, 1891-06-17

enter too far into THE matter, which re-
quires some investigation.
The Council then proceeded to the Order of
Day viz
/, Election of Members to sit in the
Commission to superintend the enrolment
of men for the Brandoompanies, agreeably
to request from Government.
IA voting tickets were received, and elected
were:
For Christiansted, Stakemann with Ia votes
For Frederiksted, Rlackwood with IA votes
2, Election of Members to sit in the Com
mission to examine and to propose
Implements for use at Fires, as requested
by Government.
IA voting tickets were received, and elected
were:
For Christiansted, Stakemann with 10 votes.
For Frederiksted, Blackwood with IL votes.
3. End Discussion on the Draft Of Budget for
1892 with Money Bills, Committee
Report, Rectifcations and Amend
ments.
The Chairman; On account Of some dis
agreement between the Government and the
Council as to whether the Committee's Re-
port shall be discussed together with the Draft
of Budget, or whether it shall be discussed
under the head of the Memorial to the Minister,
the discussions have been much postponed,
and he hoped that they would be closed to-day.
He, for his part, had failed to see the advan,
tages to be derived from the first named
method, orthe disadvantages likely to follow
from the other mode, but would give no
further opinion on the matter, but leave it to
the Councils Members to decide what way is
to be followed. But this much he would say
that on account of this question having arisen
he had caused to be examined the methods fol-
lowed on previous similar occasions and they
90 TO show that the discussions were always
held in connection with the Budget. AS the
matter seems to be of Importance to Members,
he would like to hear the opinions of Members
and then put the question to the Councils
vote.
The Acting Vice Gooernor would only state
that # is not the Governments intent or desire
that the whole Of the Committees Report
should be exempt from discussion along with
the Budget, but only such parts thereof as re-
fer to the proposed future alterations in the
administration the other parts thereof which
concern the Amendments to the Budget or the
Money Bills should of course be subject to dis
cussion together with the Budget.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (~Blackwood) las he was the one who in
the Councils last meeting proposed the
postponement Of the discussions, he would beg
to make a few remarks. He was sorry that
the Committees Report has met the reception
it has, and that it has been so long IN coming
before the Council. At the same time, as he
had stated in the last meeting, the Vice
Governors view Of the matter under consldera-
ton had had his full sympathy, when His Excel
lency desired a change of the Order of Day;
but since then, he had been examining the
Councils Rules of Business and the Colonial
Law. and he sees now no reason why he should
advocate the change or the method proposed
bv His Excellency; and he would then more
especially call attention to SAB of the Colonial
Law, The Council and the Councils Mem
beers have a right to make Memorials to the
Government, to the Minister or to the King,
through the Government and the Minister.
At last Meeting we heard it said from the
Chair. that the Council is no Legislative Body
but a mere consultative Assembly; but from
what he had seen, he would beg to differ; If
he understood the object and purport of the
Colonial Law so as he believed every man Of
ordinary understanding must do, he would
say that the Colonial Council is a free Assem-
bly, originating from the free vote of free citi-
zens, for the purpose of Legislating on all
matters concerning the welfare of the Com
munity, and at the same time to have a voice
s1 - o.~o~ 4hrO11O h tho