, 1898-01-29

administration, and the authority given by
S 62 of The Colonial Law to pass he Budgets
over our heads Year after year affords the
means whereby to provide Tor The admins
trative expenses but it is not for this Coun-
Gil TO pass Budgets the one year after the
other with al amount Of public expenditure,
which We know Geforehal d hat We are not
able to pay. The pletent Budget shows a
total expenditure Of $3.50, 754 and IL total
revenue OF S144 $50 or q deficit of S108, 774.
he did not believe thnt there is one single
person who does not otherwise than see hat
We Cannot possibly pay that amount. We
sec It plainly manifest that property year
after year Is decreasing in value cultivation
ie being restricted III The area and the prizes
OF produce so individually low, that the
means OF paying taxes are entirely OF almost
entirely disappearing, and if lhIs il 20 with
the ordinary expenditures and the ordinary
means Of meeting them, it IS 80 much more
when year " year we have an incleuss
Of our debt for deficient public expenses. A
change OF Ministry might bring with it the
demand III III impressive form fol- payment
OF the debt: and he for one, AS owner Of
property, does not see how we are to meet it
when asked for and by continually in
creaslng the amount Of the debt, the chanceA
become 50 much the less Of our ever being
sble to inset it. No honest thinking man
occupied with public affairs cal think it
allowable ~ go on increasing a debt which
has already assumed a very extensive limit.
III the Home Government will fill up the
deficits, Wv cannot but be thankful; and
from the bottom vi his heart he could wish
he could ssS his way c cal to vote tor this
Budget; but lie could not think or feel ID
:.lA -. 80. . mas - ,,,l, 49,, avt.~
Without seeing Amy possibility If tbs Com
mnhity being ubie to Ply II. 1t might be
30 that HE MothVrcouully does not expect
pay ment except by or through the snle of
lie islands; but any thinS to that effect
We huye not heard from the Ministry,
Ia her The contrary. The prospects ars
indeed not encOutaglngj We SEE The Whol0
world u! must one vast sugar field, and the
competition which tue pro duce OF this little
Island has to encounter is 50 very keen, that
bat yeIy little prospects If any thing like
a satisfactory outcome can be reckOhed on;
low, then, ale we to co ltiuue incl easing the
public debt and raising the same amount Of
taxation Wit. prospects Of more f-He would
recommend that tue Colonial CuuuGil follow
the Same cOntse us heretofore Of late. His
Exceilcncy will of course seek refuge. ns
under The Colonial Law, which
lie will then use. He (BlackNood) tell sure
that His Excellency muSl in reality agree
in the iustaess aud correct eSs of the view
Ihat leads Us not to .your the Budgets,
although. it is His Exccllcmcy's duty IT,
Recommend The Budget.
The 0oreynor said he fell sure TINT all
will agree that the Draft Of Budget be
fore the Council presents no new features. so
neither does he ~leech from the honorable
Member BLACK woodD; but the honorable
Member had come too ,ariy lh's time as We
have not how lfto 2nd discussion Of the
Budget.
No one requested he word farther; tst dis
cussion closed; the Draft of Budget with
Money Bills passed to Ind discussion.
3. Continuation of 2nd Discussion on
DRAFT of Ordinance (by Blackwood) alter
ing the Ordinance Of 4th May 1886 con-
Corning the trade in and sale Of Rum
and other distilled strong Liquos in
ST. Croix, with Committee Report and
Amendments also with S"b-amend-
Ments proposed by the Government TO
The amendments proposed by The
Majority of the Committee.
The Government had introduced the fol-
lowing: