, 1884-05-28
THE f' AVIS"
Striatia1str6, 81, grni1,
Wednesday, 28th May, 1884,

the Government, the first business on hand
was the 3rd Discussion of a "draft OF
ordinance for extending to the Municipality
Of st. Cr0ix the Law 0f24th June 1879, con-
corning the right Of lawyers to obtain fees
and compensation for their outlay in CON
Quoting public suits and suits with grants
of Beneficial" introduced by Messrs. Faber
and Wassard.3
Lacyer WQSSard said that the present
draft had been adopted by the Council
about II months back. The Governor had
then promised to introduce the draft as q
law common to all the islands, and that
draft had passed the second discussion on
the 4th Of February this year; but it was
not adopted by the Council Of st. Thomas.
There is therefore no question of getting
the draft passed as a law III common for all
the islands but this does not prevent it's
adoption for this community, in fact it
seemed to him that this was the proper
course. 1t had been acknowledged by the
Council here to he a just claim, and had
been admitted to be conducive to the
interests Of the parties concerned in the
suits in question and therefore conducive
to the public interests, and lhis being so,
a different decision arrived at elsewhere
should not prevent our doing what was
just and fair. He therefore Oh behalf Of
the proponents recommended he adoption
of the draft.
His Ercc7cncy the Governor, said that
the position of the Government on this
question was well known to the Council.
The Government had desired to see this
measure passed only as a law common for
tie islands, and he therefore regretted
lhlt it had been brought forward. Still
II tbn tNs1g,ajI .GApts If no would tnVv-0lI
it to the Ministry and say all that could
be said in It's favour. In his opinion it was
absolutely necessary to have two upper
court lawyers on the island and he thought
that what was needed to secure this ought
to be done. When the ordinance under
which the Kings Attorney was paid 5000
p. a. expired last year it was hoped there
would be a saving, but experience had
SieWn that this was q mistake. The
Colonial Treasury had had to pay to
lawyers $637.8 SIS since October last year.
Had the ordinance remained in force tie
expenditure would only have been $500
a year, together with about $3.50 for other
law expenses, say in all at the rate OF about
$500 a year. He was willing to work for
securing the result that we had two upper
court lawyers residing here, for which
would be required $500 a year and travc ell
ling expenses for the lawyer coming out.
The Government did not wish to go further.
He would, however, lay the matter before
the Home Government.
Lacyer WasSard said that if by the pre-
sent ordinance it could be brought about
that We have two upper court lawyers
here, this would be much better than
reviving the former ordinance, by which
the upper court lawyer at present residing
here would be placed III an unfair posi-
ton.
Judge andersen thought it not e%xpedient
that lawyers should be placed in the posi-
ton Of officials, which t, a certain ex-
tent they were when they were paid from
the Colonial Treasury. He therefore pre-
terred the mode Of payment of the present
draft, and recommended the Council to
adopt the Draft.
The Governor remarked that it was
doubtful whether this draft would secure
two resident upper court lawyers.
On being put to the vote the draft was
passed by the Council.
The new ordinance for the horse and
carriage tax was next placed under End
discussion, and after a rather long discus
sion, in which Messrs. WaSsard, Willard,
Kalmer, Lemming, Faber, Brown, Coulter,
and Quin took part, the bill was passed to
3rl discussion. DR.. Kalmer and Mr.. Brown
opposed the draft, the other speakers
named argued in its favour.
The rules for road police and for repair.