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Frederiksted Coungry District (Fleming’s) amendment to the vote. 12 Members voted for; none against. The Chairman remarked: The amend- ment is carried and will be incorporated in the bill. The Chairman then brought up 4th Appointed Member (Blackwond’s) amend- ment to Section 2 of the bill. 2nd Member for Frederiksted Country District (M¢ M. Skeoch) remarked: Mr. Chairman. One objection I have to this section of the Honorable Appointed Mem- ber’s amendment is that it isa savage tax. In the first place Ido not cart my cane on the public roads, I deliver my cane to the scale and it is transported over private roads. As this amendment reads it certainly will be taking off the bulk of the taxes on some and place it on others. In one of the previous meet- ings the Honorable Member read a pro- test signed by a numoer of persons, the majority of which do not pay tax. 1 cer- tainly do not consider this a fair tax to the cane growers. 4th Appointed Member (Blackwood) remarked: Mr. Chairman. There is no doubt that we are very generous about spending the other fellow’s money. 4th Member for Frederikstea ‘‘ountry District (Fleming) remarked: Mr. Chair- man. [ do not agree with Section 2 of this amendment, because it seems, from the reading of it, as if I would have to pay a tax for carting my machinery over the road. It is not long since an ordi- nanc2 was introduced in this _Council aboliishing a tax, and since its introduc- tion I have not heard anything more about it. 3rd Appointed Membar Armstrong) remarked: Mr. Chairman. 1 have a few figures which I have prepared showing what effeet it would have on cane cul- tivation in this island if a tax such as is proposed goes into effect. (The Member explained his figures) and {urthermore said,—A good deal of land on the island would be put out of cultivation if a squatter is made to pay fifty dollars tax per year. The Chairman put Section 2 of the amendment to the vote. ; 1 Member voted for; 9 against. The “hairman remarked: Sectin 2 of the amendment is lost. Section 8 was put to the vote. 11 Members voted for; none against. Section 4 was put to the vote. 12 Members voted for; none againsi. Section 5 of the Committee Report was brought up for discussion and no one requesting the word it was put to the vote. i 11 Members voted for; none against. Section 6 of the Ordinance was put to the vote. 9 hlembers voted for; none against. The bill as amended was read by the Secretary. Ist Member for Frederiksted Town (Coulter) asked to speak. Mr. Chair- =T e XllX A VIS man. As the biil reads the decision as to the type of road is left entirely with the Public Works Officer and the Road Commission. They can decide to build a macadam or concrete road or one mile of each. I would like to know definitely the type of road.we are going to have so that I may be ahl® to explain to my consti- tuents whether they are goning to have a patchwork road or whether they are go- ing to have a macadam or concrete road. 2 d Member for Christiansted Town (Canegata): If 3rd Discussion is to come on today on this bill I propose that the Secretary be given time to redraft the bill before the vote is taken on it. 2nd Appointed Member (Noll) in reply to Member Coulter said,—The bill as amended reuads: to build a road with con- crete or macadam. I think the section is clear, the Public Woiks Officer will decide. Ist Member for Frederiksted Country Distiict (Andersen): The Public Works Officer should bavea free hand in the building of the road. : The spirit of the explanation given by the Honorable 2nd Appointed Member is that tue Public Works Officer and the Road Commission will decide the type of road w 2 are going to have. 4th Appointed Member (Blackwood) remarked: Mr. Chairman. As I under- stand it, it is going to be left with the Public Works Officer anditl:e Road Com- mission to decide whether we are going to have a concrete or macadam road. [ contend that the Public Works Officer has already expressed his views on this matter. Why not make it clear what type of road we are going to have. Ist Member for Christiansted Country District (Stakemann) proposed that the question as to the type of road be settled before the votie is taken on the bill. (To be continued.) ILOCAL. The Raporel Steamer ‘‘Fackler’’ sail- ed from New York on Friday evening, having 46 tons of cargo for Frederiksted and 55 tons for Christiansted. The next boat sailing will the S. S. “Tupper’’ on the 20th of May. Christiansted, St. Croix, 3rd May 1921. Editor ‘‘St. Crowx Avis’’. Dear Sir: After all that bas been said and done, one cannot fail to see that the offi- cial organ of the Labor Union, the “‘Herald’’. has become a planters’ paper. It is how engagad iff wholesale criticism abuse of the Union’s legal officers—men who helped to build up that Institution in harmony with its founder. What posi- tion does Jackson take in this state of CONFUSION that is now evident? His name still stands as EDITOR of that na- per, (now not fit for children to reac) and I presume that he is resprasible for all that trash, called ‘‘Pen Pictures’’, which appears in the editorial columns. The intelligent classes of this community (not necessarily members of the Union) have expressed how shocked and horri- fied they are at the language in late is- sues of the "‘Herald”’. Is it possible that any decent minded man could have writ- ten them? Are not the words foreign to Jackson? Was he ever such a low cur as to descend to such mean adjectives? Was he a Caiaphas, a Pontius Pilate, or a Judas in disguise? O where is his gene- ology? Frum whence did he originate? And right here I may be permitted to ask, what was Jackson’s financial posi- tion when he left this island? Did he own two automnbiles ? Properties ? Es- tates? A chauffeur, butler and a retinue of servante? Was he belonging to that class known commonly as a religious hypocrite? NO SIR! Did he think that we should be more ‘'spiritual’’, that is to say, willing to live upon the labour of others, willing to ask alms, saying in the meantime ‘‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’’? (If this latter is cor- rect, why not give the money back.) It 1s the habit of some so called ministers (?) to abuse the men who support them, to slander the spirit by which they live. It is as though the mouth should tear the hand that feeds it”’, holding the honest people of this island in contempt, and yet are so contemptible themselves that they are willing to live upon their labour, I repeat that this class of hypocrites, pretending to be spiritual guides, look with contempt upon the men who make it possible for them to live. Now about myself, I’d like to make it clear that, lam no Jacksonite. I belong to ne Church nor Society, No union, No Institution of any kind. I hate hypocrites and parasites. I despise the man, who dresses himself in ""BORROWED GAR- MENTS”’ of another. I do not believe in loving my enemies. 1 have pretty hard work to love myffriends. [ am the friend of every human being who has been the friend ¢ f man, and every man who is endeavouring to enslave his fel- lowmen in St. Croix, I hate with all my heart and soul. lam a native of this [s- land. [ protest against any assuming the right to abuse the young men of this community. Words of abuse proceed from men of questionable reputation. For mys:ll' I bad rather be robbed, than t> be a robber, and | had rather be of such a disposition that I would be driven to suieide rather than to live in splen- dour arnid contentment c¢n the organized labour of others. I am not resenting for the Labour Un:- on or any of its officers. They are at liberty to do so themselves, but [ pro- test against any one (especially an alien) casting aspersions on the men of this town. It isa bireach of hospitality and gross ingratitude. Respectfully A NATIVE.