, 1889-12-21

This, however, is less important, but
what is more so, is that the princi-
pal item of revenue, the expOrt,duty on
sugar, rum and molasses, which yields
ALMOST half of all the revenues allotted to
the municipality, is exceedingly 1uctuating
and therefore unsuitable on a small Bud
get: the list accompanying. this report as
voucher No. 2 shows that during the last
"a years, minimam of the Tax has been
0l3,O42O8, maximum $60,817.7S True
enough, the tax has, even with the low
prices of the last years, averaged $4,000,
but it has reached that amount only on
account of the exceptionally large crops,
and it is to be feared, that after the good
years which the island has had since 1878,
there will follow less good ones, besides it
can scarcely be hoped that the sugar prices
will be much higher; the increase of last
Summer has again been succeeded by o
fall. And with low prices and a bad crop
the tax will not by far yield the amount
calculated.
Even if the present Bill before emanat-
ing as Law were amended i'll such a way
that the revenues and expenses of the mu-
njcipslity were just balanced, it is there
fore 60 be expected that very soon the
question will arise, how d deficit is to be
covered, and the only manner, in which it
can be done will no doubt be through i'm
posing new taxes. But after what has
been remarked IN the foregoing, your Com
mittee doubts, if it is at all feasible to
raise any considerable amount, and ~foresees
'tnat It will be impossible for the island
with (tS own resources to maintain the
municipal institutions, and that in order To
AVOID great calamitieS the Government of
the M0ther.cOuntIy will c,nsider it ntcps.
SAY to aid the island in a similar manner
SIS lNw, although to a less extent.
Referring to the foregoing, il will be
understood that youI Committee cannot
gdvise the Council to pronounce in favour
of he Bill, and at the same time must con.
slider itself exempted from proposing
amendments. On the other hand the
COMMITTEES repeats that it is most desirable
for the sake both of the Community and
the Council that the present state of things
with regard 20 the finances of the island
be succeeded by another, by which the
COmmunity's aud the Councils feelings of
responsibility for obligations imposed upon
them can be properly developed. The
= opinion held by the Committee concern
ing HE alteration which the Colonial ia
mus undergo in order to attain dt said
rr5ult, has been already set forth in q
general way, viz: that the Colonial preasu.
~. besides being exempted from its debt
10 the State Treasury and from the guar
anteo 10 the shareholders in the Central
Factory, should also be exempted from the
EXPENSES of the military-which as tar as
n known, in all other Westindian colonies
are pad by the CrOwn-and such other
expenses that it would be able to defray
che rest. 1t is a matter OF course chat the
military and other departments not paid
by the tolOnial Treasury, should be ex-
empted from the matters with regard to
which the Colonial Council could partici
pate in the Legislative AUTHORIZATIONS
Ittee naturally h~esitates in pointing
out what expenses in its opinion might
fairly be taken over by the State Treasury,
as in its appeal to the Government and
legislative power of the Mother country,
the Council must III the main rely upOn
feelings of generosity and equity, but still
thinks itself justified in mentioning for
instance the Governors salary Sc. which
as far as known, in the English WeSt-india
islands is paid by the State. The Commit
tee furthermore shall call attention to the
apparent expedlency of the Colonial Trea-
sury'S being put in such a position that in
all likelihood it can dispense with calling
upon the State Treasury for assistance
during some time to come. It might be
made a. guarantee against the Municipal
Ireasury's being enriched at the expense
Of the latter, if tholnew law should remain
i'll force only for a limited period. say 5 or
10 years, as after the expiration OF this