, 1957-04-10

GOVERNOR GORDON'S MESSAGE TO
SENATE CARRIES NOTE OF OPTIMISM
Governor Walter Gordon struck an optimistic note in his
message TO the Senate yesterday at its first regular session.
Mr.. President and Members of the Legislature" he said.
Welcome TO you new members Of the Legislature Of the
Virgin Islands. as well as to those Of you who have served in
this BODY previously.
I am proud to be talking to you in a new legislative building.
particularly because l believe that il is in keeping with the dignity
of the position you hold and because ! believe that for you TO ac-
complish the huge task ahead of you il is necessary that you have
in this building and that you have the pleasant surroundings this
room provides.
In my message to you today / will cover for you the state Of
the Virgin Islands and in a very short time I will submit to you for
your consideration the budget for the coming fiscal year. Let me
first tell you Of the condition of the various functions of government
on our islands. and comment briefly upon various recommendations
and suggestions which / am today offering TO you and will offer TO
YOU in the form OF proposed legislation for the purpose Of inpzov-
ing the functions of government and service TO the people.
trust that you will give serious consideration to the matters
which / recommend and that you will. if there is a difference of
opinion il. your minds. permit me an opportunity to discuss my
thinking in connection with these various proposals as ! hope TO dis
cuss any differences with you. because il is my most earnest desire
that this session 0. the Legislature will prove 10 a very profitable
session. of which all Of US can be proud. During the next sixty days.
/ am sure corrective legislation will be passed and enacted into law.
which will improve the functioning Of our Government and which
will be of great benefit 10 our islands.
We have had our problems in the Public Works Program during
the last year. Our main problem IS al you know. and as il has been
for hundreds Of years on this island. the inadequate water supply.
and your prompt cooperative attitude at the special session in Feb
ruary has helped TO temporarily overcome The hurdle. However. you
know and l know that the water situation has not been solved and
I hope that in the near future there comes some positive action as
a result q. the various studies and surveys that have been made on
This subject 50 that we can see a solution TO this problem.
The purchase of The tug "carpeake" and barge. while never in
tended TO be. as I told you when I recommended the purchase. the
full salvation to " water problem. has been a most important stop
gap. Without the "Carpeakea and barge. the island OF St Thomas
would have been long ago out of water. particularly due TO the TACT
that government regulations require the Navy to III not haul Tor Us
if commercial facilities were available and ~ II hauling was re-
ouired by the Navy. to charge the full commercial rate.
AS far s potable water is concerned. many plans and Susges-
4ions have been made from as many sources. Dependence on rain
wa,er has proveu too unreliable. which raises doubt as TO the jush-
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