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sure which is placed before this Council for legislation. 4th Member for Frederiksted Cohuntry Distriet (Anderson} Mr. Vice Chairman. May I ask the Government Socretary if he is aware that this Municipality already has a heavy personal tax. It was put in the Organic Act and ecalled export tax. 1 think it unfair to come with a personal tax before that is removed. Government Sceretary (Zane) remark- ed: Mr. Vice-Chairman. Now is not the time to enter into discussion on other raxes, we are dealing with this particu- lar biil. 4th Appointed Member (Bla-kwood) re- marked: Mr. Viee-Chairman. This Coun ¢il has already accepied the Commitiee Eeport, and all there is to be done is to pass the Ordinance with the Commit- tee’s amendments. No sane man wll vote to {urther burden himsell with more taxation, and 1 am rather surprised at Government’s attitude on this quesrtion. They surely can see the deplorable con- dition the island is in at present, I lo- gret that I as an Ameérican citizen and under the American Flag have (o staind and plead, to save my property from further taxation which is loaded up to the muzzie already. 2nd Member for Frederiksted Countiry District (Curry;: Mr. Vice Chairman. | would Lke to know if we [ail to pass the amendment iairoduced by Coveriment and pass the amendment offered vy tiie Commit tee whetner Government wil veto it. Every member of this Council has been advised not to pass this tax law. I believe that it is our duty 2s menbers of this Council, particuiar those that aie elected, not to vote tor this tax law, unless the amenaments offercd a-e ac- cepted by Government. 1 {urther be- lieve thut the Council should not tale tha entire responsbiiity for it. I p-oposa that we adopt the couise tha we voia2 down the original draft and iote 3 tax law with amendment. It seems o 0 me that this is the best course to pur- gue: and if the Governcris not satisfied he may veto it, but stil we have shown good faith. 4th Appointed Member (Blackwood): remarked: Mr. Viee«Chairma . [ agree with the Honarable 2nd Member for Frederiksted’s Country Distric’, we have done all that is possiple to 2et Gov- ernment views in this matter. [co ror think this so called amendment is hard to undeirstand, to me it reads .ike «n ul- *imatum. If we are a legisiative body as we are supposed tobe, to me our duty is clear, vote for the Tax Ordinance with the am:ndments, then if G vernment won’t :ceept it, the responsibiiiy is theirs, and they cannot say to Washing- ton that the St. Croix Council refused to puss a tax bill. The Vice Chnirman: Will th= Council accept or reject Governmenmt’s zmend- ment ? : 2nd Member for Christiansted Country District (Berg): As the amendment =1 Lit a2 VE seems out of order may I ask if Govern- | ment would not withdraw it Government Secretary (Zane): 1 do | not feel that Sovernment should with- ! draw this amendment. As I explained | before it is i%roduced for the purpose | of giving the €nlonial Council an oppor- | tunity to pass the draft of ordinance as | originally submitted. ; 2nd Member for Christiansted Town | (Canegata): Do1 understand that Gov- | veinment is asking the Committee 10 | reconsider its report ? | Governuient Secretary (Zane) remark- ed: Mr. Viee-Chairman. I might offer | my own views. If the Colenial Council thinks it has gone far enough it follows | then that it will reject this amendment | and the ordinanee goes to a vote with | the Committee Report, and the Council | wiil then fail to pass the ordinance wiih the pnraseclogy with regard to persoual | tax. j 2nd Member for Christiansted Town | (Canregata): 1 will abstain from voring | because |do not uanderstand the amend- | ment. | Ist Member for Frederiksted Town (Jackson) remarked: Mr, Viee Chairma:, L'he Government Seeretary has freque: = ly used the word ‘‘opportunity’’. 1 seems to me that a penaliy will rfollow if we lot the opportunity go by and don't | pass the bill. | don't like the word “‘op- | portunity’’. I:looks lik2 athreat, Tais biil has bean before the House for more than two years, it is true, but we have the right 1o reject any measure that is placed before us. I suggest that this | wiiowe matter be resubmitted to the Com- mittee [or recoustderaiion, because tiere Is nothinz wrong with a tax bill of this | nature, particularly if we are to keep up | this heavy administration which is getting heavier year after vear. Unless | seea reduction in the drait of buidzet ior the | coming fiscal year 1 vill not vote for this | tax bi.l. 1 recommend that the blii go over until the budget tor the next fiscal year | is received. [ To be coutinued. | OFFICIAL NOTES. | His Exerlieney, the Governor has been intormed by the Seeretary o! State that tne Treaty with Great Britain to aid in | the prevention of smuggling intoxicating liquors into the United States, sizned on January 23, 1924, will apply to the Virgin | Islands, so that a stock of liquors may be kent on board British vessels under seal wnile they are in such ports. | It is understood that this Treaty is now in the hands of the Senate Committee on | Foreign Relations {or ratification, l L)AL '{ Attention is invited to the ad of the West End Movies in this issue, featur- | ing "‘The Flame of Life’’ with Priscilla | Dean, to be screened tomorrow night at the nominal admission rates of 5 and 10 cents, We have been asked to mention that the Native Brass Band will give a con- cert on the wharf tomorrow night,. The s. s. *‘Catherine’’ is due today on schedule time, having 40 tons cargo for this island, Mails elose for the islands by ‘'‘Bogo- ta atlla m today, Some very good road repair work is being effecied along the centre-line {from Frederiksted past Estate Hacensborg. The road roller is emploved in this sep- vice and is apparently giving a satisfac- tory account of itseif. Owing to the dry- ness of the weather there ils a lot of dust on the road which is, however, smoother than it has been for years. If it were practicable to wet the road altcr rolling it and sprinkle it cecasionally the result would be probably still better, bhut un- fortunately water, especially inland, is only too scarce at most times even if i could be made available on the spot. The following text of a cablegram pre- sented to this office 1s inserted at the send- er’srequest. Same has reference tocertain writings by Government Attorney Wil- liams at St. Tho nas whose expressions are not favourably received by represent- ative members of this community who have subscribed toward contents of the cabie messace and its cost of transmis- sion. The signer advises that he pur- poris to take this mat'er up in the news- paper coluins in the coming week: Editor New York Times New York. Undersigned legislator of St. Croix behalf self and other legislators repudi- ate writings George Washington Wil- liams relative our uffairs as dangerous propaganda. H."BERG. St. Croix. CORRECTION Reference to the schooner “"Vigilart”’ arriving here yester iy frem Porto Rieo was a printer’s erroi. She came from St. Thomas and the coal and muils were from there also. Whim 14th March 1924. The Editor St. Croix Avis, Dear Sir:— Would like to know if following cars were photoed Sunday 9th inst: No. 132 for blocking entrance to Cemetery when sailors’ graves were being hon- ored, No. 124 and 137 for—-- Beg to remind those in charge that some of the Grand cars that hit to spot and throw flashlight on lesser drivers to be photoed at night. Let all get the same souce. J. W. SMITH,