Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-29
DISCERNS GOLDBRICK
IN DEAL WITH DANES
Congressman Asserts the
Virgin Islands Are Use.
less as Naval Base
COST WAS S25,OOO,OOO


disclosures by Representative Padgctt.
4 OF Tennessee, chairman Of the House
/ committee on Naval Affairs. that the
/ islands are useless as a naval base
tho uSo TO which the ma iority Of the
American people believed they would he
pu' when the treaty was negotiated.
Members Of Congress who believe
That tn" islands were purchased prr-
marjly for their yaiuo AS real estate"
o" as the site os a great naval base
{" guard the approaches TO thc Carib-
bean Sea, are inclined 10 inquire FUR
thor into the valuc Of the purchase
Administration leaders declare that
the Navy Department did not negotiate
IN" purchase Of the islands that tho
state Department urged their acQuisj.
ton, and that their political value TO
the United states may bo greater than
surface conditions indicate.
Germany Wants Them
Representative John r. Farr. Of
scranton, Pa. a member Of the House
Naval Affairs committee. replying to
criticisms Of the worthlessucss Of the
Islands for a naval base. declared in the
House that Germany would he very
glad to take them off I'm" hands of the
United states
The navy appropriation bill soon to be
considered by the Seuat" carries an
! appropriation Of 100000 for expenses
incident to tho occupation and 'thc
execution Of the provisions Of the act
requiring a temporary government and
for other purposes
Inuuiry has developed that tn, 5000.
600 is intended for the improvement Of
sanitary conditions on the islands the
erection NJ hospitals, etc, and the ad-
miuistration of iuterna, government
The only appreCiable industry Of the
islands--Ship reDar-has ceased owing
tn the war. there is very little farming,
and Chairman PadEett declared the peO.
plc are In "a deplorable condition, so
fas as resources, revenues and ocCupa-
tions are concerned. and there Is a short
ago of revenues as compared with ahso.
lutely essential expenditures
"Not II Proper Place"
Reprcscnlativca Miller. Of Minnesota.
and Fosg. Of Ohio. already are interested
in the development Of the islands, os'
peciaIly with respect to continued ap-
/ propriatious Of considerable sums Of
money for maintaining tLcm when they
arc of no strategic value
During debate on the naval apprOnria'
/ ton bill Representative Miller drCr
. from Chairman PadEett the admission
/ that the harbor at St Thomas is no,
/ capable Of development for naval base
! AS to whether there would bo any
development at an has not been consid
cred" said Mr.. Padgett.
"Thc question that was asked me the
other day. and which 7 answered, was
as to the relative value of adaptahilitv
Of tho harbor at ST. Thomas for naval
base. compared with ,thers | stated
then that at Samana Bay there was a
place many. many, many times more
valuable and much better adapted than
St Thomas.
But ! am unoficially advised that
the harbor at St Thomas is incapable of
a development so as TO make proper
place for our present navy said Mr.
Miller
"m my judgment it is not a proper
place to establish naval base Mr.
PadEott said.
"Thc sum named here is 100000 Oh
continued tho Minnesota member "What
ON earth are we going to spend 100000
on the government Of the island of st
Thomas foT?'
Mr.. Padgctt replied: Tho revenues
of the island Of 81. Thomas and the
NirCin Islands. especially st. Thomas
were derived from its shipping There
are no industries there to amount tC
anything except little mercantilc--'
"Therc is quite lot of ship repair
ing"
"There was. but this war has abso
Iutely paralyzcd IL. and the people there
are i'm a dcplorablc condition so far a'
resources, revenues and occupations are
concerned. and there is a shortage o
revenues as compared with absolutely
essential expenditures
t,ar
said. 'Is not the land producing a
much now as IT ala thch 10 chaD!e II u
pay this taN?'
THE land tax there is nominal
Chairman Padgctt replied. THE lant
starts at the waters edge, Is BOUNDED
by the heavens on one side and tn
water on the other
"'The gentleman is entirely correct,
interrupted Mr. Miller
"And goes up straight from the water
The farming interest amounts to moth
ing" .,...
showing 100000 was needed to ad
minister the government of that islandY
1.-THE estimates submitted were yer!
much more, but the Secretary has re
rorted only 100000 Admiral oliver
and when I was down there / spent sew
eral hours with him in personal con
yersation. going over the whole state o
the island-was very earnest I'm recon-
mending even much more than this
For Health and Hospitals
"Did he want to build docks or buil'
roads?" inquired Mr., Miller
mo, it was for health and hospitals
and internal government and admins
tration of affairs" Chairman Padget
renIied 1T does not contemplate
making anything Of that kind what
ever"
zone of the sources of revenue Of tina
island was a lottery, which, Of course
has now ceased TO exist In addition L
The returns received from shipping" sat
? Renresentative Hicks, of New York
"%ow7 il happened that down there tn
educational system was entirely main
, ,ained bv religious institutions. Tha
; has now virtually ceased and some o
p this money is going to go into tn
| schools"