, 1891-02-18

Db0kOOY. 0AA40O VAAAN
Administration it ia not For him now to-
point out those items in the Budget where
mich could be done but the plan, involved
under the new organisation, Of the Statetrea-
sury taking over upwards OF $4,000, OF our
best and safest Revenue, and leaving us to
ourselves to fight out for the other items so
very unavoidably requisite for 3 commune
cate could not be acceptable. He would then
propose a Committee of 5 Members.
The discussions were then interrupted and
the question of a Committee to report on the
Draft of Budget and Money Bills was then
put to vote, and adopted unanimously with
z votes; (Members Lemming, Maxen, Neumann,
Quim, Waage) abstained from voting.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (Btackpsood) in regard to His 'Ex-
cellency's remarks would beg to say, that he
was of course not able to- say much about
the organisation involved in the Bill
now before the Diet, but looking at
this Budget alone, he could see no way at
all to meet the situation, with a heavy debt
over our head, and with the prospect Of getting
further involved. The Mother country ought
to assume the Administration expenses and
several of the other expenses which should
never have been put to the account of the
colony. Although not posted in political
economy, he could nevertheless clearly see
that the adjustment made at the time with the
colonies and the Mothercountry was not per-
fectly as it should have been. But now. as
we are in the position we are, it is our duty
to try to reduce the expenditure, SO that we
may be able to make the revenue answer to-
the expenditure. The position of the Island
is to-day pretty serious and the look out for
the future must depend upon circumstances
over which we have no control. 1t is a fore
gone conclusion that this years crop will be
far below an average crop, and if all avail
able means be used without reasonable returns,
where are the means to be taken in future to
pay hired labour? But the labourers depend
upon us and if we can find no employment
for them or cannot afford to pay them, they
must starve or beg or emigrate. Anyhow it
is a very hard look out for every body. 1t is
then also just the right time to bring the mat
ter before the Diet while they are discussing
the other bill hence we can do nothing better
than to vote for the, Committee and let us sec
what can come out of their proposals it ia
worth a trial.
The Governor: In SO far as it sems that
the Honorable Member (Blackwood) had not
understoo d his, the Governors, previous re-
marks, he would beg him to read the discus
sions in the Council on the Bill of Law they
are too lengthy for him to repeat them now.
The Chairman requested End ~Crownmember
(Waage) to state his reasons for abstaining
-
from voting.
End Crownmember (Wdage) enquired the
cause of that request.
The Chairman: 1t is requisite to know the
reasons why Members abstain from voting
this is according to the Rules of Business.
End Crownmember Waage): Why not ask
the others.f
The Chairman intended to ask all the.
Members who abstained from voting in this
meeting and had commenced with the honou-
rable Crownmemher.
End Crownmember (Waasc,) said he did
not vote because he would not vote.
The Chairman The honorable Member
had then no other reason for not voting than
that he would not is that so
End Grown Member (Waage): Yes.
The Chairman would then ask the honou~
rable End Member for Christiansted Lemming(
to state his reasons for not voting.
End Member for Christiansted (Lem1Ying)
said he had considered it to be of no use to-
have q Committee for the present, particu-
larly not for the purpose indicated by the
prepayment (Hewitt) but as the matter itself
had his perfect sympathy, provided it could
be carried out correctly and with prospects
of benefit, he would not vote against the
proposal, but he had abstained altogether
from voting.
The Chairman made the same enquiry to-
lst Member for C~hristiansted's Country Dis