M”y. ACKISS,
Chaplain
of the
United
Siates
Navy, will speak
ar
the
mid-
week serviee
in the Lutheran
Chureh
this
evening
at 7:50 n’clock.
A cordial invitation extended.
J.
P. CHRISTENSEN.
PROCEEDINGS
OF
THE
COLONIAL COUNCIL
FOR
ST.
CROIX.
(Continuad
from yzsterday’s
Avis.)
2nd
Mamber for Christiansted
Country
District
[ Bery]
in introducing the
resolu-
tion
said,—Mr.
Chairman.—l
do
not
think this resolution
requires
any consid-
¢rable discussion
on
my part.
The
mat-
ter is well known
and
was
dealt
with at
the
last
meeting
when
a
resolution
was
passed
by
the Council
to
go to the Sena
e
C'ommittee.
In that resolution
the
Coun-
¢il states
“‘that it is our opinion
that the
present
form of
Government
should
con-
tinue until
a ehange
is requested
which
cinanates
from
the
people
of the
Virgin
Isiande.”’
[
am following
that
up
with
this resolution, which,
to mv mind, scems
to be
the
most
logical
sequence
that
we
aacertmin
the wishes
of the people of this
island
as regards
a change
in the form of
Government.
I
consider
such
a step
is
neeessary.
1
do not know
that
any
one
can expect
us
to continue
under
the
pres-
cat
form of gove
nm>nt,
The
present
Senate
Biil
is a
most
con-
servative
document
and
there
is nothing
in
it that
is detrimental
to
the interest
of
this
island
and
1t
is for
this
reason
1
introduce
this
resolution.
The
spirit
in which the resolu
ion
was forwaraed
to
Congress
was,
it
isn’t
that
we
do
not
want any change
in
the present
adminis-
tration,
but
it
was
merely
unsuited
to
local needs.
When
[ cast
my vote I was
not
turning drwn the
idea of having an
American
form of government
in
this
is-
land.
1
do not believe
1t
is
within
the
power
of this Council
to dictate
to
Con-
gress.
The
Council may
make
sugges-
tions
which
will be gladly
received
and
acted
upon
by
Coungress.
The
Council
has
stated
that
nothing
should
be done
until
the
consent
of
the people
of
this
island
13
obtained.
The
concensus
of
opinion
on
this
island
is
to
have
an
Amerlcan
form of
Government,
and it is
with
that
in viewsthat1 iniroduce
this
resolution.
Government
Secretary
(Zane)
remark-
ed:
This
is the
first
time
Government
has seen
the text
of
this
r.solution
and
therefore
I will jconfine myself
to simply
asking
a
few
questions
in
order
that
Government
may have
the benefit of the
replies
in the future.
In
the first
place,
I would like to
ask
whether,
in
so far as Honorable Members
Ss? Rl
4715
are awate,
a plebiseite has evar been
taken
under
the
existing
Colovial
Law
on
a
matter
of \ital
importance
such
as
the
matter
herein
deait
with ?
20
Membar
for Christiansted
Country
District
(Bzrg)
in reply to
the
Govern-
ment
Secretary
said, —A plebiscite
was
taken
in connection
with the transfer
of
these
islands during the
time of Sccretary
Seward.
I
remember
a
vote
having
been
taken,
and it can
be
found
among
the
records.
1
presume
it
may
have
been
a
plebiscite.
Government
Secretary
(Zanz):
Does
the
Colonial
Law
or
Rules
of
DBusiness
for
the Colonial Counei!
provide for
the
method
of either conducting
a
plebiscite
or dealing with the
legislative procedure
which
should
be
followed provided
a
plebisecite
is taken ?
2nd
Member for Christiunsted
Country
District
(Berg):
We
have
provided
a
ehrmmittee
to take
care of that.
Ido
not
know
whether
the Chlonial
Law provides
for that.
Ido not know that
tnese
legal
({Hi‘.SIiHHS are
necessary.
Government
Seeretary
(Zine):
Inother
words,
I take
it from
the remn.rks
of the
Honoral
Member
that
he dbes
not know
what
the prozedure
woull b 2 either
for
taking
a
plebiseite
or
for
handlinz
it
after
it
is taken.
The
latter
portion
of
it
is.
of
course,
tne
more
important,
This resolution
provides for the
appeint
ment
of
a
eom mittee
ro draft regulations
to take the plebiseite.
It
goes
no turther.
And
assuming
then
that
a
plebiscite
is
taken,
1 would
hke
to ask
the
following
question:
By
the term
"'ail ciuizens
of
the Virgin lslands’’,
does
that
include
men,
women
and
ehildren?
214
Meaiber
for Christiansted
Country
District (Berg):
This
measure
is
not
yet
passed
upon.
