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these roads need improving, some of them in width and drainage and all of them in minimum cost, as plenty good materials can be had on the island for practically the cost of handling it. J favor the importation of a steam road roller and a stone crusher for ac- count of the municipality, to be placed in the eare and under the control of the Public Works Department, and by that department be used to put the highways in use in the isiand in proper condifion for adtomobile or auto truck traffic. [he ordinary anouil repaws to be done by " the esiates, small farmers and squatters, as the last two named are making more of the roads each year and ought to contribute to their upkeep. The im- provements to the highways by the Pub- lic Works Department should be done at public expense, and a sufficient ap- propriation should be made to accom- plisa the work, determined by a careful ostimate to the Public Works Depart- ment for same. I consider that this bill favors class legislation, in favor of the few and to the detriment of the many, and is there- fore in my opinion unfair. Itis also my opinion that if a careful and conscien- tious estimate were made it would re- veal the faet that iz would not take any more, if as much money, to put ev.ry road in the island in Srst class condition tnan is proposed ia the present ordin- ance. The member then read paragraphs- of the Road Ordinance and said,—S»me of the roads are according to dimensions and some are not. Some of the roads on the aorthside, for instance, Creque Road is so narrow in some parts that two automobiles cannot pass each other, When the ten thousand dollars was ap- propriated for repairing the roads after the hurricane in 1916, [ pleaded with the Road Commission to have that particu- lar road madeewider so that when we come to build it, it would be much easi- er: no attention was paid to my advice, and the consequence was, much money used without good results. I consider it unfair to vote this amount to build a concrete road and throw the burden on the tax-mayers, and we on the other side to have our taxes increased; 1 don’t call that fairplay. 1 wish the 4ax-payers would feel the same and support the sen- timent that it is unfair. Whv should we vote for a center line alone and let the other roads go to the dogs? To vote such a measure as is laid before us to- day would be othing less than class legislation. 1 ask you to consider the matt:r gentlemen. 1 am here to protect my constituents and myself. We have very firm soil on which macadam could be put and rolled and we will have as gopd roads as could be found elsewhere. In my opinion. ,we vprobably will nev- r see a good crop as we had last year. ?oday we are in such a position that we eannot command labor on the ncrth- side under any condition we are refused S'the right to use our Immigration Fund, S 1. Uh‘.'}l A A VYiED for what pur'posq: ['do not know. We have impoited farm implements, have used them, and are still using them, but we cannot accomplish much without hard labor. There is not a state in the United States that is not using imported labor, In Hawaii they are using iported labor. I see no reason why we should not be allowed the same privilege here. (To be continued.) EDITORIAL. Mr. F. Christensen, Bethlehem, dis- tributor for the 3nonora Phonograph, has left with us a* limited suoply of the song ‘‘Sonora’’, words and musie, for free distribdtion. Interested parties desir- ing a-copy may apply at this office. LOCAL. Car ;wners here are on their mettle *nince the introduction in the Colonial Council ofa bill to provide for an im- proved centre-line road the cost of which is to be partially recovered by increase of taxation on vehicles. The Comnecil proposes a tax on automobiles according to weight or motor-power, approximating at least $2O a year for the small touring cars. At present these vehicles pay the old rate for double carri ges, $4 a year. It is agreed outside the council that $2O a year is excessive vhen it is taken into consideration that but one of the public roads is being modernized while plea- sure cars probably use it but little. We shall return to this subject editorially. The s. s. ‘‘Elmac’’ sailed from New York on the 28th inst., having 85 tons of cargo tor Christiansted and 65 tons for Frederiksted. : . The next steamer leaving New Yoik will be the s. s. “Tupper’”’ on or about the 15th of April. : The s. s. ‘‘Guiana’’arrived at Freder- iksted this morning and was to leave at 8 a. m. for New York via St. Thomas. Frederiksted, March 29th. The Latvian 3 masted schmr. *Mar- tha’’, Capt. Satorsky, arrived here at 12.40 p. m. on Sunday fiom Tremdag with 560 tons of asphalt for Hull, Eng: land. She came here on account of two sick sailors of which one was taken to the hospital. : Correspondence CORRUPT RigLIGION. e Is the present day religion conducive to Peace and Goodwill among mep, or is it degenerate and a hindrance to the tur- thering of God’s Kingdom on earth ? This question strongly confronts the world today, and at present in England especially, controversy prevails aming the Bishops of the Episcopal “hurch, as to the form of worship to be maintained; whether it shall be selfish or harmonical with other christian religions. Os course quite naturally, men differ in opinion; wolves silii exist in sheep’s clothing; aad many are thley who presume to be exem- plary, but in fact are more narrow-mind- ed than those whom they endeavour te proselytize. Nat only in England is this curruption paramount, but also to liitle St. Croix does this state of putrifaction extend, Members of the Episcopal church here differ widely in their opinion re- garding pompous display and extrava- gance in the various ceremonies now new to them; and not only does dissen- tion exist among themselves, but has been constantly spreading out through the influence of their priest to other sects to whom they are now prejudiced. Chris- tians they call themselves, what blasphe my to the Holy Name of Christ. Many - days have not elapsed since an oecur- rence of note has been enacted between priest and disciple of the chureh upon which my illustrations are based. It so happened that a member of this church had been asked to blend her voice with others in praising God (to whom her thanks are due tor (his special talent) at a service that occuis once yearly in the Moravian Church; information was carried to her priest by one of his cabi- pet members who, leave the things (do- ~mestic and samily affairs) undone that they ougi.t to do, and do things (sow malice) that they ought not to do; he thereupon threatened to read her out before the econgregation, thereby -deny- ing her all rights and privileges in the ¢ urch. What an example to the would-be christian; what added doubt to the hea- then; what strengrh to the atheist; what dishonour to the service of God. To the honest, broadminded individual 1 leave for decision the question al the primal ' art of this article to the preju- dice, narrow-mindeg believers of “‘The Only lrue Chureh’’] 1 add the following ones: Why do you encourage and allow menmbers of religions other than your own 10 join in scrvices of your chureh and accept contribut'cns f{rom their hands at the coliection? Why do you not confine your requests for help to your own religionists, but solicit mone- tary aid from the public in general for soirees ete. 7 Why do you satisfactorily approve the verbal lastrumental aid ren- dered at your* entertainmenis botn in church and school room, when you do not unto other men, ‘as you are happy to have them do unto you’? In conclu- sion let me pertinatioushy quoth, —There is no "Irue Church’”’ made with hands: Gnd acceepts the worshin ol the penitent in church or privy; and ‘“‘Wherever two or three are gathered together’ in His name He bhas pro nised tc be in the midst, and His word never passes away void. Until such a time as the Episcopal or any prejudiced religion preaches these things, thereby showing forth true ekris- tian charity, that religion is corrupt. AN OBSERVER.