, 1955-07-23

gained the sympathetic attention Of the national government
for a change in our constitution, which will recognize the
fact that v. /. are well advanced in the principles Of Ameri-
can democracy and that they are capable of governing them
selves.
The Congress of the United States, listened to our pleas and
petitions for a more liberal constitution and finally enacted
the one under which we have now functioned for one year,
today. It is most unfortunate therefore. my friends. that in the
application or mlSapplcat1on OF this new organic act several
most serious flaws have developed, which have served to re-
tard rather than to advance the progress of the people Of our
islands. ] am certain that this was not the intention Of the
members Of Congress, when in all good will for and sympathy
with the Islands problems, it enacted the present Organic
Act whose anniversary we celebrate today. shall limit my
self tonight to the mention of only two phases of the changes
which have been brought about by the new Organic Act. be-
cause these are the ones that are seriously engaging the atten-
ton of all the people of the Islands. First, 4 shall refer to
Executive and Legislative responsibilities, and then to the re-
turn of the Internal Revenue taxes for the use and benefit
of the government Of our Islands.
Now, Senator Hugh Butler, the chairman Of the Senate
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, had this to say
in his report to the Congress on the new organic act, dated April 20
last year, and I quote from Senator Buffers report: "S3378-the new
Organic Act-would eliminate much of this wasteful duplication
in governments and governmental services thus affording the Islands
more efficient and more truly representative government. Al, the
same time, it would give a greater degree of autonomy, economic as
well as political, to the people of the Virgin Islands. Senator Butler
also said, every year spokesman for the people of the Virgin Islands
have had to come before the appropriations committee requesting
funds to support their local government. To remedy this situation,
the committee ha sworked out a limited return of grant Of Internal
Revenue taxes on v. !. products" I am still reading from Senator
Buffers report under these positions the senator said, "the people
of the Virgin Islands would have a far greater degree of control
over their own finances, than under the present system.
Certainly, my friends, no impartial person would say that the
people of the v. l. so far, under the application of the new organic
act, have had a more truly representative government or a greater
degree of autonomy, or a far greater control over their finances,
using a direct quotation from Senator Buffers report. Certainly no
impartial person would say that "wasteful duplication Of govern
ment' have been corrected under the new organic act. Rather, every
impartial person says that the cost of the government of the Virgin
Islands is far greater now than in any previous period of their
history. -
1t cannot be denied that we favored for many years certain very
definite provisions be incorporated in our new organic act more
clearly, properly and adequately, to define the executive vis-a-vis
the legislative responsibilities of the Government of the Virgin Is
lands. But certainly no one expected, nor would the Congress of the
Congress of the United States have intended that in this day and
age Of government by the people, when the Us. through the United
Nations have been urging more and more autonomy for non-se1f-
governing possessions of the several metropolitan governments, that
our new Organic Act would result in far greater power being given
to the executive branch of the government, than is vested in the le-
gislative branch Of the government
/ am sure that Congress could not have intended that in an or
ganic act, the only justification for which was further to develop the
political the economic, the social resources of the people of the is