, 1958-03-05
LEGISLATIVE RECORD
Continued from Tuesday,

Mr.. Chairman, there may be things in that Code
which may say this. If you whistle when the Star Span
gled Banner is being played you may &C. in Jail for six
months. Who knows if it isn't in that Code? Could any OF
you gentlemen in here tell me if there is such a provision
in the Code? Now, / understand that there is! Some OF you
who probably claim to know SO much about the Code
probably could point it out to me | would be glad to know.
Gentlemen, there are a lot Of things in that Code, am
sure we have to be careful about.
But, am asking the Chair this. To always remember
that the wishes Of the members should be respected, pro
vided they are not in conflict with the Rules of Business,
All | am insisting on is that we follow the Rules OF
Business carefully. l am not going to sit here and vote
or sit here at all and deviate from the Rules Of Business,
MI. Chairman. That would never happen.
There are threats all around about Sergeant OF Arms
and SO on. But, / want to say this. Iwant to see that if
when / step out Of here the Sergeant of Arms is going to
bring me back. That's all I have to say, Nh. Chairman.
Mr.. RHYMER: Mr.. President, | don't know how
many individuals in here remember when Mr.. Conrad
Corneiro was Chairman of the Municipal Council Of Saint
Thomas and Saint John and the existing Code was being
discussed. It took those gentlemen more than three
months to read it before they could put it into effect.
Personally, l want this Code read from the first para
graph to the last. GAUGHTER). I have some amend
ments which | should like to propose and I can't propose
those amendments unless. Mr.. Chairman, the Code is read.
Now, if the Chair doesn't intend to have the Code
read, it is okay by me. I wouldn't be present when you, are
going to do otherwise. am just making you to understand
that.
MR.. MERWIN: MIR. President, on some Of the sub
iects that have been mentioned here today, IWould like to
state, Tor the Record. that tnls queSuon OF Trying = put
things through in a hurry, and other people not having a
chance to read it may not be something that we want to
accept in the Legislature.
But, know that for the past two years, I have sat in
this legislature and, in a couple of regular sessions, bud
gets have been brought in the, legislature on the last two
or three DAYS and there hasn't been any opportunity for
me, as a member Of the legislature, to go through the bud
get item by item and see what it was all about. | was oblig-
ed, Mr.. President, to act upon faith in what the Chairman
of the Finance Committee, and other members of the FL
nance Committee. had done on some OF those BUDGETS,
And, when the vote came up if / were able to understand
enough about the budget I voted for it, if | couldn't voted
against it.
In connection with this Code, and all of these skele-
tons that are apparently suddenly turning up in it, |
served as a member Of the Code commission from its in
ception. I was not present at every meeting, but | was
present at most. And know that the Codifcation Commit
tee limited itself, in almost every respect, to including in
the Code only those laws that were laws of the Virgin Is
lands when the codiication work got under way.