, 1954-04-17
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF GOVERNOR ARCHIE ALEXA

An ATTEMPT viii be made to increase the tourist trade. While /
do not believe an economy based on this business alone is a stable
one, we must be sure to take the greatest advantage possible of the
natural attributes that the islands possess for this industry. We will
ask the cooperation Of the air lines. the Chamber of Commerce. the
hotels, the labor unions and the trade associations to unite together
to make the most of the situation. An enhanced program of opera
ton will put more workers in employment, bring more dollars in
circulation and enhance the present economy. Through contacts
with the carriers I think it is possible to get the air lines to have
obviatng the time consuming change Of planes in San Juan. The
hotels can contribute greatly through sound and effective adver-
Using Many vacatonists pass by this island and spend some time
time in the British Islands on account Of cheaper rates being obtain
able in most Of the places to the south Of US. / believe. too, that there
is avery important role for the popuace as a whole. who BY cour-
tesy and friendliness can make visitors to our islands feel welcome
and at ease and anxious to pay a returns call
Education is another area in which we desire to assist / firmly
believe through vocational guidance much can be done to assist in
the development of the economy. I believe we must teach our
youth not only how to make a living and that there is dignity in
ed labor if we are to have a balanced economy. I have interviewed
the members of a committee sent to these islands a few years ago
by the United States Department Of Education to make a survey of
the educational facilities here. I have also read with interest the
report Of a survey made by the St Thomas Board Of Education of
the vocational program in Puerto Rice. Both Of these reports show
a deficiency of equipment and cJrrnulaf in our schools in these is
lands. We must correct this situation and bring our educational pro-
gram in balance with out physical plants. We pledge you that we,
together with our own department of education, will bend every eff
fort to work toward that end.
/ have been assured that the subcommittee Of the House Com
mittee on Interior and Insuar Affairs will 60 into executive session
on April Is, at which time / hope the subcommittee will report out
bill to revise the nrerent organic act. I also hope that the full COM
mittee headed by Congressman Miller, who we expected to be pre-
sent today, will act expedhiously in approving the subcommittee
bill and that House action will follow speedily. Before and after we
get an organic act, you may be assured of my complete cooperation.
with your Municipal Councils and with your Legislature. / can see
no particular reason why we ever need resort to the veto. We can
conserve time and money if we will but meet annd discuss freely
proposed legislation before bills are introduced. This / am willing
to do with you'll am hopeful that you will extend me the same cour-
tegy. It is common knowledge that our operational budget has been
reduced BY the sum of nearly a quarter Of a million dollars. The
other day the House Committee on Appropriations further deereas-
ad by over a hundred thousand dollars the full appropriation. We
do not know as yet what is to happen but if any decrease Is sus