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for an Extraordinary Meeting of the Colonial Council for St. Croix, MONDAY, JANUARY 21. 1924, at ONE O’CLOCK P. M. (Convened by request of Government) 1. Colonial Council Bill No. 15. Introduction of and discussion on draft of an ordinanca introduced by Government autharizing the sale or a piece of property located in Old Hospital Ground, and authorizing he purchase of a piece of property located in Estate '‘Reccvery Hill. Colonial Council Office, St. Croix, Jan- unary 18, 1924. ROBT. L. MERWIN, Caairman, LOCAZL The 5. s. '‘Bolivar’’ sailed from New York on Monday evering, having 56 tons of eargo for Christiansted and 15 tons for Frederiksted. So-called ‘‘eitizenship day’’ vesterday, was gratefully employed in restoring lost vigor for the continuation of the “‘battle of life’” whieh would be diseouraging enough if we did not once in a while have some pause wherein to take fresh heart and start. The day was one of charmir.g weather, bright sunshine ac- companied witk fresh breezes through- out. So tar the only sport reported are goat races at Ho'ger Danske in the morn- mg., In the avening there were private dances, ete. The funeral of Mr. William L. Penthe- ny vesterday afterncon was one of (he largest assemblage of people of all class: es from all parts of the island, seen kere in many vears if ever before, TLis in itself testified to the esteen «in which the deceased was held and the goodwill he enjoyed in the community where he was born and spent practically all his vears, Ihe Native Brass Band was in attendance, Thus was laid away ene of St. Croix sons of whom this island may truly be proud, and which it will certainly wiss and be ali the poorer for losing, a MAN, one of whom it would b 2 a task to find the next but who bhad a gond word to say of him, or who had either seen or enjoved his hospitality, his genial society, his hberabry to those 1o all waiks of human existence, one who was a liv- ing example of the unassuming, the con- selentious, the essence of unselfishness in mere man. The name of W. L. Pen- theny will survive m St. Croix. The following is an extract from th> ST CRAOLX AV 18 Army and Navy Register of January 5, 1924. “*A surprisingly iarge number of news- paper publishers and editors of the coun- trv have accepted invitations extended by Secretary Denby to visit the Fieet while it is in Southe?s waters, They will leave Charleston, ¥. C. on the trans- port Henderson Febreary 10. To date the department his received 79 acceptances and 63 declinations. Some 150 publish- ors and editors still are to be heard from. Os the editors and publishers who have accepted the invitations, five are direc- tors of the Associated Press. A great many come from the middle west. Twelve are the directing heads of news- papers in lilinois, 4 in lowa, 4 in Texas, 3in Oklahoma, 2 in North Dakota, 1 in South Dakota, 2 in Wisconsin, 3 in Min- nesota, H in Onio, and 7 in Michigan.”’ Yirgin Islands Commissicn Named. Six Members Appointed to Investigate Altezed Bad Conditions There,. By International News Service. Six prominent American negroes have been selecied by Secretary of [abor James J. Davis to constitute an etlicial Government commission to investigate economic conditivns in the Virgin Islanls, it was announced here today. It is believed to be the first time in the history of the United States that an all- negro governmental commis<ion has been , sent to one of the American possassions, { Robert Church, Chairman. ‘ The delegation will com<ist of Robert | Church, of Memphis, as chairman; Cor- . nelius Richardson, of Richmond, lad., . as viee chairman; George H. Woodsor, . of Des Moimes, secretary; Jefferson H. . Coage, of Delaware; Prof. Charles E. - Mitchell of the Institute of West Virgi- " nia, and W. H. C. Brown, an investment ' banker of Norfolk and Newport News. g T'he ecommission will leave the United . States mext week and plans to make an ' extensive survey es conditions in the Is- ' lands, which ar~ said to be deplorable. ' Actual starvation is said to be threaten- ~ ing some of the natives, folloewing the | virtaal demolition of the bay-rum indus- " try by American prohibition. The pro- ' duction and export of bay rum has al- | ways beep the principal industry of the - Islaods. Island’s Population. ‘ Most of the population of the islands | are negroes, or negro exiraction. Latest L eensus firares reported dopuiation con- sisting ol approximately 17,000 n=2groes, b 5 000 mixed, 400 Japanese, Chinsse aad ~ Orieatais, and only 1,900 whites. ; The e:m.anssion will study labor and living conditions, emplovment, immigra- ~ tion and emigearion, farming ete, with " pardeuiir referenc: to th? pussibulity of establishin industries there to offest the loss of the bav rum industry. It is probable that six to eight weeks will be consumed in the investigation. A report will he made to Secretary Davis who in turn will make it the basis for re- commendations to (ongress. TLLEGRAMS. ST. CROIX STATION. Londcen, Jan. 13th.—-In the short veri- od r.ow intervening before the expected battle in the new House of Comnions, the notable feature of the situation ob- servable is the persistence of the agita- tion to prevent labour forming a Govern- ment or, falling that, to make sure that such a Government. oance it is ferined, shall have the shoriest possible life. The latest effort in this direction has been to seize upon pending industrial disput:s to insure justifiable grovands for retaining the present Government in power. The argument being employed is that in the presepce of such a disturbing facior as a big railway sirike, a new labour adminis- tration might find its hand foreed by the extremists section of th» Labour Purty, to the injury of the public interests and that therefore safety lies in the retention of the Baldwin Administration. This argument clearly is addressed to the Lib eral Party, which, with the Consetvaiive, would have the power to overthrow a Labour Government. It is impossibie to say how far the argument appeals to the Liberal rank and file, but as far a: Mr. Asquith and the other responsiole Lib- eral leaders are concerned, it is believed there has been no chaonge 1n tueir views on the situation and that the fall of the Baldwin Ministry will come quickly, per- haps next Thursday, the date already vredicted for its downfall. Without doubt big labour disputes would embar- rass a new I;Hht)l]l' Guvernmem, hl.l' ihus far Mr. Mac Donald, wno would ve the new Premier, 1s currently reported as having no intention to give represenia- tion to the ex'ren.il2is 1n his cabinet, it it is framed. He i 3 said to be showing no rimidity in this tespz2et ana there are predictions that his indifference o the influence of the extremistz of his party will bring about his downtatl. 'Lhe ac- tual situation still secems to be governed by Mr. Asquith’s d-claration that a La- bour Government in Kngiand coaid not arrive under more favourable circam- stances. Mr. Asquith is said to lave meant by this, tha: having two strong parties in nominal oppo-ition in the House, a Labour Governineut could not POSSibly risk proposiag exiremisis m-as- ures, fondon, Jan. 13th.—Colonel Wedg- wood, who cabinet members and Liberal papers today deeclare wili probably be secretary for India, in the event of Labour forming a Ministry, speaking at the Universal-Labour Federation Con- ferance last night, said the Labour