New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-10
u. S. Must Expend
100000 a Year
On Virgin Islands
Governor Oliver Predicts
Deficit Will Grow
Annually

WASHINGTON, Sept 9-It will cost
the United States approximately
100000 a year for the upkeep of the
Virgin Islands, formerly the Danish
West Indies, for which America paid
So, 100000, according to the first re-
port of Captain James II. Oliver, the
temporary Governor. lnasmuch, how
ever, as the islands were purchased
for strategic purposes, this outlay may
appropriately be charged to defence Of
the country.
Captain Oliver says that the deficit
will grow annually unless the pro
ductivity OF the islands is increased.
Under Danish administration there
was deficit of $4,000, which the
thrifty Danes wiped out by means OF
a colonial lottery.
The United States will be deprived
not only of the lottery scheme Of reve-
nut, but OF large part of the former
customs receipts, since under the new
law imports from the United States
will be on-taxable. This loss will
amount to about Sill, 900 year. Cap
tain Oliver estimated, with no way TO
make il up. Furthermore, the islands
are badly in need of better water sys-
TENS and better fire protection, so the
United States will have another ex-
pense TO meet there.
Cost of Native Police
For the present, too, the islands are
being policed by United States ma
rines, and the latter will have TO be
replaced later BY native cOnstabulary,
which will cost another large amount
The government buildings will have to
be repaired and some of them re-
placed, and furniture will have to be
installed in all of them. Furthermore,
il is possible that the United States
will be called upon TO pay some Of the
100000 bond issue of the island Of
ST. Thomas, according TO the agree
ment entered into with the Danish ISL
ands.
There is practically no food grown
on the islands, the people being de-
pendent on the United States, Porto
Rico and neighboring islands to a
great extent. The interruption Of
regular communication with the United
States would result in certain hard
ship and probable starvation" Captain
Oliver reported.
No School System
The school system Of the three ISL
ands amounts practically 70 nothing.
Public schools are maintained In one
or two of the main cities, but else
where there is no school system eX-
cept that provided by private and de-
nominational institutions. II the
United States follows the example II
set in its other island possessions 1t
will establish a complete school sys-
TEN in the islands, which will cost
large amount.
About the only thing in the islands
which Captain Oliver found ft to
praise was the legal system. IL APP
pears that under the laws Of the ISL
ands both parties to any suit are
obliged to appear in private before the
Judge without their attorneys, the
Judge attempting TO settle the suit
without the regular law processes. In
many cases this Cancellation plan sue
ceeds, Captain Oliver said, and law
yers have a hard time making living
on the islands.
He also found that most OF the labor
on the islands had left for Porto Rico
and other places, hoping TO tind bet
ter livelihood. About the only INDUS.
trv on the islands is the raising or
sugar cane, and there is not great
deal Of that product.