, 1892-01-30

now. as any arbitrary say of the Council on
the Government; we thought that al expedi-
emit in the direction which we imagined Govern
ment also would have worked, viz to reduce
the expenditure Of this Island now we $50
that Government won't work that way. The
Committee and the Council have endeavoured
to come to some understanding and to ease up
the economical depression, under which we
labour and he believed that every Member
and every man else having the welfare Of the
Island at heart would have gone in for those
suggestions
The Governor would ask the Council to be
very careful in touching upon the question Of
withdrawal Of the Military force; if the Coun-
Gil ask for it, and it be acoeded the oonse-
quence might be fatal, the same as on q prevl-
GUS similar occasion. OF late years since 1878,
it has been found necessary to keep a larger
number of men; this is not by a Nero capllco
of the Hcme Government, but for the protec-
tiop Of the Island. fnow the last proposal ,
in that direction and which he found was voted
by the Council without having been well con-
sidered, had been acceded to by the Home Gov
eminent, be was sure we would have had very
soon to regret it. The Council can be sure that
when the Military can be removed, with safety
it will be done. The Government is always
grateful or advices, but the Council must hear
what the Government too says. He would again
recommend chat the Budget be discussed as
usual.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (HeOttO said With reference to the
Military and Police, in regard to whiohit is
said that the Council has acted hastily and
wrongly in proposing what it has, he must say,
that the expense for the Military is upwards Of
$1,000; for the Police suhordinates about
gil 900; in all upwards of $50, 900 are spent
annually for those two branches for a small
Island like this; but everybody knows that we
could provide proper protection In the Island
for much less, and the Council had only done Its
duty to recommend the change ia the direction
alluded to, But the Council is blamed for not
following Government; but now, who can with
propriety blame the Council if it did not fol-
low Government now? For this is Just what
has brought us in the position we are, because
wefollowed too much the dictates of Govern
ment; we have been too anxious to avoid CEN
surfing Government and hence we went in al
ways for what the Government would have and
thus the one expense after the other was incur
red and a heavy debt, until at last we saw the
Home Government with a heavy bill for
mortgage, and then again the Municipal Draft,
by which our affairs are to become state
affairs, and we lose all say over those affairs
anu Wo you d Sbttto VI GutASS GhdO NOuAu oOOA
end in greater Deficiencies on our Budget, and
wo on the whole come back to the old state
with Burgher Councils. 1t could not other
wise than cause surprize to hear that we
should be willing to recommend such q
change. We were formerly afraid to d~isplease
Government and we voted accordingly but
as for this Municipal Law, lit was the .unani-
nous opinion Of the people as we'll as Of the
highest legal voices here that the proposed
measures would be to the utter ruin of tho
Island and the Council cannot any longer
follow Governments advice. At the same
time. we have seen that We can do nothing to
reduce our expenses but let the Sother party
then bear the responsibility. He would mot
vote for the Budget as it is. AS for the Bud
get Committees suggestions last year, they
were not in conflict with the Colonial Law,
and it is surprizing to hear the Government
say so now. As for the Schoolmessengers,
why are they on the Money Bill, if not subject
to the Councils vote? II is time wasted to
discuss this Budget.
THE GoUern3r: The Council has full right
to vote the Money Bills; but then again the
Home Government has perfect right under the
Colonial Law to alter the results of the Coun-
ellis vote, if it be found to be detrimental to the
Colonial Administration. When the School
Messengers although provided by Ordinance,
still appear ON the respective Money Bill, it is
because the amount of pay has not been settled