American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-16
THURSDAY MORNING.

CRIMINALS AND PAUPERs. The German
Society of this city has adopted Il resolution to
enquire into the truth of the charge that Ger
man convicts and paupers have been transport
ed to our shores. We are glad that this reso-
luton has been adopted, and hope that the in
vestigation will be thorough. To aid the en-
quiry we respectfully suggest, that the present
and former health officers of the port be ex-
amned; that Gen. Samuel Smiths communi-
cation to the President in 1885 be called for;
and that the reports of DR.. Martin to the city
authorities be inspected. In addition it would
be we'll TO take the testimony of some of the
paupers now in the alns-house. In the meantime
we submit to the public the following commu-
nication from the New York correspondent of
the National Intelligencer, in relation to this
subject; and to which we ask the deliberate at
tention of members of the legislature and of
congress. The disclosures therein made are of
the utmost Importance, and demand the i'm
mediate enactment of remedial measures:
New York, January Is, 1916.
A very able report has been Just made by
Alderman W. S. Miller, Representative ell ct
to Congress, and Chairman Of the Committee
on Charity and the AlmshouSe, in relation to
an abuse connected with emigration of foreign
paupers and convcts. 1t appears that law
of this State authorizes the Mayor to require
bonds for every alien passenger, in sum not
exceeding three hundred dollars, from the mas
ter of the vessel with two suretes, to provide
for the support of any such person as shall be-
cha l., ,I,o
in two years from the date Of such bond. In
lieu Of such bonds, the Mayor las authority to
compound for alien passengers on such terms
as may be agreed upon with the master or con-
signee.
Under these provisions the importation and
bonding of passengers have become matters of
speculation, in which many individuals on both
sides Of the Atlantic are extensively engaged.
The bonds of nine firms in this city exhibit the
immense liabilities Of sixteen millions of dol
lars. The opportunities for fraud under this
system are very great as, by bonding passen-
gers under false Names the consignee may
evade his liabilities The pauper may swear
to the ship, and the time Of his arrival; but if
his name does not appear on the manifest, his
oath is considered insufficient to establish the
liability of the hondsman, and the burden Of
| his support is thrown upon the city.
As an illustration OF the present bonding
system in its application to children, the com
mittee state that the whole number of children
under the support of the Alms-house is SILL
OF these, 626 are of foreign parentage, and 1875
American; exhibiting the average of more than
three foreigners to one native! OF the latest
born infants, 80 are foreign, and only two Anne
rican; showing the ratio of the more recent
births TO be seventeen foreigners 10 one american
The committee declare that they have salts
factory evidence before them that extensive
contracts have been made and are now making
in Europe to ship off to this country and to
Texas whole classes of refuse population-the
lawless and depraved, as well as the destitute;
vagabonds aud thieves as well as paupers. IL
is also we'll ascortained that Botany Bay con-
tributes her annual quota Of individuals who
have served their probationary term in that in
terestng settlement. "Such," says Mr. Mil
Ter, care the seeds of American common
wealths, by the liberation of American legsla-
tors! The evil is urgent, alarming, and on the
rapid increase, and demands the prompt inter
ference of our National Government i'll the
passage of remedial laws"
The number of Immigrants committed and
l bonded arriving in this city the past year ex-
ceeds GO, 900; and the agents of the spectators
| have made arrangements for larger importa-
tons than have ever before been made. We
may expect thousands of paupers and felons
thrown upon us this year at an earlier period
than heretofore In time probably for our
Spring clectiono
The report concludes with recommending
that Congress be mcmoralzed for the passage
of law instructing our Consuls abroad to
adopt certain precautionary measures in regard
to the shipment of emigrants and the register
ing of their names; also giving the city of New
York and other commercial cities power to ship
back at any time any and all immigrants to the
country whence they came, whether certified
by the Consul or not, on discovering that such
immigrant has been imposed on us contrary to
the rule established, and that he or she had
ever been the tenant of poor-house as va
grant or pauper, or of a prison as a criminal,
or had been supported as beggar by any town,
commune, individual, or charitable society.
There are other remedial suggestions in this
report, which concludes with resolution to
memorabilia the State Legislature and Congress
for speedy legislation on the subject to which it
calls attention.