The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-29
Protection OF Emigrnnts, and the Commits
sioners of Emigration.

There is n universal impression in the commu-
nifty that the Commissioners of Emigration have
failed in fulfilling the trust reposed in them;
and the bill brought into the Assembly by Hr
Rose, breaking up the present commission, and
enactrg that five Commissioners shall be elected
by the people, and making sundry provisions
Cor the protection Of emigrants, will probably be
hailed by the people with satisfaction, on the
principle that any change must be better than the
present. state of things. This bill is entitled can
act to amend act concerning passengers in vessels
coming o the city ofNew York, passed Nay s. lS47"
Ii has been read twice. referred to select committee
of the New York delegation, reported favorably by
81 d committee, and committed to the Committee of
the Whole. The principal provisions of the bill are
a follows:-
Five commissioners shall be elected by tho people
for five yeaIs-one of them to 60 ont each year and
one to be elected in his stead; n salary to be
paid them out Of the emgrant fund-the amount to
be determined by the Common Council of the city Of
New York. No person engaged in the business of
conveying emigrant passengers, or shipping them to
this country, or who is concerned therein, either az
shipowner agent, or consignee, shall hereafter be-
come Commissioner Of Emigration.
The enormous abuses Of the present regime render
it such public nuisance that it is grave question
whether it would not be better to abolish oil law on
the subject, and leave the unfortunate emgrants to
shift for themselves, rather than conde them to the
tender mcrcies Of the Commissioners. Yet we are not
sure whether the proposed five Commissioners to be
elected by the people, would be any improvement
upon their predecessors Tho other provisions of tho
bill these
Each commissioner is to take an oath Of Office
and to give security in the penal of s5 900 for
the faithful performance of his duty. The general
agent, stewards, or other persons having funds in
their hands, in behalf Of the commissioners shall
give bonds Tor the faithful care Of all such funds
The proprietos and agents Of all steamboats,, caual
boats, and railroad companies, engaged in the con-
veying of emigrants ard their baggage, shall file a
list OF prices in the Office Of the Commissioners of
Emigration, before the LIST Of May, each year. which
shall not be altered to higher rate except upon
ten days notico-a violation of this provision sub
jecting he guilty parties to fine Of 800 and any
person asking receiving from emf grant passen-
ger or Lis baggage larger amount, shall be subject
TO Imprisonment from one to two months, and pay
fre Of 500. The luggage to be weighed By scales
and weights made oonformablc to the standard of
the State and a certificate for the same under PEN
Atty oS0O; and any person who shall ask or receive
be imprisoned from two to three months These
precautions against fraud arc sadly needed. One Of
The best visions of the bill is the following
Every ticket for the conveyance OF an crngrant pasen
ger tlS have printed written its face the place to
Which tuch passenger entitled to be conveyed by virtue
thereof the price paid by him her for such ticket the
number Of pounds of luggage allowed carried free Of
charge the amount paid Tor such passenger luggage the
names q The party company issuing the ticket and his
their place If business and whether the ticket entitss
such pastengr TO lie conveyed by steamboat railroad or
e.nai boat speefying the same Any person selling
uck,t contrary 70 the provision u this section shall be
t1tI sct TO a inc not exceeding fifty dollars.
THIS n most important section, if il is only car
red out. The laws hitherto passed 10 prevent
frauds have been almost dead letter, because not
Put nto execution by the authorities. 1t is to be
hoped better fate awaits this measure, should 1t
become a law Of the State.
The testimony Of any witness, TO prove violation
Of hs act, may be taken in writingif such witness
n about to depart from the State--and may be used
before grand jury, the trial Of the accused
This provision Is very necessary, as many Of the
offenders against the emgrant laws have hitherto
eocapod unwhipt Of justice" because the poor de-
fauded emigrants could not wait to prosec ate them
|, will be the duty Of the commissioners 10 enc the
vioaors Of The law, and to that II il enforced
Such arc the remedies proposed in this bill. 10
which some others might be added, equally needed.
particularly ia reference to contracts and cmigrant
Boarding houses but If even these adopted
Al d faithfully executed by the Dew Commissioners
VI Emigration and the officers Of the law, the emil
grants would have reason TO feel thankful, and the
whole community would rejoice The present regime
h utterly inefficient and corrupt, and ought TO be
y eedily abolished, whatever may be the result