, 1876-08-30

sident and the Committee has arisen, the Com
mittee would, after The remarks from the honour
able Chairman, agree to withdraw its amend
ment, on condition that the Administration do
not allow the expense TO exceed the 5000 to be
voted.
The President could not accept the grant on
that condition ho could not bind himself not
to exceed the amount If circumstances should
occur to render it necessary. The $500 have
often been exceeded hitherto, and there may
he casual repairs that can not be delayed, or
works that eau not be deferred to allow public
buildings to fall to ruin or public wants to
renal unsatisfed because OF this limit, he
coud not consider warranted at the same
time, the Presidency Will do all in its power
to keep within the $500 when possible.
The Speaker was obliged, in the face of that
declaration. to stick to the amendment for 5000
instead of.S500 for. under His Excellency's
view, there might be spent 81 900 if the
Council grants $500. II we vote the smaller sum
now, the Administrator could later come in with
Additional Grants, if moro money should be
wanted.
1st Member for Christiansted Country Dis
triot (Coulter) The Government had to-day
given a statement of some of the items defray.
ed under the head of unforeseen repairs, and
the Chairman had also alluded to the impro-
liability of foreseen works being reckoned
under that head. There was however, for
instance, that item for spouts at the hospital;
it was not likely that the Inspector could not
when making the yearly estimate have seen
that spouts were wanted,-nor was it likely that
the defect arose all of a sudden? If there
were not signs Of decay noticed before, the
spouts could no doubt have lasted the year
through, and if on the other hand they were
So bad, the repairs should have been on The
yearly estimate, and such an item not stuck
in under unforeseen works.
The President Under the supposition allud.
ed to by the Speaker of the Committee, it
would be necessary 10 call a meeting Of The
Council very often. But besides that, there
is something to which be did MOI Ike to allude,
but to which eventually there could be re.
course, namely the enactment in the 62nd S Of
the Colonial Law containing rules TO be observ-
ed, when the Council refuses to grant what is
requisite for the discharge Of the administra-
ton.
(Tbo G2 s was read as fellows: Should
any Of the Colonial Councils refuse to
vote an expense. which in consideration of
its duty towards the State or towards the
municipality it ought to have granted for the
proper discharge Of the administrator ao.
cording to existing Laws, Ordinances and
other BuIes, the Governor may protest against
such q resolution, and if The Colonial Council
does not then alter its resolution, the Cover
nor may through the Minister lay the matter
before the King. Until q decision be given
by Royal Resolution, the customary rules or
the provisions in the preceding budget are to
be ohseryod.') He could not see why honorable
Members should wish to carry things
to that extreme, that whenever an expense
not on the Money Bill is requisite, the Council
shall be called to meet, or else the work be
deferred and possibly tbs best interests sacri.
feed. 1t appears a very unwise plan to give
up the $500 merely because he would not and
could not answer for casualties.
The Chairman thought, that the difference
between the Government and the Committee
was now reduced TO a simple miSunderstand-
ing, owing to His Excellency being overcon.
scientious, When $500 are granted, the Ad.
ministration is bound to that, as the meaning
with granting q certain amount can be no other
than that the amount should not be ex-
ceedpd if however extraordinary cases, such as
hurricanes, should occur, The buildings cannot of
course be allowed to remain untenantable,
but the injuries must be repaired any excess
Of the amount arising from such causes will
not be refused by additional grants, but the
expenditures are of course on His Excellency's
responSibility.-W His Excellency further
spoke of the application of the 62nd of the
Colonial Law. he, the Chairman, must in