USVI Public Records

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ter is wiso hefore vou on 3rd Discussion. 2nd Apyointed M&nber [Noll] remark- ed Mr. Chairman: According to expres- sions of opinions | have heard I do not see anything else to do but to put the bill to the vote and take it oftf the docket. i move that the vote be taken on it. The Chairtan remarked: According to the Rules of Business the Secretary should read the bill betore taking the vote on it, but it would be impossible for him to read such a voluwminous bill. If any member has any objection as to whe- ther it should be considered as read,I hope he will do so before the vote is taken on the guestion. i will now put to the vote whether the Hill should be considered as read. The copy | have on my desk has been very carefully compared and that will be the official copy. Ist Member for Christiansted Country Distriet [Stake.. amwi) remarked: Mr. Chairman. Before the vote is taken I would like to ask when these laws are going 10 be put in force? Idon’t think they should be put in force -before they are printed. There are many items o consequence that should be taken into consideration before the laws are put in force : | wili mention one, does the pre- sent 1+ w acknowledge property rights hotween marrvied people 2 [here should be some preseription how these laws should be changed. There are many other questions which ought to be gone inio so that people could know their rights. We are being put into a new code of laws right away whereas other places acquired by the United Startes States are given time to change their laws, take Louisiana for an instance. We should know whether those legal rights existing under the other ia s wilil be changed. ith < ppointed Member [Blackwood] remarked: Mr. Chairman. There seems to be some misunderstanding about the whole thing. This Councii 18 supposed to represent.the community, and uine members were appointed by the Council to go through these !aws, and amend- ments were made. Member Stakemann was our lezal adviser throughout the meetings, all suggesiions made were incorporated and now to go over the whole thing again for the community to Bnderstand it paragrapb by paragraph wnald be a tremendous wofk. As 2nd Discussicn we went over the laws para- graph by paragrapn and at 3rd Discus- sion to read the whole thing over again—- (lst Member for Christansted Country District Stakemann: We are not asking to read the whole thing over again) Member Blackwcod continuing —The laws have been gone over thoroughly by the Committee and the Council has shown its willingness to accept the re- commendations of the Committee. with this in view, I cannot see whygt should be heid up. There seems to be a peculiar move to hold up the bill. Nl L R N _lst Member for Frederiksted Country District [Andersen] remarked. Mr. Chairman. [ wish tosay that no attempt 1s being made to obstruct the passage of the law. : Ist Member for Christ ansted Country District (Stakemann) remarked: Mr. Chgirman. I think the Honoragle 4th Appointed Me vber misunderstands the situation; there is no attempt to obstruc the passage of the law, it is only a point to which the Council’s attention is drawn and that is, when the laws will be put in force, and I also made suggestions as to certain rights acquired under the Dan- ish laws. 1 find that the present criminal laws are very much like the laws made for these isiands and were only awaiting Royal sactior, the oniy diftference of im- portance 1 see is, the punishments, some of them are higher, the fines are aiso higher; we must give in to those things, they are United States laws and we have to follow the iaws whereever we go. Changes have been - made to sections which we believe would affect the rights of the community. It is said that peole will not be per- mitted to’ go out of their houses after ten o’clock at nights, but common sense will tell one that sueh a law could not even be proposed. As the laws stand at present I don’t think the community will pe placed in any worse position. The only thing left to be done lis, to get the right man to administer them, the laws may be good, but the whole thing rests on the man who is to administer them. 4th Appointed Member [ Blackwood] re- marked: Mr. Chairman. I am indeed in ac ord with the words of the last speaker and am glad that he has given such an explanation which, toa great extent, will eliminate all the doubts and fears entertained hy some people 1p this community. 2nd Appointed Member (Noll remark- ed: Mr. Chairman. This is probably the most important matter that will ever be voted on by tiis Council, it is a matter that very few legislative bodies ever had an opportunity to vote upon; it is very seldom that a legislative body undertakes such atask. In the interest of future record and in case oi denials 1 move that we take the vote by roll call. Ist Member for Christiansted Country District (Stakemann) remarked: Mr. Chairman. In regard to the Code of Civil Procedure which is before us I acknowledge that the procedure we had before was not recommendable, and I consider this code an improvement. We are very anxious to have trial by jury and it is provided ior in this code. The Chairman remarked: As previ- ously stated the Rules of Businessrequire that our Secretary read the laws before the vote is taken upon it. ThisI must acmit would be an exceedingly hard task, therefore I must take the vote as to whether the iule should be suspended. It was put to the vote and unanimously carried that the |Pws be taken as read. 2nd Appointed Member (Noll) again proposed that the vote o 2 the laws be taken by roil call. 4th Member for Christiansted Country Distriet (Ramsay), 3rda Member for said Distriect (R. W. Skeoch) and sth Ap- pointed Member (Lunney) seconded the member’s proposal. Accordingly the Chairman proceeded to take the vote by roil call with the fol lowing results. Ist Appointed Member [K. Henderson), Aye, 2nd Appointed Member [N011]......Aye. 3rd Appointed Member [ Armstrong| Aye. 4th Appoinied Member | Blackwood] Aye. bth Appointed Member ( Lunney]...Aye. Ist Member for Christiansted Town [Abramson], .... ... Ave 2nd Member for Chri tiansted Town taennt ... Ave 3rd Member for Christiansted Town Matey,. ... Ave, Ist Member for Christiansted Coun- tey Distriet (Stakemann) .. ..... .Aye. 2nd Member for Christiansted Coun- fry Distriet (MaeKay ... ... ... Ave, 3rd Member for Christiansted Coun- try District (Robt. W. Skeoch)... Aye. 4th Member for Christiansred Couri- try Distriet (Ramsay).. LAYe Ist Member for Frederiksted Town dmbens . . Aye. 2nd Member for Frederiksied Town w 0 i Ave, Ist Member for Frederiksted Coun- try Distriet LAndersen})..... ... Aye, 2nd Member for Frederiksted Coun- try Distriet (M. M. Skeoch).. . Aye. 3rd Member for Frederiksted Coun- try Distriet {(G. Nordby) .. ... Aye 4th Member for Frederiksted Coun- try Distrigh (Flegmne).. ... ... . Aye. The Chairman remarked: ‘The hill is unanimously adopted; furihermore ihe Chairman said: Honorable Members i believe you have ecast the right vote, may the new Laws be a blessing to the Island 1 congratulate you. The Chairman further remarked: By request of Government an extraordinary meeting is called for l'uesday the 25th inst. ] There being no furtner business before the House the Chairman deeclared the meeting closed at 4.45 p. m. e The exchange was fixed and an- nounced by the National Bank yester- day afternoon at 10 and 11%. - Quite a slipment of goods is being re- ceived in these days. Os course the cost of these goods is very much higher than usual so as to offset the rate of exchange through whieh we look for a drop. The ©reole and Virginia have neither of them shown up as yer.