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Betkendigorelse. DEN ordinære Generalforsamling i den dansk-vestindiske Nation- albank afholdes Fredag den 13. + djJuni 1924 Kl. 11 Formiddag i Min- isterialbygninger, BSlotsholnsgde Nr. 6 her i Staden. Forhandlingsgenstandene er: 1) Forelæzgelse as Bankraadets Beretning om Bankens Virk- somhed i Aaret 1923. 3) Forelærg-lse as det reviderede Regnskab for nysnævnte Åar med Forslag til Anvendelse as Azrsoverskuddet. 3) Indstilling om Decharge fordet aflayte Regnskab, 4) Valyz as et Medlem til Bank- raacdet. 5) Valg as en Revisor. Kø»enhavn, den 18 Marts 1924. FR. NORDLIEN. J. WINTHER. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT SESSIUN OF TIE COLONIAL COUNCILS for St. Creix, &t. Thomas and St. Join. AT 2 o'elock p.m.. Friday. April 4, 1924. the Colonial GCouncils of St T.aomas and St. John, and St. Croix met in joint extraordinary session in the Council Ha!l in Caristiansted. Convene!! by request of the Chairman. Present were: For St Fhomas and St John: C. G. Thiele (Chairman). J. F. Runtz (Viece Chairman), Leroy Nolie ( ‘eeretary), Carl A. Anduze, Phnilip wmez, George A. Moorehead, Carl Ik, Franci<, Knud-Hanser, Rothschild Fran- cis, Herbert E. Lockhart, J. H. Bos chulte, (. Corp2iro and Luther Stake- mann. Absent: Axel Holst and Abram L. Siniih For St, Croix: Rob'. L. Merwin (Chair man), Robt. W. Skeoen (Viece-Chairman), DS Arms rong (Seeretary), D. C Cane- gata, M. M. Skeoch, I'. Airdersen, W. A. Flemine, H. Berz, F. Coulter, D-. Hamilton Jackson, D. Noll, W. 3. Abram- son, . hos. Ramsay, Jus. Alexander, Hol- ger Jessen and A. J. Blackwood. Member A. R. Meclntosh ansent from illness, Government Secretary (Zane) and Des- patching Secretary {Barret) wer2 pres- ent at the meeting. The following priy rs were offered by the Chaplain, Rz2v. Father Fraacis W, Clair: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. We ade Thee, O Lord God, and g1 €CcRhROIX AaVio earnestly pray for Thy Blessing on this earth and ali Thy creatures who dwell upon it. Bless in particular all those who believe in Thee, hope in Thee and love Thee. Protect us from danger and let no harmm come to us from for- eizn f[oes nor i‘om epemies dwelling in our own homes. Guide with Thy grace our Governor and all who share with him the barden of establishinZ and preserving our temporal peace and hapiness. Our Father, who art in hcaven, hal- lowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom coma: Thy will be doine on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our duaily biead: and forgive us our tres- passes as we forgive those who tres- p:ss against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil A:en. ‘ May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost, deseend upon us and remain with us forever. Amen. The Chairman (M:rwin) remarked: Honorable Members before opening the meeting I desire on behulf of the Colonial Coune.l of St. Croix to we'come the C)lo- nial Counecil of St. Thomas and St. John. We appreciate your cominZ to participate with us. The guestion before the House today as you all are aware is a resolution which has been drafted by the Colonial Chouncil of St. Thomés and St. John and sent over with the Chairman of the Muui- cipal Committe: of St. Thomas, and which, after some ehanzes were made by the SO, Croix Council in a caneus meeting hold last Wednesday,I understand has been adopted by the Colonial Council of St. Thomas and 3t. John. [ will ask the Honorable Caairman of the Municipal Committee of 3t. Croix (D. €. Canegata) to introduce the resolution for Xt Croix and afterwards the Honorable Chairman of the Municipal Corm nittee of St. Thom- as will introdue it for St Thomas. As our our time is short I ask that members he not lengthy in their speeches, particu- larly as some of the members of the St Ti.o nas Council have expressed a desireto see some of their Iriends in town betore leaving for 5. I'nomas. 20d Member for Christiansted Town (Canegata) remarked: Mr. Chairman. In introduecting ine Resoiution tor the Colo- nia!l Council for St¢. Creix whichI have just been asked (o do at the ;ast moment, it is not my desire to ;occupy much of the time of this Coaneil this afternoon in dis- cussing this matter, but I ihiok it expedi- ent to state the view which I take on this question. lam in cordial agreement with the principle of the bill, but it does not ‘ollow that it is on all oceasions op- p rtune to carry it into effect. I hold at the same time that we cannot be tno jealous and too determined in guard- ing our privileges against usurpation. Leave intact the free privileges of til» representativcs #of the p2ople. And vhy? be:as e itis the exercise of those privileges by whuicn whatever we have have been won and by wnich alon= they witl b 2 and can b 2 maintained in the futur> The atand 1 take today 1 wouald if the oppr-taaity had be2n pre- cisely yhe samne a< | wouid have done in 1921 when behind the backs of the Coun- cits the Administration bad the Federal Ine m: Tax, and the amendment depriv- ing sone imembers of these Councils of their seats eff s¢tive in these islands. I am not one of those who believe in the hopa=less eondition whicn will ensue if this biil 1s enaczel, that belief i 3 based on the opinioa that civil government and autonomy (or self government) are synopymous terms, the difference of which anyone will take the trouble can readily see at a glance, but i} oppose this bill because I beiieve it to b 2 unsuitable to S:. Croix. And let me draw attention to snm2 of its provizions taken at random to illusiraie my objec- tions. This bill provides that the system of raxation in‘the Virgin islands shall he uniform. Ido not beiieve this especially with the representation is possible. Si. Thomas is purely eommercial, St. Croix agzricultural, We have an export dury of $3.00 par ton on sugar for.ning the chia( item on our bulzet. St. thomnas havin ® nosuzar pays nothing. St. Thom- as has a personal property tax, we in St Croix do not consider suen a tax feasibie ar.d are opporsed to it We have ao import duty oi 16 2/3% while St. Lhomas pay only 6% Lhere are other features suca as l'rade, Lamp and Assessnent Taxes ete in one island which are not praciica- blein *he other, for these reasons [ do not coasidera uniiorm system a workabie one. Lake the Legislative feature of the bill, a single enamber is provided 1n whaicn St. Croix is allowed 5 members and St. Thomas 7 members. 1 eannot sce how it ils possible lor anyone to ex- pect in any systen of goverament that the people of the larger, more densely popula.ed anl more self-supporting is- iand must be made subjeet to the lesser, in other words how can the msjority be subversive to the minority. ‘t'he ulu- mate outcome of this will be tnat the people of St- Croix must be contented to be led, throttl2d and pay the bilis .or those nf Sc. Thomas. We will never con- sent to sueh a proposition. Again | believe we will be worse off wiih the biennial budget for the islinds as here provided than we are with our present annual one. There are many other features which at this juncture [ need pot take up in detail. lis railure to provide a Couct of Ap- peals seems to be a serious ommission By the Organic Aect the Appeilate Courc for these islands is to the I'nrid Ciccuir in Philadelphia and when we cons:der that the expenses necessary to rean there is something like $1,200 and the average daily wagze down here is 40 cents I think it is a sericus Zap, and one wiuca