, 1955-07-23
EX-GOVERNOR DENoUNcEs TIME MAG CLAIMS
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sent Of the legislative body which in the long run must provide the
funds for the operation Of the departments 50 reorganized. These
two matters have turned out to be in the opinion Of all impartial and
serious minded people in these islands, the greatest contradiction OF
the expressed desire for increasing self-government for the people
Of our islands, including political progress in these islands, has re-
ceived ! most severe setback; and will be irreDaraby damaged I'M
less we can in the near future convince the Congress OF the united
States that there should be a change in the organic act N thus re-
snect: or unless we can convince the executive branch OF the gov
eminent Of the United States that there is REQUIRED 2 change u e
depreciation Of the organic act, which would restore the proper de-
gree Of balance essential to a democratic country between the func.
lions Of the executive and the functions OF the leRsiatVe Drancn OF
the government of these islands.
- Senator Butler said in his report, one Of the most important
benefits which was to have been accomplished by the new organic
act. was the return to the Virgin Islands Of the Internal Revenue
taxes on products Of the Virgin Islands shipped to the Us. Inns mas
been the goal of every governor and Of every legislature here Tor
the mast ten Or more years. Congress itself went on record as stating
that the return of the internal revenue taxes would solve the imam
cal problems Of the islands. and would enable them TO embark 2
a Sound and economical program OF development. a1 what a W.
find today. Today we find a neconomic and financial crises created,
we are made to understand. by the operation Of that very provision
Of the organic act. which was intended to stabilize the islands imam
cal problems and to rid them Of the uncertainty Of appropriations
Of the past
Yes, today we find that with 4 million dollars Of new money
already credited to the Virgin Islands under the new organic act
several million more expected in the near future and annually here
after, We are in a worse Dredicament than when the islands received
little over million dollars ayear IN annual federal appropriations.
NV friends and fellow citizens. there must be a way out of this
dilemma. Virgin islanders now enduring the sternest test of their
ability to govern themselves, need to give all these facts their most
earnest, their most thoughtful and their most sober and careful con-
sderation. We must get together and try to find some way which
would result in restoring to us the advancement which we We're to
obtain through the provisions Of this new organic act The people
of the islands should unite in a considered plan to bring to our is
lands and to our people that measure OF sef-government; that mea-
sure of economic selfsuffciency which is not only our urgent need,
but ii is our inalienable right as good and loyal American citizens.
If necessary, after uniting in an objective program here we should
present our problems to Congress and to the President Of the United
States, who will, we know, listen sympatheticalIy to our aspirations
and to our needs, if logically, respectfully and inteligenty pre-
sented and adequately supported.
After one years operation, no one can say that the organic act
Of the Virgin Islands signed on July %, 1854, has worked well Des-
pte the fact, that the record shows that this act was intended to-
advance rather than to retard our progress. The spectre of political
retardation, which is now haunting the Virgin Islands, which is a
real live and vital issue can be changed by intelligent representa-
ton