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£7B6,if not fostered, have been abetted by a Member of the Oolonial tounell, of St. ""homas namely, Rothschild Francis. I have some remarks to make but I feel that ; should not make them until we hear fron Mr. Francis. I propuse that we hear frum him now. Ist Member for Frederiksted Town (Jackson): Mr. Chairman. The bill is be- fore the Senate. It makes no difference who introdaced it 9nd Member for Christiansted Country Dtisrict (Berg): Mr. Chairman. May I ask if the Honorable Bth Elected Member for St. Thomas has been subpoenaed and is obliged to take the stand and tes- tify. The Honorable Mewber should bear in mind that this 18 not a ecourt. Ist Member for Frederiksted Town (Jaclson): Mr. Chairman. Before any vote is taken on the resolution we should point out the defec's where the bill now Lefore the Senate does not conform to American standard. In courtesy to the Sepator who introcue.d it we should point vut the defects, . 2nd Appeinted Member for St. Croix (Noll): remarked: Mr. Chairman. I still s:iand on the major issue. We have met h re today to disenss something introdue- ¢ 1o the north of us, in discussing it we cannot be unmirdiul of street rumours, we eannot be unmindful of what a man might deny outside of the Council. We are called unon to discuss one of the most imporiant, il not the most important bill ever introduced affecting the people of of these islands, and yet certain persons who are eoncerned say they will rot tell us what is behind it. A Member of the Coloniai Couneial eof St. Thomas went to Washinzton and asked that this biil be introducad and he is not manly enough to teli us why ne nhas done su. His sience <hows that he is not strong enoneh to co me before us and give his reason for roquesting that the bill be introduced. “nd Member for Christiansted Country District (Berg): Mr: Chairman., A pcint of information. Are we discussing the me:its or demerits of Senate Bill No. 278067 ond Approinted Member for St, Croix (Noll): We ure going to get to the bottom of the whcle thing. +lst Member for Frederiksted Town (./lekson) : Do so 1 a decent manner- 2nd Appointed Member for St. Croix (Notl); Mr. Chairmn, 1 object to bo called indecent. The Caairman rang the bell for order. Ist Member for rederiksted Town (Jackson): Mr. Chairman. Whether the bill is introduced by a Member of St. Thomas Council or by Scnator Mcelean is it courteous to pass a resolution such as is now before the House without point- ing out the defects in the bili? 2rd Member for Frederikstea Country Distriet {M- M. Skeoch) remarked: Me. Chairman. With all due respeer to the aosent Scnator he should have a zrent deas more consideration for us and not BT LRI AV S take hold of a biil like this and introduce it in the Secnate of the Uniiel Sitares without giviaz the Goveramant or the locislative bodies of these islands an op- porfunity to b egerd. As the Chairman of the Municipal Committee of Ft. 110- mas has said, whether the legisiative bodies of thesa islands revresent ail the pecple or not they shouid b 2 consu'ied. [ ernsider this lack of forethouzht on the part of the Senator. 20d Mambear for Christiansted Country Distriet (Berg): Mr Chairm n I weuid likz to know whethar such a measare was proposed in 1922 and whether the St. Thomas Ciuncil was a participant. 24d Appointed Member for St. Croix (Noll): Mr. Chairman. A motion is be- fora the House to the effect that the 8:h Fleeted Member for St. Thomas give his views to the Council. The Chairman: It is left the Honor- ahle Memb. r whether he wishes to give his views or nnt, 4th Member for Frederiksted Country District (Andersen): Mr. Chairman. I sacond the motion. Idon’t see why a M¢mber of a Council should be a trai- tor. Why shouid the Honorable Mzm- ber go bzhind us gnd act contrary to what he knows weould pe the desire of ~ the pecple He knows that there are brains in this Council, 9nd Member for Christiansted Town (Canegata : If this is going to be a per- sonal watter lam going to retire, 1 ob- jeet to members indulging in personali- ties. ‘l'he Chair ruled that a man cannot be forced from his seat. 2nd Member for Christiausted Country Distriet (Berg): Mr. Chairman. 1 ask that the Honorable 2nd Appointed Mem- Member for St. Croix give us his opinion on this MBill or any form of Government he thinks fit for these istancs aiso what he thinks of the Danish Colonial Law now in fcrce in these is- lands, The Chairmaen: 1 wish to announce azain that a member of either Council may spaak only on his own initialive. 8h Klected Membar for St. Thomas (Rothschild Francis) remarked: Mr. Coair nan. I nave histened with special care to the remarks of the Honosrable Uhairman of the Muanicipa! Committee of St. Croix and the Honorable Chairman of tne Municipai Committee of St. Tho- mas aond St. J:hn and in reply to those Gentlemen I wish to say that they have done what is rignt, that is, to point out what they consider is defective in the Senate Bill introduced for the benefit of the people of these islands. What the Senator wio hasintroduced the bill wants of the people of these islauds is to point out defectsin the bill. The Honorable Chairman of the Municipal Commiitee of 3t. Croix has pointed out what he con- “siders defective in the bill aad I can say this for aim tiat h 2 bais said what 1 wol'd have said myself. The Federal Incom: ax was eatoreed in theseislands at the instance of an Ad miral:two aliens vered por 2d from those islands snd an Aimiral siid he did i, Congress nas unbridied auibhoriiy over these islanls. Now, therefore, what1 think this Chunecil should dois to state in the opea what they eonsider d=fective in th2 bill, bat they eannot question the richt of the bill, TlToz2re are many qaes- tiyni to be deecided. J.et a3 not resori to narsonalities, bat ro tha facts bzfora us [an ore of the eitizans of these islaads who have remnained here too iong., I have moved ont now and T have support. The question before the House now is whether or not we shall adopt the resaiu tion which is now before us [ feel the time will come when we shiil have laws compatible with American laws. Thisis no bouquet. The Senator who has intro- duced the bill is a lawyer aad a brilliant one too. 1 haxe come bere today to hear what my colleagues have to say regard- ing this bill so that 1 may report to Washington as quick as possible. It is immaterial who introduced the bill, what you have to prove is that it is inemieal to the interest oi the people of these isiands. As regards providing for five members for the Council of St. Croix and seven members for the Council of Ht. Thomas thot’s a typographical error. It was pro- josed to have seven for St. Croix and five {or St. Thomas and St. Jouin. There are aiso other typegrophicai evvors in the bill; and further the biil is open for amendment; you may send represeiita- tives to Washington. This is an aet of American citizens. You had better do it and do it quick. .. Loud applause from the audience. 2ad Member for Charistiansted Town (Canegata:) Mr. Chairman | want to ask if these manifestations are not con- trary to good order. The Chairmon usked the audience to refrain from manifestaiions of any kiad. The speaker (R thschild Francis) con- tinuing, —1 am speakiog under a great flag. There has been absolutzly no secrecy in the framing of the bili whore the authorities in Washington are con- cerned. 1t is the child of American brains. 1 had the pleasure of hearing an American from Chicago, lil., give his opinion as regard the judiciary system in theseislands, it was not at all beautiiul. Mr. Chairman 1 maintain that this bii is the child of inteliigent Americans. 2nd Member for Christiansted Country Distriet (Berg) remarked Mr. Chairman. With reference to the proponent of this measure it cccurs to my mind, and I think I am correct that the late See- retary of the Navy proposed a singie legiclative body for these islands. He agreed on the porint that the present form of Government i 3 unsuited to these islands. A letier was addressed 1o Governor Cowner of Porio Rico in which was stated that wbile these measures were wise and necessary duaring tae