, 1894-11-28

passed by lh6 NOuTCt DuL on mt OlH6l hallu
$62 Of the Colonial Law provides that if the
Budget be not passed by the Colonial Coun-
ell i'll such a way that the Government caIs
he co~ntented th' rewith, theu Government has
to lay the matter before the Ministry, and if
the Ministry agree, then the matter is sub
mitted to the King, and by Royal Resolution
a Budget is then fixed; therefore there have
lega ly been given Budgets for those financial
years in question. Tie Accounts now before
the Council are fully in accordance with the
Budgets so fixed by the King, and therefore
the Colonial Council has no right to refuse
accepting them.
2nd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (BIaok1oood) said, from His Excel
lency's remarks, it was no doubt right as far
as the Budget is concerned, that His Ma.
jesty did pass the Budget for those years
without the alterations made by the Colonial
Council or without the vote of the Council,
but if the Council is in any shape OF form
charged with the Legislative affairs Of the
colony, then, it can't be understood how it
can be construed as being not right OF tho
Council to refuse accepting the accounts rem
dered for the items enumerated in those very
Budgets. The Council had worked a length
Of time on tho one Budget and had Ofersd
means for retrsnchments, which must most
assurodly be made sooner or later; even if the
Colonial Council were but a consultative body
still, it would have been but fair to give the
suggestions some consideration but the vote
and the suggestions were completely ignored;
and the next year we got the same old Budget;
the Council refused to discuss This Budget,
and then it was framed by the King, as His
ExeelIenoy Just said. If, now, the Home
Government choose to have that amount Of
expenses for the colony, and if they via
spend that money in the way laid down, we
can but be grateful to them, but We will not be
called on to sanction those expenses after hay.
ing once refused them as taxpayers and re-
presentatives OF the people We cannot be ex-
pected to be willing to take back what We
have already decided ard adopted; there is not
one single Member of the Council outside
Of the Crown Members who did not admit hat
at the time it was a night action on
the part Of the Council and all wilk
now agree that to retract now would
be wrong. 1t would, indeed, be afording
scope to believe that we were merely OPP
posing for the sake of opposition-an
assertion against which he would most em-
phatically protest, if we were now, under
these Accounts, to pass the expenses which
we refused under the Budget. We have the
same amount Of expenses, the same amount
Of taxation, but the cultivation is decreasing,
the ability to bear the taxes is de-
crpasiug and the returns If the crop
are lomentably poor and growing still less;
look at the prices Of produce Of sugar,
rum and molasscs. and look at the still
poorer prospects before us, and then say # we
are justified in keeping up the sane amount Of
expenses. There is not one man who wishes
to put obstacles in the way Of q fan, peaceable
administration; but we must stand up for our
nights, for -retrenchments OF expenditure; We
have no chance but III retIenchments. and
we desire to effect them honestly and fairly
but instead we see nothing done, only -
demand that we shall swallow what we
have once said and done, But this is not
right to expect nor to ask.
The Governor said he believed the honour.
able Members remarks should have been
made when speaking on the Budget but this
is not the Budget before US, but the Commu-
nal Accounts; if now these accounts are
correct. he could not see why they should
not be passed, even if the Budget had not
been passed this point is not now under con-
sideratiou, but the question whether the ac-
counts are to be passed they being rightand in
accordance with the Budges which We have
in legal form. We may be quite sure that
the Revis0rs have looked to it. and have
found the accounts to be in accordance with
the Budget and even if the Colonial Council
l,-. .,s,otoI 4bo P,HOat ofill ~ nyiStG hv