, 1889-10-23

SNoAob ChV GAAHtbftI OdOHCCS u0V0 g, SOORIR
large deficits.
AS for st. Croix this has been the case
ever since 1868, or three years after the
Colonial Law came into force J, and the
reason can only be that from the first the
resources of the Island have been over
estimated, as the average annual amount
OF the ordinary revenues generally speak.
ing Is the same now aS it was Is or 10
years ago, say S160, 600 to $4,000 wear.
For the last 1 or 5 years. the low sugar
prices have caused said amount to be some.
what reduced, but in the present year the
revenues are again higher. 1t is nataral
that serious efforts have been made to i'm.
prove this state of things, consisting prin.
cipally in endeavourS to reduce the expen.
dlture. In st. OrOiX the efforts were made
during the years 1969-1G73, when thew
were brought to q stand still by the Riots.
In the years 1896 to 1882 So the average
annual expenditure amounted to $2I5,7I9.
whereof SlG2,OOO ordinary expenses the
rest was extraordinary expenses, particular
Iy bureau advances to planters. In the wear
preceding the riots the ordinary expenses
had been brought dow to $3.50, 959, of
which amount only $50, 1856 for the military
expenses, but after the Riots the expen-
SEES Immediately rose again, and in the
years 1884 S5-1SS7-39 the average annual
expenditure was S2Ol 1902, OF which amount
SJ0,239 for The Military expenditure. LII
this amount of expenditure is included
neither the interest or the loan from the
StatetreaSury according to law Of 10th
June 1876 amounting to S6,241.Q3 ayear,
the guarantee for the Central Factory,
amounting to $40, 275.98 a year.
TO increase the public revenues of the
colonies to any considerable extent has not
hnaO FOuOn fQaGihIn In1ar fIaSo o1ro,,r~ .
st tlces it has brenneceSsary to accept asSis.
lance from the Mother Country III order to
meet the yearly deficits this assistance
has been granted in the shape of ad.
vances to the Colonial Treasures in current
accounts with the State Treasury, and in
this way the Colonial Treasures have in.
CURED a considerable debt in TO the State
Treasury, amounting on the Bib 88 to
Kr. 1922, 143 So for ST. Croix, this figure
however, not including the guarantees for the
Central Factory, and the loan from the State
Treasury Claw Of 10th June 1870 prin"i-s
pal and nterest.-There is no prospect of
st. Croix ever being able from it's own re-
sources to pay back this debt; ON the con. @
trary, the debt will continue to increase, as
long as the colonial Law remains unalter-
ed, consequently the only efficient remedy
would be such IL change OF the provisions .
of that law as will tighten sufficiently tbs
financial burthon of the Colonies; and the
Council will also remember that the Min.
lister OF Finances has repeatedly endeavour-
ell to have reduced the financial burthen imA
posed upon the Islands by the Colonial Law.
Hitherto the Minister'S efforts have aimed
at giving the necessary assistance by re.
lieving the Islands of one of the heaviest
items of the expenditure side OF tho Bud.
gets, the military expenses and the milf
tary pensions. In 1879, 1881 and again
in 1885 bills to that. effect were laid before
the Diet, but they were not passed, aud
tue way in which things nave developed
themselves in the Colonies of late years
show clearly that their help al0 Ie would
not have been sufficient, and that there is
required a more thorough change in the
constitution. OF what nature this change
should be, has been carefully considered,
aud in order to come to a correct 3onclu-
sion, it has been natural, on the one side
to look back to the state Of things existing
before the present Colonial Law came into
force, on the other hand to sae what les.
sons are taught by the course of the state
of things i'll the Islands during the time
the Law has been in operation.
Previous to the Colonial Nv of 9th No.
vember 1863 a distinct line WAS drawn be.
tween State Affairs, State Revenues and
State Expenses Oh the one side, COmmun-
al Affairs, Communal Revenues aud Com
munal Expenses on the other side.a The