USVI Public Records

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® ® Publication. WITH reference to an Ordinance passed by the Colonial Coun- cil of St. Croix, 19 April 1919, in view of the fact that the 4th day of July, this year, falls on a Sun- day, the Governor has declared Mon- day sth July 1920, a holiday for the purpose of observing ‘‘INDEPEN- DENCE DAY.” C. C. TIMMONS, Government Secretary, PROCEEDINGS OF THE FOR ST. CROIX. Continued from Saturdav’s Avis Item &. Colonial Council Bill No. 37. Introduction of and Ist Discussion on Draft of an Ordinance, intro- duced by ist Member for Christian- sted Country District (Stakemann) providing that no charges be made for cranage except in cases where the crane is actually made use of. The bill reads as follows: Colonial Council Bill No. 87. 2nd Council 2nd Session 1920--1921. DRAFT OF ORDINANCE Concernimg The Payment Os Cranage In Christiansted. Be it enacted by the Colonial Council of St. Croix that no cran- age on produce and other Mer- chandize shipped from the pub- lic wharf or any private wharf at the port of Christiansted shall in future be charged, except where the crane is actually made use of. MOTIVE. According to the existing regu- lations cranage in Christiansted is only charged, when the crane is ac- tually used. When in years passed the St. t roix cugar Factory (then ¢‘St. Croix Feellessukkerkogerier’) sought permission to ship its sugars from the whart at the factory, the per- mission was granted on condition that the Factory, notwithstanding that it did not make use of the crane on the public whart, should ST CRU 1 X AV 15 pay the cranage usually charged, say 2 cents, per bag. o Later the Factory found, that if it had to pay these 2 cents cranage, it could, with less cost, cart its su- %ar to Christiansted and ship it rom the wharf there without use fo®the crane, and thus save tht ex- pense of cranage, which it had to gay for the privilege of shipping rom its own wharf. The carting of sugar through the town for shi%ment rom the wharf has always been a nuisance to the town people, :and as the Factory is willing to ship its sugar from its own wharf if it be relieved of the charge for crana%e, and as the Treasury will not lose any revenue, seeing that no cranage 1s at present under existing circumstances de- rived from the shipment of the fac- tory’s sugar, this draft of ordi- nance is laid before the Council, in order to relieve the town people of an unnecessary nuisance. A. E. STAKEMANN, let Momber for Chrigtigneted - Country District. Ist Member for Christiansted Country Distriet [Stakemann] introduced the Ordinance and said, Mr. Chairman. The reason for this Draft.of Ordinance, as Honorable Members have saen, is fully explained. The first thing that will come to your attention is whether the crane belongs to the FKederal Government or not. The Act of Congress says '‘that customs and laws shall remain in foice and effect until chanzed’’. As the Cus- tom House collects the fees it would seem that the crane belongs to the Fed- eral Governmet, but that is not so. The Danish State ceded all the properties t they possessed, but they were not pos | sessed of the crane, such properties as | the Custom House, Goverment House and | other buildings belonging to the Danish | State, but the crane is a municipal pro- [ perty, it has been put up and kept by | the Municipality, therefore Ido not think [ there could be one question as to whom the crane belongs. Some years ago when I the factory was start:d here we all know that Government gave leave to load its sugar at its privare wharf, but the Government was in poor circemstan- ces then and tried to gei some fees so the Factory ngreed to pay the fees, but later it was found out that it was e sier to cart its sugar and save the fees, con:equently by shipping from this wharf it saved the cranage. To rectify this, this Ordinance is introduced to per- mit the Factory toship its sugar without having to pay cranage. Theé Colonial Treasury will suffer no financial loss by ° the passage of this Ordinance and there- fore I hope the Government and the Council will give their sancticn. ilst Member for Frederiksted Country District (Andersen) remarked. Mr. Chairman. One question 1 would like to ask—Are we sure that the Factory will ship its sugar from its own wharf? It would be ridiculous if the Factory don’t pay wharfage up here. Must the ship- pers at the other end of the island keep the wharf up here in condition for ship- ment of sugar and pay wharfage. 4th Member for Christiansted Country District (Ramsay) remarked: Mr. Chair- ~ man. Ist Member for Christiansted Country Distriet (Stakemann) dwelt on the saving that would be effected if the Factory ships its sugar from the private wharf and also the nuisance created by the carting of the sugar through the town. Certainly, for the sake of the public let us get rid of the nuisance of carting the sugar through the town for shipment. 2.:d Appointed Member (Noll) propos- ed that Ist Discussion be closed. The Chairman remarked: My first duty is to take a vote as to whether the bill should be furthered. 1t was put to vote and unanimously carried that the bill be furthered. The Chairman put to the vote the pro- posai made by Znda Appointed Member (Noll). 13 members voted for; none against. With Government and the Council’s consent 2nd Discussion opened. Ist Member for Christiansted Country District (Stakemann) prcposed that 2nd Niscussion be closed. The member’s proposal was put to the vote. 13 members voted for; none against. With Government and the Council’s copsent 3rd Discussion opened. Ist Member for Christiansted Town ‘ (Abramson) remarked: Mr. Chairman If the idea is to stop carting sugar from ! the Factory :to the whar{ what would ! become of the cartmen? They are tax- ~ payers and should not be barrcd from ~ earning a liviithood. | Ist Member for Christiansted Country -~ Distriet . [Stakemann] remarked: Mr. Chairman. | wish to inform the H: ncr- able Member that the low carts are mot used by the Factories any more they ave using their own carts. 2nd Appeinted Member (Noll) propos- ed that 2nd Discussion be closed. Ist Member for Frederiksted Country Distriet (Andersen) seconded the Mem- ber's proposal. 3rd Discussion closed and the Secre- tary [Canegata] read the bill and the Chairman put same to the vote. 11 members voted for; none against. The Chairman remarked: The bill is adopted and goes to Government. After the Order of the Day had been exhausted Ist Member for Frederiksted Country Distric (Andersen requested