, 1894-04-28

TO the QlHeleul Il ltltS, luty nave UtcH pro-"
missed that support from the public, 10 refuse
it now, would be to place them all in very
great difficulties and it woulo be a breach Of
promise on the pant Of the Colonial Council
because The individuals had the right to
expect that when once allowed that support,
it would not be taken away without just
cause. This same argument would apply
equally as much IN eference to the men en-
ployed for military 5, ryicr, and for which
provisions are to be- made by Money Bill TX;
lie is no lawyer, but it seemed to him quite
natural that it should be so rs stated by him.
1t is true that the Budget is for the great
part no law, but a mere estimate OF the
expenses required, but where the Budget IS
based upon a law or an ordinance or upon
a rule Just as binding as laws or ordinances,
then those items so based can not be rejected,
even if they be reduced by the Colonial
Council. AS far as he Military Expenses
are concerned, all of them are warranted
or necessary under the Military Ordinance Of
1872.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (Hewit) would beg to observe that
we are really going outside OF what Is before
the Council now; but as regards His Excellen'
cy's remarks, it would perhaps be necessary
more precisely to define the position OF the
Colonial Council in reference to the grants
for public expenditure. IT the views In that
respect recently upheld by Government were
correct and in accordance with the Colonial
Law, then the Colonial Council need not be
asked at all 70 vote on any bill. But il
the Councils votein the Affirmative Is to have
any infuence-and the Government says 1T
has, then certainly the vote III the negative
must have some significance 100; and as long
as the Colonial Law itself contains no deAnl-
ton, at least no adequate explanation as to
what is to be considered the Councils duty
towards the Stale or the Community, SO long
is it o question whether the Council, when re-
fusing what it is asked to grant or to refuse,
transgresses that duty: aud it is then always
doubtful how far that sixty-second para
graph can be applied. Now as regards the
Money Bill No. x, he must, for instance, OBJ
iect against the item of S. 1000 for purchasing
horses las unnecessary and as regards Money
Bill XVI, it is not to be expected that the
Colonial Council would refuse to widows and
others the support which was once consider
al requisite and merited, unless it be forfeit
cd by the respective parties; but the question
which always is before the Colonial Council
when those grants come on is, whether PEN
siOns at all can be given from the Treasury;
and if we 90 out from the view that the
amounts cannot be refused or reduced, then,
the whole system on which our Budgets Is
based must be aDandOHeo; We AuusC tnon Co "O
to this, that an item once granted, remains
always in force, and no vote for the future IS
needed or requisite or will be allowed. But,
anyhow, from what we see and heal, theGovern-
ment will usp s 81 again, and there is no Tear
for these pensions. -.
After some further remarks upon an lndl-
vidual amount proposed as support for Police
man Thomas, which were considered made
within closed doors;
The Chcirnan put to the vote the proposal
for a. Committee Of 8 members to report on
this Draft of Budget there were 6 votes for
and 7 against; the proposal was rejected, as it
required a vote Of / to carry it being a devla-
ton from the Rules Of Business. :,
The Council then adopted with II votes to
proceed to the vote on Money Bills en- bloc.
The Chairman then placed Money Bills IL
to XVII, including the amendments from
Government, to the vote; they were all re-
iected with 10 votes against 2; and the Draft
of Budget droppeu. :,
No Budget can therefore 'be despatched
from the Council.
The Council then proceeded to the first
item on the Order of the Day, viz:
/. Election of a Member for Frederiksted.s
Sanitary Commission instead OF Mr.. W ii.
Brown, as requested by Government IN
letter of 2Sth February a. G.
~ Io1rOfn ynrn hoIhn1 II anil QInnf.