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Rockefeller's Gift Of $27,000 Never Deposited with Govt.

Who has the funds donated to the Government of the Virgin Islands by Laurence Rockefeller of Caneel Bay Plantations, & how much money has been spent out of the gift were unknown up to yesterday by Finance Commissioner Leroy Quinn.

Several months ago, Mr. Rockefeller gave 415 shares of Socony Oil stocks, valued at $20,000, to the local government, through Governor Alexander, for vocational education purposes. The stocks increased in value to $27,908 before they were converted into cash, it was said.

Asked yesterday whether the money had been deposited with the Commissioner of Finance, and if any expenditures had been made from it Mr Quinn said that it was only at the last cabinet meeting held by Governor Alexander that the existence of the fund was brought up. At that time he said he told the Governor that it was proper procedure to deposit this money in the same manner as all other government funds are deposited, and that disbursements from it should be made by Commissioner of Finance.

Dr. Cotton then promised to turn over the Rockefeller fund and all records of disbursements to Finance but as of yesterday, this had not been done.

Before he left, the Governor gave authority to Dr. Cotton and the treasurer of the School Board, Mrs. Thayer, "to act as the Board for Vocational Education to obligate and spend money from the fund."