USVI Public Records

Document text

® £ PROCEEDINGDH OF THE COLONIAL COUNCE . Siel UL FOR ST. CROIX. (Continued from yesterday's Avis.) 29d Member for Christiansted Town [Canegata]: Mr. Chairman. Are the ex- pvenses of maintenance of the Customs Department paid by the Federal Treasury or by the Municipality? Sovernment Seeretary | Zane] in reply said, —Mre. Cha:rmun. The Federal Tr:a- sury pays absolutely nothing in connec- tion wi h the customrs service in eitaer Muunicipality. My recollec iva is that the expenses of maintenance of the customms aciiviiies in this Municipaiity are defray- e from the receipts of this Manicipality and similarly in St. Thomas the expenses are defrayed from the receipts of the Municipality of St. Thomas. Also, I un- dersiand that there have been instances whore collections over here have not ¢)v- ered expenses and in that case bt. Thom- as has stood the difference. 2nd Member for Christiansted Town [Canegatal: Mr. Chairman. Then as I understand it the Customs Department is nei her F deral nor Municipal. Governm.nt Secretary [Zane]: Ur. Chairman. Ithink that is more or l-ss true. The Collecior of Castoms is ap- pointed by the authorities in Washington and he makes his returns to Washingion under the New York Office. It does se¢m to be a ra her pecaliar arrangement : nd Ithink 1t eam2 about due to the tfact that after the islands were turned over to the Uniied States they sent an Inspector from Porto Rieo who recommended the p cse t proc:dure. In the final analysis it 5o ms to m> that while the Collector is appointed from headquarters in Weush- ington and his returns are made throigh New York Offiee, the Federal Oflice has no thing to d» with It, 2nd Member for Christiansted Town (Canegata): Mr. Chairman. We shcald try and get the Government to get that system changed. Our funds are tuned into the Custom House and we have no control over it at all. As a maiter of prineciple if the funds belong to the HMa- nicipality of St. Croix the Munic pality should have control. Government Sceretary [Zinel: Mr. Chairman. 1 might suvgest then that it would be proper that the Chairman of the Municipal Committee address 2 ‘et er to Government recommending that the matter be gone into. 2nd Member for Christiansted Town [Canegata]: Mr. Chairman. I am por- tectly willing to do that, but if the Coun- cil go or. record as requesting that such a letter be forward«d it would strengthen wuoverrment’s hand. Wiat 1 want to draw attention tourder Indirect Taxes iz Passport I'ecs. This mt E Y CBHOIE AV 15 ter came up in the Munizipal Committee sometime ago. In he cas2 of the school children attending school abroad th=y have to pay ten dollars for a passport here and ten doliars for viseirz it abroad. I addressed a lotte: to Government re- garding this matter perhaps it is still un- dar consideration. Government Seccrotary [Zane]: Mr. Chairman. The last speakar mentioned that matter to me sometinie ago and 1 understand he was (o have addressed a letter to Government along that line, but it has not been received. ist Member for Irederiiisted Town |Jackson] remarked: Mr. Chairman. IFees for law courts and police office. What are considered fees from Police Office? I should like to know what those {ees are. vnd Member for Chiistiansted Town [Cunregata]: Mr. Chairman. We needn’t split hairs. My Honorable I'riend knows that no chanze has b2en mad» in the ditf- farent headines on the budget since th2 Danish Administration. The Chairman in reply to lst Mem- her for Fredorikstad Town [Tackson] said.— Government is not prepared o <o inte that datail tody. 1 understand that fines, eonfiscations, ect,, are included in those fees. The Lespatching Secretary says he ean have the books up here so that the member may have the informa- tion. - Ist Member for Frederiksted Town [Jackson]: Mr. Chairman. 1 agree to have the books up here. Government Secrctary [ Zane] remark- ed: Mr. Chairman. | migh saggest that we will get up a list of items wvhich enter into the item of **Faes at the Law Courts and Police Offices’ tor the information of the Ist Meinber for Frederiissted Town whichI think we :andy in a few mo- ments and in the m:antime we can pro- ceed with toe budget, A recess of 10 miru'es was zivon, At the resumpticy the Chrairman re- marked: Governnert is prepared tw an- swor the question propounded by the Hnorable Ist Member for Irederiksted Town. Despatehing S-ertary [Barrett]: Mr. Chairman. As regards “"Foes at the Law Courts and Police Otfizes’ 1 have before me the vouchers shoving the re- venu~s collected unler this heading up to and ineluding Mayv 31, 1924, and which are as follows: Court Fees Mariaze Licenses Notary Puablic Fees Auction fees Serving sunmonos Costs and tees ellected in Police Court in oflice of Clerk of Distriet Court. Gun Licenses 1% Tax Writ of execution Bir.i Certificate fees Porter Licenses Filing of bond Dispossessing Fees. Ist Member for Froderiksted Town [J2-%kson] remarked: Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the Despatching S:2re- tary for the elucidations given on this item. [ want to maks a remark just here. It seems to me that the Poice Department is too close to the Police Courts and should be separated. 1 sa. - gest that those two deparimants be sep- arated next year. It seems to me that under these revenuas wa ougnt to have the fees from the Distriet Court. I doa’t think I have heard any such item read by the Despatehing Sceretary. We should have fees from the District Court inciu - ed The Chairman: Fees for the District Court are ineluded in those read by the Despatehing Seeretary. Ist Member for i‘rederiksted Town (Jackson! eontinuing,—l sugzgest that 1n future all fees collecred by che Polie2 be put undera separate heading, The Po- lice Department is too closely counected with the Courts. o No furtber remarks on Indirect Taxes. (To be continued.) LOCAL It is advised that the blanks, ete., for distribution to the World War veter:ns have been reccived at the local post office. OFFICIAL NOTES. Calvin Coolidze, Jr., son of President and Mrs. Coolidee died at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D. C. on July Tth from blood poisoning caused by a slight cut in the foot received while playing tennis on the White House courts. 'The funeral took place on the afternoon of Juiy 9.h. As an expression of sympa- thy of the people of the Virgin Islands the Governor sent the following radio- grom today: “For President and Mrs. Coolidge the people of the Virzin Islands extend their mist heartfelt sympathy for your be- veavement. Philip Williams, Governor.”’ RADIO WEATHER SERVICE AT SAN JUAN, PORTIO RICO SEASON OF 1924. The Radio Corporation of Porto Rico, has discountinued its radiophone broad- cast service, and in consequence, the broadeast of weather information which was given last season at 9 p. m. by W.K.A.Q., San Juan, cannot ba resum~a However, in case that storm conditicns prevail in any portion of the easters Caribbean region and warnirgs are is sued hy the Weather Bureau, they will broadcast the warnings from station W.K.A.Q. in San Juan at 9 a.m., 3 p-m. and 9 p.m. or such otber hours as the San Juan oTdice of the Weather Bureau may indicate. At any time of unsettled weather conditions, persons with re- ceiving sets who are intercsted in re-