, 1876-09-13

port and Import Duty, the Ground and Build
Ing Taxes, Stamp Dues were some of it's prin.
Clpai Items OF revenue on the other hand
it betrayed the expenses Of the Administration.
for The Governor and Government Offices, the
Judiciary, the Military, the Customs Depart
ment, and altogether all the branches strictly
belonging under the general interests OF the
finances Of the Realm. The other revenues and
expenditures were received or betrayed by the
Landtr easury. The 63rd 5 of the present Colo.
Dial Law abolished this state of things the two
Treasures were united into one. The sans
arrangement was made also In st. Thomas.
The Revenues and Expenditure are now under
one Treasury, for each community separately
and the former relation between the Statetrea.
sury aud the Islands we're so altered, that each
Island took upon itself to defray Its own expen.
ses, not only those formerly betrayed by the
Statetreasury, but also those by the Landtrea-
sury but then remained the financial position
of TIE Islands in relation to the Mother Couu.
try this was regu'a cd by the Seth { OF the
Law, where 1t is provided thatlhe community Of
IS. Thomas should for 10 years pay contribu-
ton Of 328 900 towards those expenses, while
ST. OrOix was exempted from paying any. cod"
tribution for the same term after which 1t wac
to be fixed by law how HE matter Is TO be In
future. BY Law Of 2Iss December 1874, when
the ten years were approaching their term,
the change introduced in the meanwhile in st.
Thomas, where ihe contribution had been re-
mitted for some years, was confirmed, and an
amount corresponding TO tbs expenses in Dem
mark for the administration of Lhe Island, was
fixed as the contribution for both Islands. Is
was, namely. considered unfair, shat besides pay
ing no part of the general expenses OF the State.
the islands should also be free of paying the On.
oials required for the Colonial Administration Ia
Denmark, the colonies themselves having orIgi.
nally declared their readiness and ability TO de.
fray all tbs expenses for tbe discharge of their
own business. Vhal contribution was by the
said law fixed for 2 years, which are now az ain
near their expiration and it has been decided
thst the same arrangement be renewed for
2 years more this is then the obi o. of the
present Law-Dtaft.
The CAairsan would recommend the Coun.
Gil not 80 oppose the present Draft.
Honorable Members were aware, from former
discussions, especially from the Report on tho
Draft of. the revised Colonial Law, that be
did not admit the correctness OF the principle
that the Colonies should pay any contribution
to the General State Expenses. But be did
not believe either that by this Draft the Prin.
ciple was established or acknowledged, as the
contribution was merely to be fixed for q .erm
OF Two years ana 10 an amount which barely
covered the Administration Expenses tor the
Colonies in The Mother Country. 1hs question
Of Principle should be settled under the Ooloai.
NAL Law. the Draft Of which was still pending
in the Council and, he hoped, would again be
furthered. He would therefore recommend the
Council on these grounds to give its Report Ia
favour of the Draft,
3rd Member for Christiansted (HaxsoMl
proposed that q Committee Of 2 Members b.
appointed TO frame the Report on The Draft.
The Chairman could not see the necessity of
a Committee, If the Council would not enter on
the question of principle. Agreeably 10 the Rules
OF Business the Secretary would, when there lie
no Committee appointed, have to draw up the
Report for adoption by the Council.
Ist Member for Christiansted {L.enwinQj
seconded the Chalrman's views, adding that In
81. Thomas, where the Law Draft has been
to LIST discussion in the Council. no Committee
was appointed.
The proposal for Committee was rejected
with IL votes against /, and the draft passed
to and Discussion.
2. Discussion on the Report from the Com
mittee to revise St. Oroix Communal Accounts
or 1894.
The Report reads Gs follows
COMMITTEE REPORT,
Til, u1dsrsig 19d Con- ni,fss WAS appointed
by the Council in its meeting of 18th Novem.
bor last year to make the general revision of