, 1890-02-22

- 49," 49, 'ffHAN RilOA .
representatives have adopted the Draft OF
the Colonial Law, must bear it's share of re-
spOnHibility for the contents OF the Law
and the results brought about by the same,
but another share Of The responsibility
appears to rest with the Government Of the
MothercOuntry for Introducing the Bill aud
with the Legislature for passing the same,
and we therefore cAnnOt but see tia ltiS
fair that assistance be iendprrl the munich
pality. 1t must, however. he admi tedEthaE
The Mother country has aIwaysactrd towards
the island according to this view. With
regard now to The financial state OF the
muricipllity since the Col. Law eame siHl0g
force, there was during the frs, three
wears an average surplus Qfc $lO,0O0y Ibnt q
in 1868 50 there was a deficit OF 5000. ~,
1869-70 OF G.. So, $50, and since then, with
exception OF. 1912 and, 1878, when the u
revenues exceeded the expenses viii, re" ~
kpectiYtly c. S34,550 and, sI,oOQ,fhtgea has $
always been a deficit which in latte, years
has been Between $40 and $50,000,-in J
1883 even SOL $50. so. As to lrtaf3ed
information we rtfer to voucher No. b,a-4lSt
ofIheiCoI. TreasuIy's revenues and open
kps from Isl Apri.1865 to 31st March 1855
which shews that the average dtfeitdttaf7
ing the last 5 years, is $40, t70.91,,rr i is, TO-
be observed that the AMOUNT OF expenses
during said ) years does not comprise lnte--
rest on the loan from TIE State Treasury
of 18th June 1876, $6,241.0 3, which BasI'
not been paid since list April 1884, nor the
guarantee for the Central Factory accord :
ing to the Law of 25th February 1876, and,
Ordinance of 10th June 1876, o$45,275.98 +
which latter amount has never been paid =.
The causes of this disproportion1 bel weeny i.
revenues and expenses were during the
first years principally a severe dI"ught'
which lasted several years. AVID consequent
failure of crops after the riot 1t 1885,
chiefly that the expenses OF the mill a
department bave exceeded those originally
calculated. This has also been the case
with expenses ct the Poor and Military
Departments, which have been continually
increasing, likewise with she pensions t0%
retired officials and their widows, 50l the 4
budget for l889-9O posted with 81 ,844,91
To cover the deficit by imposing new taxes
has never been att pmpted; the Executive
must have seen thai neither the taxes or
real property and other direct taxes lc0Hldo4
bear an increase, nor the indirect taxeSSf
The best proof Of the correcFneSs OF at
all events the taxes on real PROPERTY not q
being able to bear an increase. is supposed
TO be the enormous depreciation particular
~ OF estates in the country, which "f iitt'
years in many cases have been sold Ton Ire4
than half Of what they frtelted 10 a. 2'rs
years ago. .s.t3 u5 %
1t is a ma after Of course that all in}rr y "tG
parties must regret, whrn, N order -"
srcure for the island the benefits OF a w il
regulated community, il has been iet@ -
sary tocpvpr by advances from The Mot Ell
country The d~eicitS of She Municipality
year after Year until its deb nov "nloMnl~
to a66Ht Q NJ ilIion Crowns, This ~ttttr.
of things must weaken the COmmhhilN' -
and the Chionial Councils i6acliti.S 4I%
responsibility and mhcprl drrfep ah't hast
much ~tn}br desired that II SlI"Hd e ~ ~
in 0tipr1 words, that The Colonial Law te
altered IN such a man nrI that the CHlnnlfl. {
Ire n%,1y be no. hhrdentu With srtAtpP '
expenditures N"- an'. ''' '9'"'
Diet Oy the VI nistrv nsve mostly llMJt6T'
themselves to preScrib nL, thtt the CtaOni4
al Treasury sh 1uld be exempted from the
expenses OF the Military Departments and .
Military Pensions, and that these exI~'HStS
should be betrayed 10y the State Treasury,
the Bill, upon which the the COloni j Coun-
Gil has now To give il opinion. extends mlcll
further. ~It~depriveS the Colonial GtHmctt
OF the righL to participate by nrtimaneeS iIk
legislating II matters non municipal 3ndl
conveys to thu State TIE aSuIy about rs of
the yearly revenues Of the municipality,
the Urea an 4 AT tnn same fine tokihtS nvrt.t