, 1884-04-02

visit the Station and decide petty eases
arising any how there will be an improve
ment.-The honorable End Member for
Christiansted LemmingI had commented
on several items, and had expressed the
hope that the Committee would investigate
them; he (the GOvernor) could promise
that all necessary calculations on the part
of the Government would be given. In so
far as the honorable Member had stated
that some matters had already been inves-
tigated by Commissions, who had rendered
reports, he would say that that is so, and
that those matters are under consideration
with the Government. He would mention
one of those Commissions, namely in con
nection with the Poor Department. About
2 years ago the Council and Government
were struck by the apparently large
amount expended for the Poor; a Commits
sion was appointed partly by the Govern
ment, partly by the Council, which Com
mission has worked in a very complete and
conscientious manner and has sent III a
Report, in which the whole subject has
been thoroughly Sifted in a very admirable
way; and although the Commission has not
been unanimous in its recommendations,
still it will be easy for the Government
after the report to take its decision; he
could not say now how that may be; but it
Ii Satisfactorily W hnON IHh' IhC 'llLiil
si0n's report proves that the money now
used for assisting the Poor is expended in
a satisfactory way, i'll so far at least that
those receiving support are really poor.
In so far as the support to the Poor
appears TO be at a high percentage here, he
had had an opportunity, since the Commits
sion was appointed, to compare the figures
here with those for Denmark and for
Antigua and Barbados; such comparison
between on the one side the accounts Of the
town and country communities of Denmark
and on the other side the account of the
real communal expenses here, Showed in
Denmark % 0Io, here between 26 and - oEo
Of such expenses in aid Of the pOOr.
Between this island and the English
islands mentioned above there is not much
differ ence neither in this reSpect.-It is
any how proved that the money is not
spent in an injudicious way.-In 50 far as
the honorable Member (Lemming) had dis
recomme nded the granting of the $500 in
aid OF a Children'S- Hospital, he would, III
order to justify the Government in making
the proposal to that effect, refer to the
remarks accompanying the Money Bill.
He would beg to thank the honorable 9th
Crownmember (Kalmer) for the way III
which he had to-day recommended the
proposal. There is no doubt that sick
children can be received in the public com
mon hospitals; but we have no hospital TO
receive children not really sick, who only
need to be fed properly. Even if the pre-
sent public hospitals could be arranged for
that purpose, the expenses would be, he
would not exactly say very high, but at
least higher than in the private hospital in
question, since it is intendei that half of
the expenses shall be betrayed 10y private
means, hence the cure Of those children will
be much cheaper as far as the Public
treasury is concerned. IS regards the
results of the working Of this private hos
pital, it is of course difficult at present to
say anything decidedly; but it is known,
and has been admitted by the honorable
Member, that a very great evil lies in
the very great mortality among young
children i'll this Island it is extremely
difficult to say how that evil is to be over
come; but one thing can and ought to be
done, namely when you find a starving
child, then give it food, and if private
eXertiOnS have succeeded so far, it appears
that we should go further. Perhaps expe-
rlence will show that similar arrangements
should be made in Frederiksted and in the
Country. He believed it was, if not a gene
raj rule in Denmark al least pretty often
the case that whenever a measure Of that
klnd found much sympathy and thereby
proved It's general usefulness then it was
also supported by the public treasury. He
therefore hoped that the Council will grant
TINS support, at all events because it will
Dc a much cheaper way to provide for the
cnll0ren b at the common hOSDitals.