, 1891-02-14

Tor the Mother Country His ExcellencV must
have seen that the Administration of this little
Island is too large and too expensive, and that
the Island cannot anyhow pay it, not even if
the most favourable OF the plans suggested were
carried out WI would not urge on the Mother
Country to pay for us; but we think it could
be SO arranged that we could pay for all we
want. In private life it is so, that a bill which
you cannot pay yourself, you do not expect
should be paid by any other for you, but means
are sought out by which You meet your own
Obligations. After that Commission is finish
ed the Council could make a most submissive
memorial to His Majesty praying that the suit
able retrenchments in the individual instances
be carried out, and His Excellency could be-
able to support them at home in Denmark no
one is able to judge If the matter; bat no one
would be more able to have a Judgment In that
respect than His Excellency, from his p~rotract.
ed stay here. He would therefore repeat his
proposal.
The Chairman took his seat il the Council
during the remarks from Mr.. Hewitt.
End Member for Frcderikstsd's Country
District (Blackpood) could endorse tbs opinions
and the proposal from the last Speaker. In
looking over the Draft Of Budget from the
taxpayers point Of view and as property
owner IN the country, he found it simply I'M
reasonable to expect that the colony should
pay an amount of $253,000 a year for the pub
llc Administrative purposes, while the Admin.
lstratlon itself cannot figure up more than
S44o,O0O to meet that other amount. This
SlOo,UOO dehclt Is besides an apparent deficit
and 1t may just in realities balance much above
that figure. Even when We have been having
good years, 1t was not possible to come at that
amount Of S253, 900 to meet the expenses
Even with the best possible years, the colony
can not possibly. pay all and stand firm. 1t
mas been SAID that it is the Mother Country who
pays the dthclcs, be wished and hoped it WAS
so IN reality Tor, We are already now taxed as
heavily as we can possibly be the colony can
not bear more taxation if cultivation is to exist
and those employed therein are to keep up
We see now that one-third Of the Island is In
bush by degrees more and more Of the soil is
getting out OF cultivation many estates are
heavily mortgaSed, and the owners can barely
nave 1t from hand to mouth under the very
best state Of things. With the present small
crop and low prices, most estStes viii not pay
hait OF the administration expenses; those who
can draw out might do so bat with every one
that succumbs. the Island becomes weaker
financially. He could see no possibility what
ever Tor providing for this deficiency, all the
less as there is every chance and possibility Of
Inc amount becoming larger, and it is not
dl11cult to see where we will ultimately land:
Some steps must evidently be taken to meet
the exigency and there is no other way than
that or retrenchment i'll our public expenditure.
HOW such retr%enchments are to be made. the
Administrators should know better than We.
still, he could not but consider the proposai
from Ord Member for Frederiksted's Country
District Hewitt as a good one we should
have Committee to dissect the Budget and
propose retrenehments, which the Home Co.
Vernment must necessarily take into considera,
ton, because they too, from all what has come
forward, must have seen that we can not by
any means meet the present requirements. much
less cover the deficiencies. In looking at the
budget Items as they stand now, he found
heavy sums under such items as the Factory
Guarantee, Interest on Loans and Pensions
bit apart from these, he did not see how the
colony could ever possibly get enough 10 meet
Inc demands as they are, and, as already said
II ls not reasonable to expect it. We have a
hard struggle to compete with other smear
growing places, and when we besides have
small crops with low prices, it is decidedly d
neaVy barthen to meet all the requirements of
the colony as they are Regulated now. Some
means must be devised, to bring the expenses
at least at par with the revenue. All tax
payers pay their taxes willingly and cheerful.
~ even now, but they DO not suffice. He
would therefore beg to recommend the propo-
sal tor a Committee to examine the Budget and
propose amendments for e~fecting retrench-