, 1896-04-22
JAMAICA NEWS.
(Glean3r, 3Otb March

The principal subject occupying mems
minds has been the proceedings IN the Le-
g~islative Council. 1t is expected that the
session will close this week. A controversial
breeze lLas passed through the usually quiet
ecclesiastical sphere during the forth light.
The death of tho President of the Haytlan
Republic has given another shake to the
political kaleidoscope Of that unhappy coun-
Try.
PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL.
When the Council assembled on Tuesday
the 18th inst. Mr. Spencer Heaven, who had
arrived by the mail, was sworn in, and took
his seat. The Governor sent down q mes
sage asking a grant Of $4,000 to enable the
Agricultural Society to continue the good
work it has been doing, and to extend its
operations during the forthcoming year.
The Spirit License Law was then taken up
in Committee and after a great deal of dis
cussion with amendments aud cross amend
ments the bill passed the second stage. Then
came Mr.. Clarke's annual at tack on the regis
tration system of the island. His idea 10,
that the names of the fathers as well as OF the
mothers of illegitimate children should be
entered on the register of births-a very
reasonable request from all points of view,
but one which is very unpalatable to the
minds of the Legislators of Jamaica. The mo-
ton was again lost-the voting being the
same as on the previous occasion. Ihereupon
the Council, on the motion OF the member for
Kingston, pa Ased "a resolution to reduce the
duty on rum, one Of the arguments for such q
course being that it would aid the sugar ln-
dustry. The same member made an appeal
for the quarterly payment Of taxes, but this
was refused.
On Wednesday the Council went into com
mittee on the Estimates, and much to the sur
prise of the general public it managed to get
through them in two or three days. There
was a great deal of petty discussion on seve-
ral items, but no important general speeches
such 40 the country used 10 be favoured with
from men like Mr.. C.. S. tarquharson or j, NJ.
Faroubarson. The chief item which called
for anything like a concerted attack on the
Government was the amount for an addition
al examiner in the educational department.
The attack was really On the system of educa-
ton now in force, which was characterised
as being useless, and q means OF wasting the
taxpay ers' money. The amount was granted.
With reference to cable communication it was
agreed to continue the subsidy, but opinion
was unanimous that the time had come when
o new cable should be established to jamaica.
The military vote was increased IN order to
enable the Militia to be armed with the Mar
tint Metford rife, and 6 1000 was granted
for the use of the Agricultural Society.
On Friday the House considered a request
from the Inspector General of Police for a
house allowance, which, he said. he understood
he was to get when accepting that appointss
msnt, but the Council decided against the
application, on the vote of the elected men,
bers. The report of the Select Committee on
Public Buildings was considered in commit
tee on this day, and was adopted by the
Oounci il. 1t provides for the erection OF a
block of buildings on the Parade Ground,