10 The fact, that during the del.hers-
lions concerning Che support which the colony
has received from The State,reasury, 1t has basn
considered &c a matter Of course, that the re-
duotlon Of tbs military expenditure Of this
Island should be carried out, and under that
condition The support Las been given. Honoura-.
Bile Members would also remember that whan
introducing this Draft, be had expressed tha
vlsw that the Military Department WAS the
only item where he saw any possibility OF oar
Eying into effect savings u any consideration
Ia the public expenditures be bad then dWolt
on the several branches Of the Administration
and bad tried to proyo that L was not possible.
even ifsmall changes here and there could be
t8eotsd, to obtain any great EssulG from an
economical point Of view, except under the
Military. AZ the same time be had pointed out
that be did nos entertain any wish 10 see the
Military force reduced, especially not 90 shortly
after the Military Ordinance Of 1872 had been
ibsued, but he considered his proposal 8 ahser
necessity, In order IS be prepared to meet what
might arrive, and the proposal had therefore
been Worled In such a manner as TO give only
ths authority TO effect the reduction in case cir
oumstances should call for i'll il the means Of
che Island allowed Of the larger force beisg
kept, be would not carry out the reduction.
At the same time be had also stated thaG
changes ought not to be made in a manner that
could wesksn any part Of she administration,
which has hitherto worked satisfactorily, and to
which the order and tranquility hitherto exist-
Ing 10 the Island must chiefly bs ssoribed.
XWhIa RhaM nAH~aafn4 : aAAa Atiow e A. 1AfffkA-