The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-09

This vast increase, they jpstly remark, renders it
the more necessary that attention should be paid to
the proper management Of the emigrant institution
The act, constituting the Commissioners of Emf.
grafton, was passed in 1877, and sprung from the
public indignation expressed at the frauds prac-
tised upon emigrants for . length Of time. The
committee say that there has been great improve
ment under the regime Of the Commissioners.
Whether the public, however, will believe them is
ar other question.
lthas been charged by the newspapers and the
public, that the commission has failed to effect
the proper object for which it was instituted
that the Commissioners have not used pro-
per economy in the exercise Of their functions,
and are largely in debt-that persons entitled
to proper relief have been improperly refused such
reliet by the COmmissioners-thst other such per-
shave been wrongly in their Institutions
that the Commissioners do not afford proper diet and
accommodations, and that their buildingsare poorly
adapted to their purpose-that the medical organi-
zation at Wards Island, under the charge Of the
Commissioners, ia detrimental to the interests and
dangerous to the lives of the engrants-that some
Of the Commiss oners have made their official
position place ofpecuniary profit to themselves,
contrary to the oath required Of them by section 10
have exercised unfairness and Partially in the
discharge Of their duties towards runners, for
warders, boarding house keepers, and contra:-
tors-that the Commission is too much open to
influence by shipowners who have been appointed
Commissioners, and whose interest is to make tho
cost Of the care of those entitled to relief as small
rs possible, even at the expense Of their comfort
and right, to the end Of preventing an increase Of
the Communication money, or Of the expense OF pas.
sengers arriving in their ships-that the Commits
soners have not caused proper care to be taken Of
ihe property of persons dying in their establish
ment, or Of minor children required to be taken
charge Of by them--that their sabordnates, en-
ployed to advise emigrants on their arrival, and
others in the employ Of the Commissioners have
been in collision with and undcr pay Of those
against whose imposition, they had been appointed
to guard emigrants.
These are heavy and serious charges, and the
question is, whether they are true or false. Tbs
committee accut Of part, and guilty Of part, glow
over others, and in reference to some they return
Scotch verdict, mot pro ysn,' indicating nei.her
positive guilt nor innocence, but leaving room for
grave suspicion For the different points on which
they pronounce or are silent, We refer the reader
to tho report itself.
With the exception Of the clause prohibiting
skipowners rom being Commissioners, the rene.
dies proposed in their annexed act are "lame and
impotent;" and one which would have been wo -th
them all together was pressed by mem Der Of the
committee, but not inserted in the BILL namely,
the abolition Of the present Board and the appoint
ment Of three Commissioners, to bs elected by tae
people, and paid salaries, which would be found by
experience to be o saving upon the present system
Of gratuitous services. We may soon take anovher
opportunity Of adverting to this important subject
Meantime the report. miserable a, it is, affords food
for reflection. and will suggest to the sagaoious
re sder far more than il contains