I
do
wot
know
what
amendments
may
be broughtin.
[ have
introduced
this resolation
foir
the beunefit
of this
legislature—commur
ty —When
it
is
passed
upon
it will go
to the
Houer-
able Government
Secretary.
Government
Sceretary
(Zune):
Mr.
Chairmin.
Fo-
tha inform.tion
of
tre
Honorable
2nd
Member
for
Jaristiansted
Coustry
Distriet il make
tie
statement
that I
an asking
these
quesiions
in
or-
der
that
I
may
expiain
w
His
Exocl-
leney,
the - Governor,
what
is
to
be
the basis
of operation
for tuis
resclu-
ticn.
Os
ccurse
if
he
can’t
answer
what
the
term
‘‘all citizens
¢f the
Vir-
gin Islands””
means,
I would
iitke
to ask
one
further question,
and
taat
is:
How
can
the
Colonial
Council
of
St.
Croix
undertake
a plebiscite
of
the Muricipali-
ty of St. Thomas
and St.
Joln ?
2nd Member
for Christiansted
Country
District (Berg):
1 appreciatz
(he
Gover-
ment Sceretary’s suggestionso
this mat-
ter and
1 hope that lone of my colleagues
will bring in
the necessary
amendment
during
the
course
of
the
.ebate.
1
never
knew
that
a
member
was
cata-
chis.d
when
he
brings
in
a
bLill before
the Council.
I thank
the Honorable Gov-
ernment
Secretary
for his
advice.
1 will
gain
a good denl on these
points.
Government
Secretary
(Zane):
Nr.
Chairman.
I
do
not
intend
to
offer
any
suggestions.
However,
I
am
much
gratified
that
I
seem
to
have
done
so.
1
am
merely
seeking,
as
I
say,
information
which I am
certain
His
Ex-
cellency,
the Governor
would be
glad to
have
when
he
sees
the
resolution.
To
sumnarize:
|
understand
that ro previ-
ous plebiscite
has
beeu
taken
within
the
knowlcdge
of
anv
Honorable
Member.
present—at
least
in
the
island—and
therefore the thing is a new venture,
and
I feeiythat it is not incumbent
at this time
upon
Governmenti
to make
any
statement
whatever
with
regard
to any
phase
of
this whole
matter.
9nd Member
for Frederiksted
Country
District
(Curry):
Mr.
Chairman.
1
would
like to ask
whether
the
Honorable
9nd
Member
for
Christiansted
Country
District
is
still jin® favor
of
the
present
form
of
government,
and
whether
he
wants
it
made
permarent?
1
can
name
five
different existing
forins of
American
Civil Government:
Porte Rico
Government,
Virzin
llslands
Govern-
ment,
the
Government
of
the
Dis-
triect
of
Colombii,
Statehood
Govern-
ment
and
federal
Government,
9nd
Member
{or Chrisiiansted
Coun-
try District
(Berg):
Mr. Chairman.
Are
we discussing
tlus
resolutiou
or
a form
of Government
which
Washington
may
desire
to grant
to
this
island?
It
is
not
within
our
power
to
make
the present
form
of
government
permanent.
We
are
concerned
about
discussing
a
resulu-
tion
to take
a piebiscite,
2nd
Member
for Frederiksted
Country
District (Curry)
remarked:
Mr.
Chair-
man.
The
Organic
Act
calls
this
gov-
ernment
a civil government.
[t does
say
that it is
a
temporary
act.
The
propo-
nent of the biil
says
he
wants
a perma-
nent
form of civil
goveinment.
| would
like
to
ask
him
if
he
wanis
the word
“‘temjo ary’’ in the present
Organie
Act
changed
to ‘‘permanent’’
and
earry
on.
From
the reading of
this
propesed
resc-
lation
it is reasvnable
to
believe
that
we
would be taking
a plebiscite
to
meke
t
e
present
form of government
permanen:.
We cannot
piace
this
before
the
peopic
to
vote
on,
because
they
won’t
know
what they
are
voting
on.
It jwas
voteu
almost
unanimousiy
that
the Senate
Bii:
was
not
suitable
10 coadidons
10
this
island.
If we take
a
plebiscite
that
we
want
a civil
orm
of
government
and it
goes
to
the Senate
the
Senate
wiil say
that those
people
want
a
eivil form
of
goverament,
but ©.vn’t the
brain t. say
what
form
of
civil
governmezui
ihey
want.
We have
to give tae
voters
some-
thing
of
a
eoncr¢
e
natare
to
votz on.
We would be maki..g
ourseives
a
izagh-
ing-stock if we ask
them
to vote
on sucn
a measure
as
is now before
rhe Hous..
[
weuldn’t know
w! sther! was
veoting
to
make
the present form of goverament
we