USVI Public Records

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MAILS CLOSE for New York, N. Y., Europe, etc, per S. S. Korona at 4 o’clock this afternoon. [.ast night’s show at the theatre was a real fine affair and the manager must be commended upon his having afforded the public such a wholesome evening’s enter tainment which we are glad to say was embraced by many and enjoyed by all who spent their time at this popular place of amusement. Correspondence. . Edator ‘Awms’’. [ read in St. Thomas Mail Notes yes- terday that Bishop Greider and <ther colleagues of the ‘‘cloth’”’ presented a memorial from certain ministers in thisis land, the same purporting to be the expres- sions of the majority, and praying the Governor to withhold his sanction of the liquor bill. The most striking and ridi- culous part of this. whole move is the mention that the petition was signed by some 1300 of the inhabitants. Out of a population of 14,000,people, 10,000 of whom must be adults, 1,300 signed; and this constitutes a majority in the opinion of these descendants of Cain ! Isn’t it pos- itively ludicrous? And if reports are re- liable, and by all means they are plaus- ible, lots cf the signatures obtained through the instrumentality of these di- vines were secured by moral suasion, and from minors. It seems remarkable the Herald didn’t publish the numbe» of people who signed; certainly its editor must be conscious of the farce this en- tire business has been frem beginning to end. Frora ecclesiastial misrepresentation, and all holy deception and humbug, Good Lord deliver us ! VIXEN. Christiansted July 12th., 1920. OFFICIAL NEWS. The Governor has received the resolu- tions passed by the Toioniai Council for the Municipality of St. Thomas and St. John at its last meeting, petitioning the Government to lay an embargo upon certain St. Croix sugar. This in the opinion of the Government is permissa- ble only as provided by paragraph 75 of the Colonial Law which reads as follows: ‘“The right of property is inviolable. No person can be compelled to cede his property except when the public welfare demands it. This ¢an only be effected according to alaw or an or- dinance and full compensation must be given.”’ Assuming that the public welfare de- mands it, the Government would not S C Ryl X AN e legally have the right to embargo sugar without at the same time making full- compensation, which would be the mer- ket price on the day the embargo was jevied. Such action would be without beneficial result as the sugar is offered %t that price without embargo. There- fore, the Government feels that it can_do do more than furnish legal assistance, which it has already promised to the Food Commission for. the prosecution of its suit. e The Junior High School opened yes- terday with grades 7,8, 9; and a total enroilment of 76 pupils. - The regular work has begun with the exception of manual training and:domestic science which will be sterted upon the arrival of equipment from ‘'the States. Miss Tate, ‘he principal, and two teachers, will be assisted later by an-additional} teacher who is expected to arrive from the States in the near future. It is noted that the enrollment in Spanish classes is unusual- ly heavy. This course promises so be exceedingly popular. “The other schools opened with an increased enrollment of about 159 pupils over last year. Captain F. K.Hill, U.S. Navy, who has recently béen on,duty as Naval At- tache at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ac- compauie | by Mrs. Hill, arrived on the Steamer ‘‘Martha Washirgton’ this mo- ning and called upon Governor and Mrs. Oman. . i St. Thomas News. THE SUGAR SITUATION. - A Foreign Spirit. Into the bitterness which is being felt by an unsuspecting public by being brought suddenly face to face with a sugar famine .hrough the breach of con-- tract by the Sugar Factory in Si. Croix, mingles a genuine feeling of incredulity and surprise at the sction of the said Danish Concern, an action which has come to our population like a flash out of a clear sky, or, perhaps, rather like a cold gust from a harsher cliimate, = It is generally felt as if a foreign spirit had invaded our territofies, and which is taken as a bad omen for the new Laws, which have just come into effect in St. Croix, and are under contemplation here; and it is to be hoped that the said spirit will get no opportunities of manifesta- tion in this island. ‘ We haveheard it sugzested, that the Food Commission transfer tna rights acquired by tne Contract, to the Colonial Counci! on behalf of ths pesple of St. Thomas:; and that the Community of St. Thomas then prosecui2’the Sugar Fac- tory for fulfilmeat of its obligations. We think this a very good move, if no 3 nives s sattl2 pant can H 2 sl witae out delay. v Anaother way aat, ‘woaid be to. the Community of St. [homas to buy the nocessary sapply elsewaare and retail at at the old price, suing the Sugar Factory ® for the difference in price. | In the meantime, there is considerable ~ uneasiness amoang the people. The La ~ bour Unions have consulted, and we . understand, have conferred with the ~ Governr; and it is feared that any de - mands for higher wages, if the price of | sugar should be advanced, will spread to - St. Croix and cause corresponding claims ' over there: moreso, if the Labour Unions | of the two islands should join hands for ' mutual support. .~ And all this, owing:to the sudden dis- | play of a forejgn spirit amongst us ! ? Let us hope that a quick amelioration ' ~of the situation may be brought about. | —St. Thomas Mail Notes, August 7th. ' S BeMt b g i A deputation composed of the Revds. | Christensen, Folensbee and Bishop Grei- | der called on His Excellency, Rear Ad- | miral Oman, on Friday morning at | 10:15 o’clock, and presented a peti- } tion from St. Croix, containing 1,300 | signatures, asking aid from Government preventing the free importation and sale of intoxicating liguors of all kinds into the island. : | The claim of the petitioners is that the ' 18th amendment of the Coastitution of " “the United States is operative in that “island, and comes under the interpreta- tion of the Supreme Court. Added rea- © 'sons given, are that the operation of pro- * hibition, during the time the law has been . in force, has been for the moral uplift of ' the p-oople of the isiand, and that a | noticeable change for the better has been . observed in their general condition. . Among the 1,300 signatures, coveringZ | the two towns and the entire country | district, are those of the Clergymen | representing the movement, the Revs. | Critchlow, Bartels, Allen, Smith, Peder- ! sen, Barrow, Mayhew and Agaard, and | 'many others in sympathy with the moys= ™" | mens. = - : e , ’ In addition to the very impressive evi- | dence of the strength of the prohibition ' sentiment in the island, the petition was ' accompapied by one representing the 870 members of the St. Croix Benevglent - Society, an organization for the mutual benefit of the working people of the - island and signed by the President, Sec- retary, Vice-President and Committee of Management of that organization. These petitions after being read, were formally presented to His Excellency by Bishop Greider. Following this, Rev. B. J. Folensbee read a petition from the Mipisters’ Association of St. Thomas, representing the Temperance Societies and seniiment in favor of prohibition in the Lutheran Moravian, Wesleyan and Reformed congregations of the two is- lands of St. Thomas and St. John and