7dr CONGRESS 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
ReporT 
2d Session 
No. 2449 
  
TO PROVIDE A CIVIL GOVERNMENT FOR THE VIRGIN 
ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES 
  
ArriL 17, 1936.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state 
of the Union and ordered to be printed 
  
Mr. DEMPSEY, from the Committee on Insular Affairs, submitted the 
following 
REPORT 
[To accompany H. R. 12298] 
The Committee on Insular Affairs, having had under consideration 
H. R. 12298, a bill to provide a civil government for the Virgin Islands 
of the United States, favorably report the same and recommend that 
it do pass. 
The Governor of the Virgin Islands, witnesses from the Interior 
Department, and official delegates from the Colonial Council of the 
Virgin Islands were given the opportunity of presenting such testi- 
mony as they desired on the question of a civil government for the 
Virgin Islands. 
Their testimony was recorded and appears in the 
hearings. 
The committee also met in executive session several times 
for the purpose of discussing the provisions of the bill. 
Every phase 
of the proposed legislation was covered thoroughly. 
An intense study was made of two bills, H. R. 11751 and H. R. 
12171, prepared by the Interior Department and by an official com- 
mittee In the Virgin Islands, respectively. 
Open hearings were held 
in the Virgin Islands during the preparation of the draft that was 
presented by their official delegates to the committee. 
The committee 
also considered the suggestions for changes made both by the Interior 
Department and by the Virgin Islands delegation. 
An agreement 
was reached in executive session of the Insular Affairs Committee and 
the above numbered bill favorably reported. 
The following letter from the Secretary of the Interior accompanied 
the original draft of H. R. 11751 and explains the necessity for per- 
manent legislation to replace the temporary act of March 3, 1917, 
under which the Virgin Islands are now being administered.
2 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT 
FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS 
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, 
Washington, March 9, 1936. 
Hon. LEo KOCIALKOWSKI, 
Chairman, Committee on Insular Affairs, 
House of Representatives. 
My Dear Mr. CHAIRMAN: There are transmitted herewith copies of a 
\ 
draft 
of bill to provide a civil government for the Virgin Islands of the United States. 
As you are aware, the Virgin Islands have been governed since their purchase 
by the United States of America in 1917 under the act of Congress of March 3, 
1917, “An act to provide a temporary government for the West Indian Islands 
acquired by the United States from Denmark 
* 
* 
*” 
Many efforts have 
been made to secure the enactment of a permanent government act, but so far 
without success. 
There is an obvious need for clarification of the powers and duties 
of the 
various branches of the government of the Virgin Islands. 
The attached bill, it 
is believed, will effect that clarification. 
Also, its provisions would rectify many 
of the illiberal provisions of existing law by granting universal sufferage, eliminat- 
ing appointment by the Executive of members of the local legislative bodies, 
equalizing representation, limiting the veto power of the Governor to a suspen- 
sive veto, granting the local legislatures power over the appointment of officers 
of the local governments, removing existing restrictions on the power of the local 
governments to alter existing taxation laws, and, in general, by establishing a 
democratic form of government on familiar, American lines and by granting wide 
local autonomy. 
: 
The local legislatures of the Virgin Islands have appointed committees to study 
and make recommendation concerning the provisions of a permanent government 
act for the Virgin Islands. 
These committees have prepared a draft of bill which 
is similar in many respects to the attached bill. 
The local legislatures intend to 
appoint representatives to appear before your committee if hearings are held on it. 
The Department of the Interior will be glad to send its representatives to present 
its views at such hearings. 
This bill has been transmitted to the Acting Director of the Bureau of the 
Budget, and he has advised that 
it 
is not in conflict with the policy 
of the 
President. 
Sincerely yours, 
Harorp L. IckEs, 
Secretary of the Interior. 
Oo