USVI Public Records

Document text

GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES ST. CROIX & 7 8 B Official Publication. THE mail arriving from Continent- al United States today brought a copy of Senate Bill No. 2785, in- troduced in the Senate on March 10, 1924, by Senator Mc LEAN of Con- necticut by request. This bill is en- titled: “A Bill to provide a Civil Government for the Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.” I desire to inform the people of the Virgin Islands that the Government had nothing whatever to do with this bill; was given no opportunity .to comment upon it prior to its presen- tation to the United States Senate and, in fact, knew nothing concern- ing it until the printed copy was re- ceived this morning. Furtger, inso- far as this Government is aware, the party or parties who requested Sena- tor MCLEAN to introduce this bill act- ed without the consent and approv- al of the people inasmuch as the people as represented by the two Colonial Councils have not signified a desire for a complete change in the form of government of these islands. The danger of legislation con- cerning th2 Virgin %slands being introduced in the Federal Congress without official backing is only too apparent, Would not this bi?l, if enacted, endanger the Federal ap- propriation now made for the is- lands? Porto Rico, from whose Or- ganic Act this bill is largely copied, receives no direct Federal appro- priation. PHILIP WILLIAMS, Governor. LOCAL The St. Thomas papers are hot these days. The batch received on Saturday contain reference to clashes in the town between service-men, the police and na- tives, and dissatisfaction at the decision of the court is openly expressed. The Mail ,Notes denouncing the police de- c.ares that this is the last time St. Thom- as will stand for incompetence and bru- tality from policemen whose ‘‘proper sphere is the field;”’ whether the batile- ST Oy Y 2 & G Publication. I’l‘ is hereby brought to public notice that the Government has, this date, authorized the Reverend ALPHONSE J. WOLF, C.SS.R., to perform civil-religioug functions in the Municipality of&nt Croix. Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States, St. Croix, 27 March, 1924. . WM. S. ZANE, Government Secretary. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REPORT No. 31. Week Endirg March 28, 1924. Municipality of St. Croix. Per- Percent of cent of Pupils not Attend- School Claxs tardy. ance. Frederiksted Jr. High 99.78 100.00 La Vallee Rural 100.00 190.00 Christiansted Jr. High 9863 99.73 LCiamond Rural 100.00 99.45 Frederiksted Public 99.20 99.42 Peter’s Rest Rural 100.00 98 82 Christiansted Public 99.18 98.11 La Princesse Rural 98.00 9360 Friedensfeld Rural 96.51 92.26 field or the cane-field is not defilned by our cotem. The Native Brass Band entertained a large gathering with its special concert of national airs last night, The s. s. Parima for New York sailed from Freleriksted yesterday morning, carrying as usual a number of passen- gers, ‘The U. S. S. Greba left Frederiksted on Saturday morning for Culebra via St. Thomas taking memnbers of the Colonial Council and friends of the navy officers to witness the maneuvres of the fleet, returning yesterday morning. We have been promised an aacount of the trip by our esteemed townsman Mr. W. S. Abramson which we hope to publish tomorrow. In this issue there will be found an official publication from the Governor re- ceived on Saturday, the subject matter of which our readers have doubtless been acquainted with., By papers receiv- ed by Saturday’s mail it is understood that this bill was being carried to Con- gress through Mr. Roihsckild Francis, editor of the Emancipator, St. Thomas. For the present we regard it as prema- ture to make any remarks on this mat- ter. The Afro-American of the 15th in- stant contains what purportsito be a re- port of the Virgin Islands commission as made to Secretary of Labor Davis. It embodies several points and includes among other things a provision for mak- ing the Virgin Islanders real citizens of the United States. It urges that the Department of Commerece study business possibilities in the island; exchange of teachers and scholars be ween the public schools of the Virgin Islands and colored colleges of America; that the term of the goveruor be made longer, etc. Correspondence Christiansted, March 29, 1924. The Editor, ‘‘St. Croix Avis.” Dear Mr. Editor: I have had many a smile at your witticisms in dealing with local facts in these days, and venture to offer you a suggestion which may be humor- ous but helpful if followed, all the same. It is that the sign over the bridge in Strand Street reading NO DUMPING be either removed from there and placed on the wharf or a similar sign made and placarded near the crane which is as much a dumping ground as any you want to find, excepting the rubbish heap near the fish-market. lam not charging you anything for this tip. Yours STROLLER. TELEGRAMS. ST. CROIX STATION. London, Marebh 26th. —A despateh to the iixchange lelegraph from Rome says that a disaster has occurred at Amslfi, 22 miles south e-st of Naples, caused by the river Cannetto getting out of its banks, followea by lands'ides which destroyed the famous Cappucecini Con- vent and some of the hotels and olher buildinzs in the villager. Fifty of the villagers are reported to have been killed, says the despatch and grave fears are felt for the tourists, many of whom were stopping in the local Loteis. A large area of vineyards and a number of farm houses were destroyed. A large part of the townsaip of Vettica is lying under a thick layer of mud, rocks and trees. Amalfi is virtually isolated owing to landslides on both the Sorrentv and Salerno sides of the town. Torpedo boats have arrived to render relief. Apparently the whole coast between Salerno and }§Sorrento suf- fered. A boat has been sent from Naples to pick up stranded tourists in the affected area. London, March 26th.—There were no signs tonight of any settiement of the strike of the bus and tramway workers and with a threatened lockout in the ship-building trade and the dispute with the coal miners still unsettled, the Minis- try of Labor seemed destined for a while