The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-03-03
BAD SITUATION.
A Bloody. Political Crisis is Believed to
Be Imminent in Island of Jamaica.
The Colony is Bankrupt, and it is Said
Great Britain Wants to Control the
Finances-That Would Involve
Change of Constitution.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March This
colony is on the verge of political
crisis which may involve bloOdshed.
Owing to the treatment of the colony
by the imperial government in recent
years, particularly in the matter of
marketing it's products, Jamaica, in
common with the other British posses
sions in the West Indies, is virtually
bankrupt.
Unable to meet it's growing liabili-
ties, the colony necessarily looks to
Great Britain for financial aid and the
colonial office, through Mr.. Chamber
LAIN has answered, as it has to Barba-
does and the smaller islands, that aid
can be extended solely on condition
that the imperial government shall
control the Jamaica finances here
after.
That would involve change of the
constitutiOn-the resignation of repre-
sentative institutions and the accept
ance of crown-colony government. This
Jamaica is not prepared to concede,
preferring to meet it's financial crisis
in some other way. The other way is
by drastic scheme of retrenchment
in the too expensive administrative es-
Establishments. The revenue is not so
much depleted that the country would
not hold it's own through the crisis, if
the intolerable burden of over admins
ration were modified.
AS, under the present constitution,
the elective side of the legislature con-
trolls the finances, provided a majority
of nine of the ID representa- lives vote
solidly for or against any financial
measure-the government has realized
that at the coming session this policy
of retrenchment would be forced upon
it. To meet this it has taken timely
action. 1t has begun system of re-
trenchment that completely set the
country by the ears.
In the first place, the salaries of all
petty officials, including Office messen-
gers, government building employees
and courthouse cleaners, have been re-
duced 20 per cent, effecting. saving
in amounts ranging from $40 to $40 a
year.
Recently nearly half of the state
paid district medical officers, who are
attached to the civil service because
they can not by practice make living
in the country districts have been
summarily discharged without notice
among them some who have occu-
pied posts for more than 40 years. Be-
sides this, orders have been issued to-
close down several of the district pub
lie hospitals in some of the most i'm.
portant parts of the island
The other day the governor issued
the warrants converting council for
March IA, and at the same time he let
it be understood that his intention is
to avail himself of his constitutional
prerOgative to increase the official side
of the house so as to give the govern
ment a clear majority. One elective
seat is vacant, the occupant of another
not to be occupied at this session.
Thus the government is prepared
to force the country, under a pre-
tense of constitutiOnalism, to accept
the contemplated change of constitu-
ton. But it is not without the gravest
significance that a general mobiliza-
ton of the entire military forces was
ordered simultaneously with this an
nouncement. The mobilization began
Tuesday morning at Port Royal. This
really means that the colony is to be
coerced and terrorized into surrender
ing its constitutional government.
Whether this scheme will succeed or
not without grave and highly sensa-
| tional crisis remains to be seen.
BAD STORM IN MISSISSIPPI.