, 1912-06-01

y An NA"N
cases is the same. The hon. 1st Member
for Christiansted was very keen on his pro-
posal to-day, but why did he not support
him, the Speaker, months ago. In this case
there had been licitation, two offers had
been sent in aud the lowest accepted.
If the Ministry steps in and q friction
arises between the Government and the
Council, what benefit can we have of it?
The Speaker would now mention his re-
sponsibility as Chairman OF the Municipal
Committee. The Speaker now gave a report
of what had taken place With regard to the
1st Member for Christiansted Towns request
of q copy of a part of the proceedings OF the
Municipal Committee. How he, the Speak
er. had got tue communications about TINS
matter through the Secretary OF the Com
mittee. The 1st Member for Christiansted
has entirely ignored him, the Speaker, as
hartman of the Committee rs he did not
apply to HIM but to the Secretary tor the
copy in question. If any one had treated
him, the LIST Member for Christiansted in
his capacity as Chairman of the Council, in
the same manner he would soon enough
have resented it. He pointed out, that the
minutes of the protocol were not approved
and signed by the members. He could not
see, that he had any right to give a copy OF
the proceedings, a copy of them was every
quarter laid before the Council, but outside
Of that the proceedings Of the Municipal
Committee were secret. Further it had
never before in his time happened that the
protocol had been sent round to the mem
bers for signature. He concluded by saying
that he in this case had followed what his
conscience babe him do.
1st Member for Christiansted Town
tStdkeSadnn) said it sounded very grand,
what the Chairman of the Municipal Com
mittee had said, but the matter was very
simple. When the Committee had an office,
he, the Speaker, of course had to go to the
Office to the Secretary and not to West End
to the Chairman. When he wanted q copy of
anything from the Court, be went to the Court
Office, not to the Judge personally, and asked
for a copy. And if any members of the Coun-
Gil wanted anything regarding the Councils
affairs, he would not demand that they came
to him, they have always been accustomed
to go to the Assistant in the Councils Office
and get what they wanted, without troub-
ling the ChaiIman, and as far as he, the
speaker, is concerned. he should very much
object TO be troubled unnecessarily rs Chair
man with requests for papers which the
member may obtain by applying to the AS
~sistant, therefore the Council has an office.
That the Protocol was not signed in the
Meetings was only n practical arrangement,
and with regard to The secretness of the
proceedings it was q mistake, s 7 soid that
the proceedings of the Municipal Committee
were not public, that meant, that The Public
could not be present ut the meetings, but it
did not mean, that the proceedings were
secret. He would ask the hon. Chairman of
the Committee, if he didn't go to Govern-
ment to confer on this matter about the
granting Of the copy asked for.
1st Member for Frederiksted Town cont
ter) answered, that he went to the Govern
or, the Governor had Just as much right to
see his remarks as the hon. Member had to
see his own. 1t was only doing %lusticej
icing impartial to both sides. He then read
his letter to the Secretary ID which he de-
MED a copy of the proceedings and asked
the Council, if it could find anything un-
business like OF transgressing his right as
Chairman.
The Vice Chairman said, that as His Ex-
cellency now haG taken the full responsible
ity on him concerning what had taken place
with the mail service, the case was changed;
10 adopt the proposal pow would be to censure
His Excellency. His EXcellency had just ar
rived here, then to censure him, when he takes
the whole responsibility on him. would be i'll