, 1893-06-24

~ - ~ S1S
ed for the Colonial Treasures are proposed
IN such a way that th0y, with q small excep-
ton WILL be expended ia defraying the OK
penses. Such a division the Minority must
d"lsrec0mmend. Experience proves that the
expenses increase annually while tho reVe~
nues huctuate. In the course of few years
there will again be a deficit, and this oaanot
be covered except by the State, as long 70
matters continue rs they are. But therrby
the Colonial Councils will be deprived of that
entire aid which is found in tue feeling of
res ,Onsibillty. The divisions ought to bs
made in such a manner that every one will
acknowledge that justice and fairness have
been satisfied and that it consequently must
be acknowledge d that new taxes must pro-
duoe the sums required, providing this J..
becomes necessary. ...
It must be pointed out the cause, which
becomes more and more apparent, OF St.Croix
not being able to bear further taxation, and
of the crops and labour relations becoming
worse and worse is the increased mortgage
burden, which gradually is laid upon the
properties.
In former times it was enormous reven.
ues which the crops yielded the propristora.
There is no doubt of the soil being so rich
and the climate so splendid that it now
IS formerly can maintain the inhabitants of
the island even if the reduced prices of sugar
do not any longer allow the extravagant luxu-
ries of the past. But on the Ce .sation of the
latter many families have departed from the
island, they leave their properties under ad-
ministration or lease them g. larger number
have burdened themselves and their proper
ties with mortgage loans. But m~ortgageloans
have the deplorable consequences that the in
terest on suoh loans must in the same manner
as State and Municipal taxes, be betrayed by
the properties without regard to the result
of the crops, before anything is left either
for the family or for improvements or for the
labourers.
The interest must be paid regardless of the
crops and therefore these loans are so disas-
trous for all social advancements.
If the possessors were real owners of their
properties according to their full value and do
miciled in the island it is evident that the
revenues from the properties would become
of benefit to the island by being expended there
even as the man, who fully owns his estate,
can elect or be elected for the Colonial COun~
ell, possessing a perfect feeling of RESPONSE.
bility and with the independence required for
social advancements and conscious of being
able to procure the means from prOprietors
and other inhabitants necessary for suCh
Announcements.
In St. Croix with a population of 10000
p6Opl0 iobA hO ploo0uL bALuS mOl G&dS0 COb
of about $500, 900 at an interest as far &c is
known averaging &c . which corresponds
to an annual payment for interests of about
$4,000.
When it be now observed that the entire
revenue, which the State considers could be
allotted to the municipality is $67 900 annu-
ally, it will be evident, what burden it is.
ful thermore to have to pay $4,000 not
Cor public or useful purposes, nay, but
as a fixed yearly payment for interest
to Foreigners who perohance live in the
island, but more likely it must be supposed
live i'll America or England, and in order to
maintain such a taxation the Mother COun-
try has to furnish a considerable annual CON-
tribution, and the Estate owners and labourerS
of the island have to work hard and without
hope of any improvement in this state Of
affairs.
simultaneously with arranging the islands
administration and financial affairs, EFFORTS
ought TO be made for getting the properties
in the island to belong entirely to the owners
who now principally only are so nominally ;
thereby would at the same time be gained
that the paroelling out of property would be
facilitated and that a greater number OF small
prOpriet0rs might Re established, whereby
again the labour relations would be im--
proved.
The first measure could be obtained by
49,