, 1891-06-27

then proposed to make q representation
not to the Minister but to the Government
concerning reforms of taxation and Of admin
i~stration; Judge Sarauw was thea Speaker
of the Committee and Judge Ros9nstand
in the Chair; the Budget Committees
Report was discussed along with the
Budget, and it was even then urged
that when making proposals, it was The duty
of the Council tc point out definitely where
the changes are to b5 made, hence, at that time,
a blame was put to the Report as not being
complete; this point has been met and remedied
now. Objections on thlt score could not be
advanced, and as we must use an old proverb,
cut the coat accordingto the cloth, the Committee
had proposed such detailed alterations, as could
meet the requirements Of the colony, under the
deplorablo circumstances III which We ale now,
when property is as much as so 90 below the
true value, and with public bankruptcy star
ing us in the face. The correct way is to dis
cuss the proposals under the Budget, and by
doin o,the Members relieve themselves in the
face of the Diet; for as long as we pass the Bud
oct, the Minister and the Diet will say, the
Administration can not be had for less, and as
we have the power at least of petitioning, we
should under the circumstances really make
use Of that prerogative; even if we cannot legis-
late. we can make motions, and moreover the
Councils opinion must be taken before others
can legislate for us. We must now once for all
show the Minister how an Administration
might be organized and money saved; to the
Budget must be attached this rider, the Mem
orial, and as the Government will not come
forward, we must point out how they are to
act, and if they shirk their responsibility we
can do nothing more or less than to petition.
We cannot be expected to frame Drafts of laws
and Ordinances. bat it is the Home Govern
ment's business to do that. He would propose
to close these discussions.
End Member for Frederikstcd's Country
District (BlocIpood) said it appeaed to
him to be but a continued waste Of
time to discuss this question any longer.
We have been asked to make a report and
we have done SO; we have a right to see
it brought before the Council and either reject
ed or adopted; but it must any how go hand i'll
hand with the Budget; the two matters can
not be parted; the present amendments are only
partial preparations for the future arrangements
we propose.
The 4ctnq Vice Gorernor said that as the
discussion was drawing to a close and the
Councils vote about to be taken, he would
again repeat, what already was explained III
Governments letter and also verbally stated
by him in the Council, that what Government
requested was only this, that the discussion on
the Budget should be kept separate from the
discussion on the future reforms mentioned in
the Report of the Budget Committee. Gov
eminent had no authorization to take part in
and consequently to be present during the
discussion on those reforms, and if the Coun-
Gil should now decide, that the Budget should
be discussed under one with those reforms
then the consequence would be, that Govern.
ment would neither be represented III the
Council during the discussion on the Budget
The Council itself could not desire that, as it
must wish to be made acquainted with the
remarks and explanations, which Government
had to offer in reference to the Amendments to
the Money Bills proposed by the Budget Com
mittee.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District [Hewit): To meet His Excellency's
views he would propose that the honorable
Chairman follows the plan that after the
amendments under each head have been adopt
ed the Chairman puts the Committees Report
in it's entirety under discussion with the Budget.
If no Member finds any fault with the sug-
~gestions of the Committee, but the Govern
ments hirks the responsibility and ~refrains from
partaking in those discussions, we cannot then
be accountable for that.
The Chairman said that it could be done by
putting the Money Bills with amendments
first, after they are concluded, then comes the
Report for discussion and adoption; but that