, 1954-05-13

with. ! nolitical parties. an elected legislature, and an APP
pointed governor, there is no tie-in between the two branches OF
government and the normal rivalry and conflict between the two
becomes abnormany intensified. The very process OF government Is
impaired when there is not even a small minority in the legislature
to represent the administration policies and sponsor its proposals
Administration measures. have no assurance of proper presentation
or adequate defense. / heard one councilman say: i rise 70 mtroouce
this administration bill only to get it off the calendar. ! am going
to vote against it and I hope all Of you will do the same" This lack
of legally provided and accepted contact between the two means
definite loss to both the legislature and the administration.
This "a did not exist under the original Organic Act. It was
therein provided that the Governor or his designate should sit with
out vote Of cowse) in all council sessions, introduce and defend DIS
and enhghten council as requested. For some years this proved Q
great mutual advantage until some difficulties arose between Gov
|ernor HARDWOOD and the ST. Thomas Council To eliminate the re-
oirement Of his further appearance at council meetings, with attend
ant wranges and abuse, he got friends in Congress to effect the
amendment Of the Organic Act SO as to eliminate the drecnve ana
"shaln to may. Then he stayed away from meetings ana
directed the Administrator for 81. croix to do Likewise there, ds-
bite the official request of that council for his, the Administrators
continued attendance which they declared to be mutually beneficial
I"To further democracy was the lame excuse given, and swallowed
by many; but the real reason was to avoid a burdensome' some
times unpleasant, but important responsibility of the Governors Of
flee, A
That change effected a still further loss to the cause of efficient
government. The Councils Rules of Business, carefully developed
during earlier and saner years, required 2 or 8 meetings Tor passage
of any measure unless Gor reasons of urgency quicker action was
approved by the unanimous vote of the Council and the consent OF
the Governor or the Administrator. Now, with neither OF them pre-
sent. this provision became imperative and this important aHo los-
standing protection against hasy legislation was stricken from the
rules While it might be possible, if deemed desirable, to restore
that provision in the new Organic Act, the original and mutually
beneficial relationship cannot be regained within the forseeabie fu-
tre. Thus, under the guise of democracy, was arrogant dumbocncy
furthered.
l think it would be a grave mistake to include IN the new or-
ganc Act any provision for return of internal revenues collected on
the mainland on Virgin Islands rum. I think that, despite the several
Limitations, it remains unjustified and unfair to mainland business
and taxpayer. It's two main purposes are: ID TO increase the Federal
contributions, and () to hide them urder this canouf1age and les
sen the breadth and depth of the Federal scrutiny. The sef-support
is hardly sincere, would prove false, and does not merit
Congress consideration. Certain proponents have the hope OF thus
getting more Federal funds into their hands for spending.
That the return Of these revenues is a right as many claim, has
no validity That it is deserved because created or earned by the Vr-
gin Islands rum taxed in the States is equally invalid unless equally
true Of Indian whisky, Belgian 1aces, and Russian vodka. CThe flaw
in that, however, is that, if eliminated, Virgin Islands taxed rum
would be replaced in the American market by just that much more
Puerto Rico rum from which Federal Government gets no taxes)
But that still establishes no right or claim. It only shows up a very