, 1960-07-19
Harbor
A Road Program for all three Islands.

c. A Road Program for all three Islands,
These two budgets will have its good effects on every
nhabitant of these islands directly or indirectly. For the
first time in our history our economy has risen to such a
point where we were able from General Revenue Funds
raised solely from Island sources to defray the costs OF
running our Government at such a high level. The request
or money to run each and every department. efficiently
and to bring the quality of the service up to par was grant
ed. There is absolutely no reason now for complaints that
! there was not enough money to do the job well. It is now
necessary for both the Legislature and the Governor to see
I at TIE efficiency and the quality Of service is improved
to the highest level. We must for the next few years hold
the cost Of our government at the present level and to up
grade the quality and efficiency Of all the services per
formed.
During this Session of the Legislature several innpor-
ant pieces Of Legislation were enacted. | will just report
on two or three of these at this time, but will make a tur-
tier report in the near future on many OF the Bills enacted
and signed by the Governor. First let me take up one OF
the Bills affecting all persons employed IN the services OF
our Government. This is the Pay Plan Bill that was SO
widely discussed and finally enacted into Law. There were
altogether. THREE Pay Plan Bills introduced, one by the
Governor. one by the Minority Bloc, and the other one
that was finally passed was the one OF the Majority Bloc.
The Governors Plan called for a minimum salary range
f.om ST. 10000. The Minority Blocs Plan provided Tor q
minimum of $1,470.00, while the Majority Bloc,s proposal
provided for a minimum Of ST, 62000As is tho Gao vii
all Legislation of this nature we had to 60 into prolonged
discussions and conferences to iron out the many problems
connected with this Bill. Final agreement was reached
and a compromise with the Governor established the mini
mum at ST, $4,000. However, if it had not been for the very
close cooperation between the Executive and the Majority
Bloc of the Legislature this Pay Plan would not have been
enacted. Regardless Of the claims Of the Minority Rloc,
this Pay Plan is the accomplishment Of the
and it is to this Group that the credit must be CIV
en- for the PayrPlan that was just passed and approved by
the Governor. It must also be remembered that it was SIX
years ago under my leadership and with the full coopera-
ton Of the present Majority Bloc Senators that the Legis-
,lature passed the first increases in pay for Government
Employees. During the Second Legislature, when the
Minority Bloc Senators were the Majority Group and in
G11o on+rc1 y r. III Cnnofn fhnu newer considered anV l0qlS-0
lation on behalf Of the Government Employees, and it IS
only during this session that this comprehensive Pay Plan
Bill was pushed and actually brought into realization by
the present Majority Bloc. It is also well to note here, that
after Fifteen Years of constant fighting for Cen
Wage the Majority Bloc has at last succeeded in getting
the MINIMUM WAGE increased from 40c an hour to 60c
and also reduced the work week from A hours to q 90 hour
week. The Wage Bill was introduced into this session by
Senator Guadalupe of the Virgin Islands Party. With the