, 1890-01-01

SpOhG {oldhGulduu) Oh laG pOIIb Ol tdNdlloII,
he (the Governor) did not know what had
given the honorable member the idea that
he (the GOVERNOR had said new taxation
must be imposed on landed property and real
estate; he had not said so but he had
stated that the Government had not found
that the present taxes are so high as to pre-
clude the cultivation of the Island, although
he must acknowledge that some difficulties
would exist in meeting the taxes when the
prices of the chief produce are SO low as they
have been for some time and the weather
should become unfavourable still, he had, as
already repeatedly stated, shown up other
objects, which are not taxed now, but which
could be taxed.-It is a mere matter
Of guess to take up some few items
and say they will yield 500 or $500
less revenue we must absolutely go by
the average of the past years revenue, as
has been done when framing the bill. When
the honorable End Member for Christiansted
Iemming) stated that there will be required
an increased revenue at the very heginlng OF
$4,000 to cover the expenses. he could not
agree with the honorable Member that
so much would be required.-As for the
item b. ID. Revenue from Burgher Briefs etc.
the Home Governments estimate IS too
low, there must be added the tax on Run
Licences, say 5000 and accordingt the
average of the last 3 years this item Is ut
down with 50, 100 on the Draft OF Budget
for 189O-91, which will conn before the
Council. Nor is the horse, carriage and boat
tax entered too high the average of the last
3 years is above $4,000, for the absentee tax
So, $500 and tile Quartorpercent tax 3l,630, the
average Of the last 8 years he could agree
that these two last named items ure some
what on the decrease. Otherwise the estimate
furnished by the said honorable Member IS
fairly correct, as far as regards the export
duty, we can not count as a rnle on crop of
IA, LOCO hogsheads, and the price S. = per
cWt. IS not too low, rather too high. ut
be would leave the proposal from the he
Durable Member for an amendment. to the
Councils decision.-The honorable Speaker
of the Committee had repeatedly asked Tor ga
consultative voice, for the Council in regard
to the affairs under the Statetreasurys Bud
gets, he did not exactly know what was
meant by "a consultative voice but when
the Colonial Law at present gives q certain
pOWeri in those points to the COuncli, 1t was on
the ~presupposition that the Colonial Treasury
could bear all the expenses OF the colony ;
this has, as we know and admit, failed the
present Colonial Law had been granted by q
mistake, SO to say, und then it appears that 1t
would not be right or allowable to let the
political power remain the same when the
financial position has failed. Then again, he
could not but look upon it as a mistake when
the Committee thinks that the consultative
voice of the Council will be taken away by
the contents of this Bill; for, the provisions
of the present Colonial Law, enactIn5 that
the opinion Of the Council shall under ordin-
airy circumstances be taken before any bill
be submitted to the Diet on any matter OF
colonial affairs, remain unaltered III future,
even if the bill become law.
3rd Member for Frederiksteds Country
District (Heuit0. In so far as lis Excel
lency seems to think that it WAS q mis-
take to give the Council the power IN
question in reference to those matters not
within the usual vote Of the Council, he
(Hewitt) could only admit of q mistake,
in so far as there is not sufficient power
given if the Council had had a little more
power, and it had been easier to exercise,
we not have had deficits on our budgets,
but we would nave been allowed to make
the coat according to the cloth. The
Minister has had the whole affair IN his
hands, and we have been told not to give
ourselves too much concern, when we
endeavoured to oppose unnecessary ex-
penses, now those very expenses ar
brought to bear against as, for they have
helped to swell the deficits, to make up the
debt to the Statetreasury, which is the
thing that deprives us of political indie
Dop6aDoo n q -, oIIo1oJ nou And AGAIN