, 1892-01-30
P R 0 G E E D G s
OF TTIE
COLONIAL COUNCIL
FOR ST. CROIX~


1 he UOC6FNDF III IHIIOQUCIuR Jut pIcS0ut
Draft of Budget would beg first to call the at
tention Of the Colonial Council to this, that the
difficult question Of altering the Colonial Law
in such a way that this island could be reliev-
ed Of some Of the large items Of it's public ex-
penditure and thereby make it possible for the
Municipality to get a balanced budget, is
still before the Diet, where it has been brought
in by the Home Government again this year
the matter is. then, still under consideration
with the Diet and the Government. Until
that difficulty has been solved, we must work
with the Budget in its usual form. The pre-
sent Draft Of Budget shows a total Revenue Of
S155, 800anda total Expenditure ofS249, 1885 a;
compared with last years Draft Of Budget, the
present Draft shows an increase OF $3.50 in
the Revenue. aud a decrease OF S4,415.32 on
the Expenditure side. The increase is chiefly
owing to the Export Duty, which is now en-
tered with a larger amount than last year.
The calculation is based on an expected crop of
II, 900 hogsheads Of Sugar with corresponding
Mollasse8 and Rum, which for some years has
been an average crop he hoped that tie Pc
suit E would answer to the calculations; but
Of course we cannot be sure. The decrease in
the Expenditure is owing to certain large items
of pensions having ceased at the same time
2 items Of expenditure have been increased,
namely the Harbour and Pilot Department
with $40 and the Department Of Public In
stluction with 1852 above what was posted
last year. The first named Increase is owing
to some dredging Of the Harbour Of Christian
sted and the latter to a subsidy to a higher
boys school in Fredeliksted. All the other
items are either the same as last year, or are
reduced. Finally he would beg 20 add that the
pension to Mr.. G. G. Idskovdammen 5000 has
to be added; besides Government intends to
propose an amount Of $40 as an assistance t,
MIR. Aagaard, who is no longer able to work
in consequence Of bad health. For the re-
sent he would limit himself to these remarks
and recommend the Draft to the Council.
2nd Member for Christiansted (Stakemauu)
supposed that the Draft viii be referred to a
Committee, and he would therefore now ouly
beg to ask His Excellency with regard to
Money Blk, if it is by an oversight that he
balance on hand Of hose for fire engines has
not been deducted in the remarks last year
to the corresponding bill, it was stated that
the supply ON hand Of hose No. II amounted
to 100 feet, but nothing is said in that respect
this time,
The Gorernor replied It was not an over
sight, but the whole Of the estimated quantity
OF hose has to be bought this year.
He would beg to say that in his first re-
marks he had said that the $500 for Mr.. c.. G..
Idskoydammen had to added; he had since
noticed that the item is already entered, and
need not to he entered again.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (He1o5tN would beg to say, in regard
to His Excellency's Introductory remarks,
that this Council took a big interest last year
in the Budget for the Island, and q great deal
Of time and labour were spent to Obtain a
balanced Budget,-and we had then arrived
at the conclusion that with exception of some
large items of public expenditure, say for in
stance the Central Factory, the Island has a
public revenue suited to meet all public ad-
ministrative requirements. The Council re-
grets to see that the Government and the
Minister have taken so little consideration to
the Councils labours, as is shown by the royal
sanction to the Budget and by the contents of
the present Draft. With but one Member, the
Council consists of the same Members as last
year. and he supposed there would or could be
no change of views in respect to those matters,
and be scarcely thought ii would be necessary
or useful.to spend further labours on discussing
this Budget. He supposed that the report
from last year, with.some few deviations, will
serve as a guide this year. If we consider this
Draft of Budget, as it is now before the Coun-
Gil, Of the same contents as it has been for
the last years, but showing a very large
excess of expenditure beyond the revenue and
no means assigned to cover it, certainly we must
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