St. Croix tribune. [volume], March 20, 1934, Image 2

About St. Croix tribune. [volume] (Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I.) 1922-1937

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~ ST.CROIX TRIBUNE
Published daily except Sundays & Hol
days at 53 B Company St. Christiansted
St. Croix. V.. I U. S. A. by St. Croix
Cooperative Society
Entered assecond class matteron July
Ist 1922 at the Post Ofice at Christian
ted, St. Croix, V.I, U.S.A. under the
Act of March 3rd, 1879
x—)fi
R. DE CHABERT, Editor
e ——————————— S ——————————
Tuesday, March 20th 1924
e————
Councii Bill N
ouncii Bil! No. 27
Despite the fact that a meeting of the
Council in committee is suppcsed to be
under closed doors a large audience was
present in th2 Council Hall lasc night be
fore the members arrived. Such is the
widespread interest in Colonial Counecil
Bill No, 27.
However, in the absence of objections
the audience remained and was enlight
ened on several points. ;
One startling statement was made
last night by Mr. Douglas Armstrong,
who said that the delay in the passage
of the Bill was injuring the .interest of
rum manufacturers as they are not per
mitted to export their rum.
A Bill is before the Colonial Council
providing for an exclusive monopoly of
the rum business for the Government
which in turn is to authorize the Virgin
Islands Co. to excercise this right. An
other Bill provides for the qyation of
this. Virgin Islands Co. Théke Bills have
not been passed by the Couvncil and
bave no force of law. Liquor is being
imported and sold here legally since the
repeal of Prohibition on the islands,
therefore, it was suggested, that an em
bargo on the exportation of rum is a
matter that should be taken to the pro
per authorities at Washington.
There was a sub-committee report on
Colonial Coupcil Bill No. 27 deleting the
right of eminent domain and the right
to invade all fields of business, and
there was a mirority report, The Coun
cil was not inclined to eonsider the
amendments. The members are ex
tremely suspicious. They feel that an
undue advantage is being taken of the
situation and are weighing very careful
ly the respouosibility they are being ask
ed to shoulder.
While one or two members were
rather unbkecoming in their behavior
» ST, CROIX IKkILUNE
Thought for( the Day
Tues. Mch. 20
The l-ast of sins is infinite; it throws
A shade into the faca of the Most High.
Aubrey De Vere,
— H. M. PIGOTT Rector.
St. John’s Church. Christiansted
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tha others were thinking and realizing
that when a supar-government is set up
in the island, political freedom will’
vanish. And from the acts of this
super-government no appeal will lie
except, possibly, a return of the Repub
licans to power with a changed policy
chouid bring relief.
I'he members in Committee could not
agree upon any amendments to the Bill
last night and decided 1o retarn it to the
Couneil. in all its fierceness and in all
its contemplated experimental cruelty
If so many members of the Cnuncil
were not shackled by personal favors
received from officialdom a delegation
would have been travelling to Washing
ton to discuss this very serious experi
ment which has not been tried in any
other part of the world except Russia.
Yet the Russian people can, even if they
resort to bloody revolution, overthrow
obnoxious rulers. Under the proposed
Russian- American system there would
be no altermative for Virginlslanders but
emigration 10 some country from which
politicial freedom has not yet departed.
I Press Release
His Excelleney, th2 Governor is in re
ceipt of a letter’ from Admiral David
Foote Seliers, Commander in Chief of
the United States Fleet, acknowledging
receipt of the Governor’s letter inviting
the fleet to visit the Virgin Islands.
Admiral Sellers advises that it is possi
ble that some of the destroyers of the
Fleet may visit St. Thomas on May 10,
or 11th, for re-fueling from Naval tank
ers. Very little, if any, liberty will be
granted at this time in view of the
Fleec Problem. .
Admiral Sellers further advises that
from about Septemher 22, until Nov.
Ist it is expected that - various units
of the Fleet may visit St. Thomas for
liberty and tecreation.
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Dr. and Mrs. Roberts were the reeci
pients-of a fine baby girl yesterday
morning. Mother and baby are well.
Questioas Asked Mr. Tug\ell by Hon-
Arnold M. Uolden, Chakman of Co
lonial Council of St. 'Croix.
Q. Is it true that the Laura Spellman
Rockefeller Foundation i ntends to buy
the Virgin Islands Company stocks and
turn it over to a board of three trustees
comprising of the Secretary of
the Interior, the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior and the
Government of the Yirgin Islands and
their successors in corresponding United
States Government positions. these trus
tees then electing a board of directors
which would consist for the most part
of Government officials resident in the
Virgin Islands?
Q. Is it true that the President of the
Uoited States has been advised that
there is practicaly no economic life
in the Virgio Islands, rhat being the
reason given for asking the establish
ment of this particular company?
Q. Will the Presid2nt and the Dz2)art
meut of Interior be satisfied to deve-
Jop by assisting sugar and i's by-pro
duects conducted by present corporation
and individuals oo the island without
requiring sole monoply of the indus
tries?
Q. Will the President and the
Deparument of Interior be satisfied to
purchase the Bethlehem Concern and
operate it principally with the parpose
of rehabilizating 3t. Croix’s industries
particularly sugar and rum, withous
requiring a monop'y of those induastries
and continuing the present homestead
plan?
THE GOVERNMENT ICE PLANT
It seems such an easy matter for the
anthorities of our -Government to im
pose additional burdens upon the uu
fortunate taxpayers whose relationship
to the Government is made more unfor
tunate still, because they, the taxpay
ers form the dumb, although the res
ponsibie partners in business of finane
ing the machinery of Governmeat. Al
though one section of the Press of the
Presidency sees ‘‘good business’’ in the °
present arrangement for the disposal of
lce manufactured at the Government
lee Plant, wesee it in another instance
of the lack of consideration waich a
voiceless people may always expect at
the hands of an absolute Government
which can see in the taxpayers nothing
but the ‘‘public go cart’’ to make good
the ineptitude,inefficiency,extravagance
and favouritism of Government. ltis a
reflection of the incapability of Govern
ment managemeht, when the Govern
men: has, for whatever reason, been
forced to capitulate to a private concern.
It is there for public cornsumption that