The home journal. [volume], July 09, 1952, Image 1

About The home journal. [volume] (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.I.) 1951-1973

Image provided by: University of the Virgin Islands

                
THE HOME JOURNAL
2nd Year
Interest Low as
Assembly Opens
Governor |n Address -
The Legislative Assem
bly of the Virgin Islands
opened here on Monday,
and immediately began
the “discussion of bills on
the 17-it- m agenda. Inter
est in the deli%erations hit
a new low, with only one
personin the audience
when the meeting wa s
called to order.
Opposition to the act to
cover insular and munici
pal employees under the
Federal S o cia |l Security
System was expressed by
members who felt that em
ployees may be placed in
a less favorable position
than they enjoy under the
local retirement systems.
Public hearings in St.
Croix and St. Thomas to
permit employees to ex
press their vicws on this
legislation willbe held
shortly. The Assembly is
also expected to hold hear
ings on the insular wage
hour act.
Governor de Castro address
ed the legislature on Monday,
emphasizing the need for the
new taxes that have recently
gone into effect. and giving
the administration’s position
on bills before the Assembly.
Some members were critical
of the Governor’s speech, par
ticularly his views on taxes &
the new organic act for the
Virgin Islands.
In discussions yesterday, the
majority of Assemblymen who
commented on the pro
posal to change “Liberty Day”’
to “‘D. Hamilton Jackson Day’’
were opposed. declaring that
““‘Liberty Day’’ belongs to all
the people, and that it symbo
lizes the fight for liberty and
freedom during the last fewl‘
ceunturies.
St. Tl{pmas, Virgin Islands, Wednesday, July 9. 1952
“Blithe Spirit”
To Be Repeated
l “Blithe Spirit” which
was such a bit and is the
!talk of the town will
ibe repeated - this coming
Monday night at the High
'School Auditorium. The
come d y is undoubtedly
the most successfull play
the Repertory Theatre has
produced. Ea c h acor in
the production gives the
performance a real profes
sional touch. There are
whisperings that the pro
duction may be taken to
New York under the
continued on page 4
Gerard Shines In
Canadian League
~ Alphonso Gerard, ag
gressive Virgin Island out
fielder, and Puerto Rico’s
!native batting champ (for
Santurce) is excelling at
the plate with “Three
Rivers'' baseball club in the
Canadian League.
One day last week in a
game against Drummond
ville, which Three Rivers
won 11 to 0, Gerard singl
ed twice in five appear
ences at the plate, scored
once and batted in two
runs. The next day, Three
Rivers again downed
Drummondpville, 6 to 5,
and Gerard clouted two
doubles and two singles in
six opportunities.
Welcome Service Sunday
Col. William N, Sanson. Te
rritorial Commander of the
Salvation Army, and Major
Walter Morris, Division Com
mander, are due to arrive here
on Saturday, culy 12, A
welcome service has bee n‘
arranged for Sunday after.
noon, July 13 at 4 o’clock in
Budget ltems
Passed Over Gov.
Veto
~ The Municipal Council
passed over the Governor'’s
},veto last night an item in
the budget providing that
no positions be
coming vacant during the
fiscal year be filled except
in cases of emergency.
l Another budgetary pro
ivision making the Director
of the Printing Office an
unclassified employee was
also passedover the Gover
nor'’s veto.
\
2 Get Month In
Ja
Reuben Gordon, who
was found guilty of embez
zling money which he re
ceived fr o m the sale of
charcoal belonging to an
other and losing it while
gambling was sentenced to
’one month in jailin the
Police Court yesterday.
Raphael Gumbs also re
ceived one month in jail
tor disorderly condict,
| while Jaime Cruz was fined
SSO-for reckless driving. i
:Okays Wage {
Boost for St. Croix
! Governor de Castro has ad
|vised the Sit. Croix Council
that he will approve as of Ju
lly 14, 1952 an amendment to
the wage-hour act to bring
wages in most categories the
same as wages now in effect
in St. Thomas.
The ordinance increases utili
ty workers te 30c per hour,
sales or service clerks to 35c,
unskilled labor 40c, semi-skilled
80c and skilled 65c.
the Army’s hall. Governor de‘
Castro will preside. The pu
blic is invited,
No. 177
;F ice Damages
lSub Base Pier
The main pier at the
former Submarine Base
'caught afire yesterday af
ternoon when flames from
acetylene torches being
used by welders came in
contact with fuel oil in
pipes under the dock. There
was an explosion, but the
welders, Samuel Jacobs and
Felix Otero, leaped into the
sea and climbed aboard the
barge ‘‘Etah’”’ which later
moved from the dock. No one
was hurt.
The western portion of the
dock was damaged by the fire
which was put out by firemen,
other Public Works employees
and volunteers.
et 3 S RISI
Hotels Plan To
Fight New Tax.
Declaring that the new ho
tel tax is ‘‘vague, indefinite
and impossible for hotels to
conforin to, and that it is im
pussible to determine what is
taxable and who shall pay the
tax, as well as what right the
hotel has to enforce the pay
ment of the tax upon its
guests,’’ the Hotel Association
of the Virgin Islands yester
day indicated that it will test
‘the law in court’
' The Association which elected
'Ernest Gordon of Flamboyant
‘Hotel as president; Alton A
dams, Ist vice president; Reu
ben Barnett and Henry
Kimelman, vice presidents:
Hind_ Christiansen, treasurer;
and Thomas Dell, Secretary,
termed the tax a serious blow,
}and said that it will result in
‘a much greater loss and dan
ger to the islands than the loss
that could be inflicted by the
worst hurricane. -
The hotelmen called the
law discriminatory, and said
the issue was so vital and so
paramount to every aspect of
the economy and well-being of
the islands that it is the duty
of the Association to fight
this law “to the bitter
end.’”’ .