, 1893-04-12

VI AA1A
COLONIAL COUNCIL
FOR 81. CROEX.
Continuation of Meeting of27tb March 1898.
The Council then proceeded to the Order Of
Day. viz:
Continuation Of lst Discussion and
eventually End Discussion on Draft of
Budget for the financial year from the
LIST April 1898 to the 3lst March 1894
with the Report submitted by the
Committee appointed in connection there
with.
The Committees Report reads as follows:
mHE Majority Of the Councils Members.
having in the Meeting Of the Colonial
Council on the 30th of Januarya.c . at the open
ing of the discussion Of the Draft Of Budget
for the Municipality of st. Croix for The
financial year lo93-94 signifed their intention
TO abstain from voting on same under existing
circumstances, nominated the undersigned
Committee to draw up in writing the reasons
Of the members for abstaining from voting,
and in conformity Herewith the Committee
row begs to submit the following for the
adoption OF the Council.
Whereas in the full conviction that retrcnch
ments in the public expenses Of the Island are
unavoidably necessary owing to the year
after year increasing deficit on the Budget,
which, in the Councils opinion, if allowed TO
continue. must ultimately result in utter ruin
TO the int erests Of the Island, and have al
ready placed same in the most serious en-
bari assment, the Council has previously taken
the matter under serious consideration and on
the Drafts of Budget for the last two financial
years has nominated Committees with the
special view of subiecting he Drafts Of Bud
GETS to a thorough and minute examination IN
order TO propose such rctrenchments IN
the public expenditure, winch might Do
effected without detriment to the effectiveness
Of the administlat alton, and fully endorsing the
proposals submitted by said Committees, the
Council has with a large majoriiy-besides
recommending feasible retrenchments In such
items of the Budget which being fixed by
Laws and Ordinances are exempt from the
vote of the Council under the discussions OF
the Budget-voted against certain items in
the Money Bills which according to tho Colo.
NAL Law, the Council is ertitled to reject and
which items the Council considered unnecessa-
~ and extravagant;-
And whereds, in spite Of the Councils re-
~iections, sail expenses have by Royal Resolu-
lions, with the exception of perhaps one or
insignificant items, been granted. as
stated in said Resolutions, in conformity with
s sc of the Colonial law
And whefSas the Colonial Council, as shown
bv its vote. does not consider said expenses,
which it rejected, necessary for the proper
discharge of the administration according to
existing laws. ordinances or other rules. and
therefore neither can acknowledge S 81 OF the
Colonial Law applicable to said items;-
and vhsreas by thus ignoring the vote OF
che Council, the rights of the Council have
been infringed upon;-
And vhsreos the Colonial Law does not
give the Council any guidance, and the ON
mittes is not competent to advise. as to how or
where 20 seek redress in cases, where, as in the
aforementioned, the Council holds the opinion
that the administration has overstepped the
boundaries of it's authority
And whereas the Committee sees no other
means 70 prevent the Councils vote again be-