, 1956-07-27
Preliminary Report Of the Committee on
Finunce Of the Virgin 1slonds Legislature
Continued from Yesterday

j M GAANO4h II
or THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE OF THE LEGIsLA-
TURF. L
After representatives Of three Executive Departments had APP
peared before the Committee on Finance with the knowledge Of the
Governor on July s 1855, Governor Walter 4. Gordon issused Execu-
tive Order No. H. stating in part:
NOV, Therefore. l. Walter A Gordon, Governor Of the Virgin
lLlands, do hereby order and direct that no Commissioner or head
Of any executive department or establishment or any OF the en-
fployees Il the same, shall appear before any Interim Committee q
the Leg iature, whether in reponse to a verbal or written request
or summons, . answer any questions or to give information, Or to
produce any books, records, papers or other documents pertaining
to the Administration Of the Government Of the Virgin Islands with
out my written approval"
Governor Gordon issued this Executive Order Nc. IA on July
Is, 1856, despite the fact that there is a law on the Statute Books
Act No. So, approved by him on May "a, 1856, which states in part:
SECTION Ia All officers and employees Of the Government
OF the Virgin Islands, and all other persons whether connected with
the Government Of the Virgin Islands or not, shall appear and give
ard furnish to the committees, upon request, such information, re-
cords, and documents as the legislature or the committee may deem
necessary or proper for the achievement of its legal and authorized
purposes; Provided, That this section shall not apply to the Cover
MGR Of the Virgin Islands.
"b) Resolutions of the Legislature providing for inquiries and
investigations shall contain a Limit Of cost Of each such investigation,
which limit shall not be exceeded except by vote of the Legislature
authorizing additional amounts"
It is clear to the Committee that Executive Order No. IA isl
illegal and without any weight due to the fact that Section 11efi
the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, approved July a.
1854 provides in part that:
He lhe GOVERNOR shall have the power to issue executive
regulations not in conflict with any applicable law"
In this case Act No. SO covers adequately the subject matter of gov
eminent officials presenting testimony and documents to commit
tees Of the Legislature, and is therefore an applicable law"
The Committee, with a quorum present. voted unanimously to
subpoena MI. Percy De Jongh, Commissioner of Finance, to present
on July l6, 1856, at ESQ pm, all pertinent documents covering exs
pendtres of the Department Of Finance for the period July J. 1854
to September SO, 1854.
The subpoena was properly served on Mr.. Percy De Jongh
Commissioner Of Finance, on July 10, 1856.
Mr.. De Jongh did not appear before the Committee on July l6,
1856, at the appointed time. He did not send any excuse He did not
send a representative. nor did he send the documents required.
therefore, in accordance with subsection 4 C) of Act No. S6I
lOil No. 24D, "An Act to Provide for the Attendance Of Witnesses
and for the Punishment for Disobedience TO Subpoenas Issued by
the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, or any Of its Conmittees, and
flor other Purposes" approved May "a 1856, the COMMITTEES, by mo-
ton, authorized the Chairman of the Committee to file a petition
in the District Court Of the Virgin Islands to compel Nj. Percy Del
JOngh, Commissioner Of Finance. to produce the documents re-