USVI Public Records

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2nd Member for Christiansted Town (Canegata) to the date of my appoint- ment. [ told hin that my appointment is dated May 14; and he advised me to verify this statement, so [ went to the Council Office and requested the Clerk to let me have the letter, he did so, I read it ard handed it bask to him. ist Member for Frederiksted Town (Jackson) requested that the portion of minutes bearing on the objection made by the Honorable 2nd Member for Chris- tiansted Town (Canegata) be read. 2nd Member for Frederiksted Country District (Curry) proposed that a commit- tee cf 3 members be appointed to investi- gate the matter, The Vice-Chairman remarked: A mo- tion i 3 before the house that the matter be forwarded to a committee of 3 mem- bers for investigation. : Ist Member for Christiansted Town (Abramson): Mr. Vice-Chairman. I pro- pose a committe2 of the whole House. Let us find out what has happened. Ist Appointed Member (Couller): This 1s rather an important mat er—- 2nd Member for Chris iansted Town (Canegata): Mr. Vice Chairman [ rise to a point of order. There 1s a motion be- fore the House. The Viee Chairman: Gentlemen you are trying me well today. Ist Member for [rederiksted Town (Jackson) seconded the motion made by Ist Member for Christiansted ‘Town (Abramson). 3rd Memker for Christiansted Town (Alexander): Mr. Viece-Chairman. A point of inquiry What’s the original motion? The Vice-Chairman: That a commi:- tee of 3 members be appointed to investi- gate this matter. 2nd Appointed Member (Noll): M Vice Chairhan [ propose an amendment to the amendment chat the whole House resolve itself into a committee forthwith. 2nd Membker for Christiansted Town (Canegata): Mr. Vice-Chairman. The amendiments of the Honorable 2nd Ap- printed Member and the Honorable 3rd Member for Curistiansted Town cannot stand, because they have uot been seconded. What is really bafore the House now is the motion of the Hon- orable 2nd Member for Frederiksted Country Distriet (Curry) and the amend- mant of the Honorable Ist Member for Christiansted Town (Abramson). 2nd Member for Christiansted Country Dictrict (Curry): Mr. Vice-Chairman. I wish to withdraw my motior. Ido so in order to do away with all the amend- ments. : : 'he member’s motion was withdrawn., 2nd Member for ¥rederiksted Country District (Curry) then made a motion that the whole House go intc a committee forthwith and investigate this matter. The Viece-Chairman put the member’s motion 1o the vote. 12 voted for; none against. « 1.14 U AYV IR The Vice Chairmin remarked: The motion is carried. The Vice Chatrman requested the au- ~ dience to leave the hall and the doors were closed, and the House went into - commiltee at 203 o’clock p. m. aad the ~ ma'ter was discussed. | At 3.15 o’clock p. m. The Council re- ; sumed and the Vice-Chairman remark- - ed: Honocrable Membezrs the minutes of . the last meeting have been publishad as . customary and if [ hear no objectionI will consider them tacitly adopted. Aftera pause the Chairman he=arl no | objecrion. The minutes were declar_d ‘ tacitly adopted. | Item 1. i Produetior of eopy of Minutes of the ’ Municipar Commiitee for the Qaarter { ending March 31, 1923, forwarded by the Chairman of the Committee ' for inspection of Members of the Council, . The Viez-Chairman remarked: A cony of the minutes wiil be laid on the table todar and for ona week aftert will be in .he Uounei! O:fice whore it ean be insve ted by any member during offize ‘ hours. | Accordingly the minutes were laid on . the table, | Iten 2. | Colonial Counci! Bill No, 11, Session | 1922-23. | Ist discussion on Colonial Council | Bi.l No. 11, draft of an ordinance | introduced by Governmont concern- i ing insanity law. | Government Secretary (Gaffaey) re- | marked: Mr. Vice Chairman. ‘lhbis draft | was first presented to the OCounecil atits . April meeting and is reintroduced today | with a change in the title of the ordin- ' ance. The change is not a matter of ~ reneral interest, but may interesc a few \ persons. This draft is based on the i Louisiana and [llinois Insanity Law. At | present persons committed to the Asy- | lum have to be exam'ned by two doe- i tors, and’in most cases guestions of pro- perty and law come up. Al these re- , quirements are met in the present draft. | If there is any addition or amendment | which the Council desires to make Gov- | ernment would be giad to hear it. I Ist Member ior I‘rederiksted Town (Jackson) remarked: Mr. Vice-Chair- man. It is customary tbat a copy of - every draft of ordinance which comes | betore this Council be forwarded to mem- | bers. As I am not in possession ofa l copy of the draft which is now called ~ up Jam unable to speak on it today. I - have been asking for a copy since my election but up to now 1 have not re- ceived vne. It would be unfair to mv con- stituents to pass upon the draft before ac- quainting myself with it. I want to make this remark as a matter of protest against the manner in which these matters are cireu'ated, 2ud Member for Christiazsied Country T striet (Berg) remarked: Mr. Vice- C airman. lam in the same position as thi2 member who last spoke. lam also without a cony of the draft. The Viee-Chairiman reniarked: Some of the retiring members reiained their copies. The clerk tells me that Mr, Nelthropp promised to return his copy, but has not done so yet. 2nd Appointed Member (Noll) remark- ed: Mr. Viece-Chairman. 1 believe un- der the Rules of Business I am right in the remark which I am about tu make. When the Council dies I believe a!l mat- ters pending die with it. In order that an ordinance which died with the Crun- cil to como up it must be introductd anew, unless it ba carried forward. 1n view of the statement just made by the last two speakers that they are not in re- ceipt of copies of the ordinance 1 feel that the ordinance shoul! be circulated hefore its reintroduction. I do pot be- lieve that the ordinance is properly placed on the order of the day. Government Secretary (Gaffney) re- marked: Mrv. Vice-Chairman. L[he or- dinance is now reintroduced. 20d Appointed Member [Nollj: Mr. Vice-Chairman. Ido not say tnat the ordinance has not been reintrcduced but two members say tbat thiey are not in raceipt of copies, and for that reason I say that the matter is not properly placed on the order of the day. The (Vice-Chairmun) remarked : The matter will be forwarded to a committee any way. 2Ve can save time. |LT Lppointed Member (Blackwood) remarked. Mr. Vice-Chairman. It my memory serves me right it was lagreed that the tax ordinance should go for- ward, and that all others pending should be reintroduced. Government Secretary (Gafiney) re- marked: Mr, Vice-Chairman. Icontend thac this ordinance has been reintro- duced. These technicalities are merely to retasdbprovress, To avoid deiay [ will present the Honorable Zod Member for Christiansted Country District with my Copy. ‘ Ist Membher for Frederiksted Town (Jackson) remarked: Mr. Viee-Chair- man. 1 hope the remark made, by the Honorable Government Secretary rezard- ing technicalities is not as a resu't of my objection. J am entitlel o =erutinize any matter coming up before this Coun- cil before I pass npon it; and this Coun- cil is entitled to my advice at auy time. If this is representative government the people have a right (o scruiinize ail biils presented, 2nd Me nber for Christiansted Country Distriet (Berg) remarked: Mr. Viee- Chairman. If we discuss this matter be- fore ecpies are circulated to all the mem- bers we mew«y want to doit always. So as inot to establish a precedent copies should be circulated to all the members hefore we can proeced with discussion Lpon it.