Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-14
VIR GIN ISLANDS TO BE STUDIED
BY FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS
Bureau of Efficiency Experts
to Put Possessions Under
Microscope.
Survey viii Collect Data to
Be Used by Congressional
Committees.

The historic little Virgin Islands,
basking almost unnoticed in the tropi-
cal breezes of the Caribbean, peacefully
going about their business of producing
sugar and bay rum for American mar
! ketS, are to be subjected to the most
comprehensive reconnaissance since
Columbus first set foot on the virgin
soil in 1892.
Coincident with the departure today
of q group of special investigators OF
the United States Bureau of Efaciency,
Bound for the small insular possessions,
Herbert D. Brown, director of the bu-
reau, revealed for the first time plans
to put the islands under the Govern
ment's microscope of investigation with
view to improving conditions and
making the islanders happier and more
content.
All Phases to BE Studied.
Every phase of the financial, econom-
10, social and industrial life of the is
lands Is to be studied at first hand by
these Government experts, who will be
| joined in two weeks by Mr.. Brown
who will direct the survey. 1nvesti-
gators include A. l.. Preston, John B.
| Payne and Jerome p. Gunther OF the
Efficiency Bureau and Carl r. Swan
son of the Treasury Department, rec
OkHILEQ cApSIO Oh LdAdLlOns
The study is to be made at the spe-
ciflc request Of the House committees
on appropriations and interstate and
foreign commerce, and the Senate COM
mittee on territories and inSular pos
sessions, Of which Senator Bingham Of
Connecticut Is chairman. The Navy
Department and the governor OF the
islands, himself an American naval
ofiicer viii cooperate in this important
undertaking.
has been laid firmly as a result OF
careful and painStaking study by Mr..
Brown and his assistants Of the
financial, economic, industrial and So
cial conditions of the islands from data
supplied by sundry Federal agencies
vitality concerned with these individual
problems.
Report to Be Made.
A report on the result Of the investi-
CATION will be submitted to the con-
gressional committees at whose instance
It Is being made, soon after the Christ
mas holiday recess Of the regular seS-
sion Of Congress, to convene next
month. The report, it was indicated,
will contain a number of important
ing to Mr.. Brown, Ito help the Virgin
Islanders help themselves"
"A great deal of valuable material
collected by various agencies in and out
of Congress already has been studied"
said Mr.. Brown. Each of these
agencies, however, worked on some par
ticular phase of conditions in the
| islands. Our aim is to correlate this
material, fortify and supplement 1t with
our own investigation. and thus present
to Congress complete and unified pic
4. SSnt he A@1m AZ
suggestions for improvements"
The natives OF the islands are under
stood to be looking forward to the bu-
reau's investigation to bring about a
marked improvement in their welfare
o hope which they have cherished since
the United States paid Denmark $685.
OO0, 900 for the islands in 1917 and as
sumed the role of guardian and pro-
| tector.
The day when the American flag was
| first raised over old Fort Christian, on
the st. Thomas waterfront, the island
ers. it was said, felt that the millennium
was close at hand. What happened
since, however, Is an old story.
Islands Are Neglected."
First there came the World War and
the complete immersion Of the United
States in problems in which the islands
had little to do. Next came prohibition
the postwar deflation, long drought
and finally q hurricane. The people
found they received everything but the
millennium they had expected. The
! things which happened to them between
| prohibition-had happened before. But
the sequences on this occasion were
swift and narrowing, and they came,
moreover, Just when their expectation
| was at its height.
Lacking in rare diScernment, the ma.
tives, 1t was explained, did not under
stand that the United States. was not
| ton or for the hurricane. Yet in theil
plight they blamed Uncle Sam.
| In the last few years, however, there
| has been material improvement, the peo
pie are more prosperous and battermenti
| In education, sanitation, public health
and economic conditions have donC
much to make them more satisfied. Blu
they stu have recollection Of the mil
lennium that failed to arrive and ar
still inclined to blame the United Statei
Q bit.
The Efficiency Bureaus survey In 9
large measure, 1t is believed, will COM
pletely eradicate any misapprehension
which may exist, although the main
objective is to encourage industry and
reduce the expenses of government i
possible.
Three of Islands.
The Virgin Islands, three in number
are st. Croix, st. Thomas and st. John
Surrounding them. however. are a mum.
. Der Of tributary isles and Gays which
. serve no apparent useful purpose K
: the United States. OF the three, 81
J CroIx, covering an area Of % square
miles, Is the largest. 81. Thomas y