, 1877-10-27
P R OC E E DIT G s
Or f K
COUNCIL
FOR ST. G ROIX.
NN@HSAAs

The Members were present with exception
of 1st Member for Frederiksted's Country
District [Fleningl, who had reported his
ipability TO attend, and LIST Member for Chris
tiansted [Lemmingl.
The Chairman Notified that he had received
a communication from the Presidency dafeG
17lh September a C. according to which His
Mai, sly had on tie 9Th August appointed the
Clergyman Of the Episcopal Church in Chris.
tiansted, Rev. @. j, Branch, as LIST Crown
Member.
Rev. Branch was present and handed in his
patent Of Nomination., which was found IN or
der, after which be sjg1cd the oath and me
Chat man decared him entitled 10 q seat and
vote in the Council.
TIE first item on The Order Of Day, was 3ri
Discussion on tie Provisional Ordinance #
25th June 1876 c~ncerninR bureau tight IN
Estates Crops; but at the rrqu 81 of the
P. esidency VS. ii pos oned.
The Council accordingly proceeded 10 the
next ties on the Order Of Day viz:
9, Continuation Of 1st Discussion or the
Draft OF Budget for 1877 rs with Mon"y Bills
aprertaiuing taertto
(lst discussion p.~....)
The Committee had rendered its report as
fellows
COMMITTEE RFFORT
on the Draft of Budgtt for the Municipality IF
81. Croir fr the Financial Year I577~7s Wih
Money Bills apPefai@l"g M1eto.
As regards The length of time th't has tx-
pired before the Committee rem lers its re-
port, the Committee would beg to refer frsly
to the explanations given by the Coun'lls
Chairman in the meeting Of 3rd inst, end part
" also 10 the remarks made by The budget
Committee last year, to which must De added
this circumstance. that in those items where
the expenditure differs from last years exprn-
diture, the alterations and arrangemtn's-whlrh
90 the whole have led 10 savings III the ex'
penditure. had partly already been carried
into Ell ect, before the received In
formation thereof, ard partly followed as a
consequence Of previous votes of the Council.
With reference, next. to remarks that were
made in the Council during the previous part
of The discussions on the Draft Of Budget in
connection with the appointment of the Com
mittee, We would beg TO state, that the MaJorl-
ty Of the Committee have not been abe to
find any occasion 10 recommend to the Coun-
Gil to make representation to the Administia
ton, either in general or in any particular
items of real importance, to endeavOur 10 etsOt
savings in the expenses of the Admin istration,
as it must. in our opinion, be admitted that
the Government endeavours to retrsI CHI the
expenses wherever opportunity offers.
A minority [SarAuw would, however, in
this respect beg to make the following re-
marks:
When The Council appointed the Committee
it knew full we'll that no balance in the Budget
would be obtained with the limited power
granted to the Council. viz to make reduc-
lions in the Money Bills the Committee
could. however. propose that Drafts of Laws
or Ordinances be laid before the Council FIR
the purpose of efecting changes in the Admin
~istration with the particular view to effect re.
trenchmeuts in the expenditure. Since the
Draft If the Budget was laid before the Coun
Gil, His Excelienoy the Governor has taken
measu res to introduce savings, but these
have not been sufficient to effect a b alance
between income and expenditure neither in
this years budget nor in those Of coming
wears the Committees Minority cannot, there.
fore, consider Itself freed from the duty to
advise the Co ancil to recommend to the Su-
perior Authority to take further steps to re-
duce the expenditures q as-
I. The Revenues.
Among the several items OF Revenue the
Export Dnty, when it has been estimated to
yield S37, 000.s must be considered to be esti.
mated too high, considering the final results OF
the present crop. As, however. it is attended
with some diff onlty, especially It tho coming
crop sheaId seemmsnoe sSarlys - c~aloulats