Public works department-Continued. Consumable supplies and services necessary for the oper- 11, 930. 00 6, 000. 00 clock tower, road foreman's house, sani- Street division Christiansted, cleaning and repairing. Frederiksted, cleaning and repairing- Parks.. Cemeteries_ Road division Foreman, road work. Road repairs. Water and sewer division.... Miscellaneous__. Total___ MONEY BILL XIII Equipment, nonexpendable articles necessary for the operation of the department.. Maintenance, consumable supplies and services necessary for the operation of the department, including maintenance, operation, and repair of one passenger-carrying automobile. Total... Public libraries: Salaries MONEY BILL XIV 2 librarians, at 1,800 francs each- 3, 600.00 720.00 26, 500.00 2,500.00 9, 000. 00 38, 000. 00 4,320.00 Public libraries-Continued. Equipment, nonexpendable articles necessary for the operation of the department, including the purchase of periodicals and technical publications... Maintenance, consumable supplies and services necessary for the operation of the department_ 1, 000. 00 825.00 600.00 300.00 720.00 1,050. 00 1,500. 00 1, 800. 00 780.00 Former teacher, Mrs. A. Reynoldsen.. Widow of Enos Keer (additional money bill of Samuel A. Smith, graded teacher with over 40 Widow of former messenger, Ferdinand England. Former prison driver, Edward Simmonds. Christian Muller, former inspector, building divi- 600.00 6, 375.00 1, 500. 00 Christiansted.. 1, 850.00 7, 170.00 4, 000. 00 11, 110. 25 425. 00 4, 200.00 2, 000. 00 2, 000. 00 17, 415. 00 Frederiksted.. Total.... The aid given to the brass bands is conditioned upon each band giving two public concerts a month, weather permitting. However, should the municipal committee find that the band or bands do not maintain a satisfactory standard, the amount hereby granted may be reduced or altogether discontinued; provided further, that all bills presented in the absence of objection from the municipal committee shall be paid in full. MONEY BILL XVIII General contingent, for expenditure in the discretion of the governor, including subscriptions to newspapers for government files.. Grand total expenditures... 9, 000. 00 1, 126, 900. 00 GENERAL PROVISIONS The governor is authorized, with the concurrence of the municipal committee, to make such transfers between the items of money bills in the budget as the public interests may require. Thus duly passed at an extraordinary meeting of the colonial council held Tuesday, June 28, 1932. Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, June 28, 1932. D. C. CANEGATA, Chairman. The above budget is hereby sanctioned and approved with the following exceptions: The separate amounts listed opposite the specifications of the following items are hereby disapproved: Money bill No. II. Item 3, maintenance. Money bill No. III. Item 3, maintenance. Money bill No. V. Items 3 and 6, maintenance. Money bill No. VI. Item 3, maintenance. Money bill No. VII. Item 2, maintenance. Money bill No. VIII. Items 3, 6, 9, and 12, maintenance, and 8 and 11 equipment. Money bill No. IX. Item 3, maintenance. Money bill No. XI. Item 3, maintenance. The specifications and totals, however, are approved. This action is taken for the reason that to limit the departmental activities to specified individual amounts in maintenance and equipment expenditures will result in an inflexibility which will adversely affect the efficient functioning of government. Witness my hand and the seal of the government of the Virgin Islands of the United States, at St. Thomas, this 2d day of July, A. D. 1932. [SEAL.] PAUL M. PEARSON, Governor. The CHAIRMAN. In connection with some questions that have been asked of Mr. Alexander, I should like to put into the record the substance of a petition which I received several months ago, addressed to me as chairman of the Senate Committee, and signed by some 22 citizens of St. Croix, including the present witness, Mr. Alexander. I find his name is on this petition. The petition is in regard to the needs of St. Croix, and if there is no objection I shall read it at this point. It says: Our first and most important need is banking facilities, which should, if possible, not exceed 6 per cent for commercial purposes, and where agricultural pursuits are carried on we would be glad to have long-term loans at 50 per cent valuation of properties. The governor has informed us that banking facilities are expected in 1933, but we feel anxious to know that something definite will be done. The next item which we would like to call the committee's attention to is that nothing has been tried to convince us that water could not be obtained for irrigation. As far as we know, two scientists have reported that there is a possibility of striking water. Two other scientists were not favorably inclined of making an experiment. What we would, anyway, like to see is that some help be given for drilling of shallow wells, say 100 to 200 feet, affording everyone the opportunity of a sufficient water supply for stock. The few wells that have been drilled have been very satisfactory, and a marked improvement in animals, especially cattle, has been accomplished. The third item is that our dairy industry be given some assistance, it would mean a decent source of revenue, having a very considerable supply of milk in the islands. Mr. Herbert D. Brown and Mr. Sheets sent down to the agricultural station a dairyman, Mr. Nichols, for conducting experiments with butter and cheese, but nothing has been done. We have been informed that cheese valued at $40,000 is imported yearly; and furthermore, we are very optimistic in obtaining a good market in Puerto Rico. Our last suggestion is, Mr. Senator, that a revolving fund of $200,000 be loaned the islands for agricultural and other industries. The fund to be loaned at 4 per cent on crops and livestock. |