, 1877-12-26

existing difficulty of obtaining purchasers for
thoss small properties AS, moreover. the
amount OF the taxes was IN itself very trihing,
and as the preferable right held for public
taxes would be secured since all the prescribed
legal proceedings had been observed. the
Administration fousd it necessary to give Its
consent to the delay with, the sale of the pro-
perties for the tax arrears in question. After
the destruction aud injury to property caused
by the hurricane, the purchase sums that could
be obtained for the remaining empty lots or
damaged buildings would in almost all cases
be insufficient to cover the arrears OF taxes.
The (PrGndent) introduced the bill. The
remarks accompanying it are 90 explicit. that
the honorable Members will be able to
Judge of the case without any additional re-
marks on his side. Some time ago the same
measrre was introduced but had been postponed
in consequence Of some remarks mads in the
Council iD connection with krederlksted be
had now, after the Draft had been framed
received an application from the Poor-Com"
mission for an amount for similar purposes
for Frederiksted, which amount will be en-
bodied 10 an amendment to this Money BILE
Why SO little, about $50, is required. for Ere
de riksted. is owing to the direction the storm
took, by which Christia nsted suffered severely
while the sowu Of Frederiksted escaped com.
parativeIy unhurt, The assistance is sought
in the shape Of az additional grant, ia keepi0g
with what vas observed on previous similar
GASES, according to instructions from the
Ministry. The remarks to the Money Bill
also explain the reason why tbs tax arrears
older than 1875 had not been enforced; the I'm
poveriAhed state of things In the Island
excluded the possibility of obtaining by pro-
oeeding rigidIy against the debtors; the only
result would have been to deprive q number
OF INDECENT persons of the only shelter 'hey
owned, without the public being able, perhaps
to find purchasers for the properties.
lst Member for Frederikstsds (SdrGWwl
should have wished to have seen the represent
tation from the Poor Commission as vouchers
laid on the Councils table together with the
lists from the sheriff. which however did not
10 their results agree with what's here propoS-
ed: therefore he thought the matter should
60 to a Commi tee.
As no member further requested the WoFds
the Chairman closed the discussion.
1st Member for Fred eriksted SGTG~"l pro"
posed a Committee of 5 Members
5>h Crownmember (JMs) dlssuaoed suou q
Committee, as 1t would simply bsa waste OF
time, as the preSen: proposal Is OaSoo o" q
close investigation Of what houses weFe u0m'
ag4d by the hurricane, and whlcn owners "ero
80 situated as to be utterly unable TO pay Cne
taxes: the list framAd by the Sheriff. was tnen
laid before the Poor Commission, consisting OF
7 members who went through tina whoie lSt
and examined all thu circumstances, aud or
s properties, which the Commission founG
ought not to be included 10 the grant, were
erased from the list. The matter has, tnen'
been 80 thoroughly sifted already, that q JON
mittee here in the Council could scarcely Dc OF
anv good. except the Members of 1t wore TO go
through the town and examine the 0uitolngS
themselves again, which would certainly Dc .
very labOrio1s task. "
lst Member for FrsderikStsd [SGrG"''l nag
NOT intended that the Committees WORK
should be to 90 through the town and examluS
the buildings; but to examine tne - 1S~
oompare them with the representat'on OF .ss
P,or Commission, and to seek further e'uc'ua-
tions. because hs believed there are SONS
mistakes in connection with the lists:
5th Crowumembsr (JHrs): Inc IoSu.'
would then be a new list from the OommiI'e~
besides tn ,se from tho Sheriff. anu .uos
would be no end of it. The Poor COMMISSION .
representation might be submitted o'ioFs S"o
discussion. ~ .ha
LIST Crownmembsr B, Gnchl knew ina: Tue
properties in question had beeu exam'uco
very m~inutely by the Shsrin 1aH us
Assistant, and previously 70 t"As -.
sslf appointed Committee, consisting o' .us
ministers OF the several religious ongtAgAano Ms