Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
The West End News
Frederiksted, Saint Croix County, Virgin Islands
What is this article about?
In the Virgin Islands legislature on January 23, 1962, members discuss selective enforcement of games of chance laws at a St. Croix circus, call for clarification from Commissioner Jack M. Monsanto on Civil Rights Act enforcement, and inquire about halted teacher transportation in rural districts.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
JOURNAL
FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES
Regular Session
1962
LEGISLATIVE DAY, TUESDAY, JAN. 23, 1962
2:56 o'clock p. m.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to know what yardstick the Commissioner of Public Safety uses in permitting these people to conduct these games of chance here at the circus at Sugar Estate, while at the same time prohibiting the citizens from participating in games of chance elsewhere. I want to have that clarified. And I think that it is necessary along with this and some of the other things that have been going on here in connection with the enforcement of the Civil Rights Act. If we can get the Commissioner of Public Safety here before that Body to clear us up on this we may find that we need some additional legislation. Maybe he might be misinterpreting the laws and things like that. But I feel that we should have him here to clear this thing up about these games of chance.
THE PRESIDENT: If there are no objections,
Mr. De Castro can you make Mr. Monsanto (Jack M. Monsanto, Commissioner of Public Safety) available to us here today or tomorrow to the Legislature.
MR. DE CASTRO: I can say that last week when Senator Reese raised this question, as soon as I went home that afternoon I called the Acting Governor (Governor Paiewonsky had already left for the States) and I asked him if he would get in touch with Commissioner Monsanto and tell him what had been said here, and find out what was happening. The Acting Governor called me back later that night or the next morning before he left, and told me that he had discussed this question with Monsanto, and the Commissioner had stated that it was quite true that some games of chance had been permitted in St. Croix, apparently, but that they had been stopped, and that he had personally seen that they had been stopped here, and that they were playing only games of skill. I have not been out there to the circus, but that is the answer I got. But he said he would make another investigation. He had seen all of the instruments which could be games of chance, that is, raffles and so on. But I would have Commissioner Monsanto come down.
THE PRESIDENT: Do we have any further privileges of the floor?
MR. OTTLEY: There is one thing, Mr. Chairman. I recall asking whether or not the administration why transportation for the teachers in the country districts had been stopped. Mr. De Castro said that he would check it with the Commissioner of Education.
To Be Continued.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Virgin Islands Of The United States
Event Date
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 1962
Key Persons
Outcome
commissioner monsanto to appear before legislature; games of chance at circus stopped in favor of games of skill; further investigation promised; teacher transportation issue to be checked.
Event Details
Legislators question Commissioner of Public Safety's enforcement of games of chance laws at Sugar Estate circus in St. Croix versus elsewhere, link to Civil Rights Act enforcement, request Monsanto's appearance for clarification and possible new legislation. De Castro reports prior discussion with Acting Governor and Monsanto confirming games stopped. Ottley raises halted teacher transportation in rural districts, to be checked with Commissioner of Education.