The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-11

The COMMISSIONERS OF EMIaRArioN-THR IN
vEsTIGATIoN OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGls-
LAruRE-Governor Hunt takes occasion in his mes
sage to laud the Commissioners of Emigration as
paragons Of perfection. His Excellency seems to
admire men, and measures, and things in general;
and it is not very wonderful, therefore, that he
should give puff to the creatures Of his own ap.
pointm ent. If he did not, who would!
By the statistics of emigration from Europe
to this port, which we published on the first day
of the present year, it appears that the numbers
have vastly increased during the last year, aad
that the aggregate amounted to the enormous
figure Of 2S9, extraordinarily than half the
population Of the city. This tremendous increase
renders attention to the affairs of the Commission
ers of Emigration more necessary than ever, for
two reasons.
The first reason is, that the people of this city,
and Of this State ought to be satisfied that proper
care is taken of the sick and destitute emgrants Tor
whose support head-money is paid by the ship.
owners. on the part of every passenger who lands
paid, in point of fact, by the passengers them
Selves the price Of their passage being increased in
the same ratio. 1t is of great Importance to the
character of people, and their institutions, that
justice is done to the poor, the sick, and the gno-
them such temporary relief as their condition re-
quires-by enforcing humane treatment from every
official in every department of the institution, from
the health officer down to the hospital nurse
on Staten Island; from the warden on Wards
Island down to the lowest officer there and
from the superintendent in the Canal street
asylum down to the humblest employee in that
establishment; and finally, by procuring employ
fort ha fhrnuph we'll 0rpanized
system, protecting them from fraud, and forward.
ing them to their destination speedily as possible
This last duty is the more important, because, if
the emigrant should happen to have money with
him. the price of his board is deducted from it, and
perhaps, swallows up his all. Various laws have
been passed for the prevention of fraud in the case
Of mgrants and for enforcing the care OF the Com
missioners of Emigration, but, hitherto, with very
little effect; and why Because the right kind of
men have never been appointed to Office, and no
gard has ever been paid to their qualifications
They have been, for the most part, intriguing
politicians and sharks, who, protesting great
humanity and great patriotism, and some of
them enforcing their claims by the fact that they
were of the same country or descent as the emil
grants, have had their eye all the time upon the
contracts for food and clothing. &c., which they
or friends, at far higher rate and Of far inferior
quality than others ready to furnish, if fair
competition were only opened to the public. Thus
it may be seen that vast field is open for pecula
ton, speculation, corruption, and fraud.
This leads US to the second reason why the atten-
ton of the press and of the people should be turned
at this time, to the affairs OF the Commissioners of
Emigration, 1t is to see that the immense funds
that necessarily pass through their hands, are pre-
rerly administered. the funds are sauandsred
misapplied, many Of the emigrauto who have
claims for relief must be repulsed, AMI thrown upon
the charity of the community at large, as they
constantly This ought not to be. The Com
missioners transact all their business with closed
DOORS and strict inquiry is, on that account, the
more necessary.
During the year We have exposed the new medi
cal system, and the cruelties practised in various
forms; and We have adverted to the horrible re-
glect of the unfortunate emigrants. We have ex
posed the frauds erpe.rsted from the time that the
runner in Liverpool gets hold of the emigrant till
he is drained Of his last cent here.
In the course of the last session of the Legisla
ture, the mort serious charges were brought
before that body against the Commissioners of Emf.
grafton. A committee of investigation was ap-
pointed Instead of throwing the proceedings open
to the press, the inquiry has been conducted in
secret, at lawyers Office in Wall street, and we
are informed that some Of the most astounding re.
Violations we're elected oath from the witnesses
One Of the Commissioners has been compelled to
resign, for some reason other, kept in the dark
Why are these things not given to the public, who
according to the spirit of the constitution, have
right to know all that relates to the administration
of the laws!
The Legislature, however, has met at Albany, and
itremans to be what kind Of report the secret
committee will make whether they will give all
the testimony, or, in other words, whether the
report will be the whole truth, or whether any
thing will be kept back; or what action
the Legislature will take upon the report when
it is presented. One thing it is incumbent
upon them to do and that is to pass act to com.
pei the Commissioners Of Emigration to open their
meetings to the press and the public, and 70 in.
sist upon the contracts being given to the lowest
bidder after due advertisement in the newspapers.
II is true that the Commissioners make declara-
ton equivalent to an oath that they have no inter-
est in the contracts but facts stubborn things
and the people ought never to trust oaths when
they have better safeguard for justice and fair
play, in the publicity which ought to be given
through the press to the proceedings of all repre-
sentative and corporate bodies 1t is more necessary
to look after thu acts Of the Commissioners of mi
igration than even those of the Common Council,
for body are elected by the people, and are
amerable to them. The other are appointed by
the Governor of the State, and the people have
control over the appointments, except in an indi
rect manner. We want that re port, and the com.
mt,ee had better hurry it up. They have had
ample time for preparation There is no excuse for
delay. We hope they will not be influenced by the
puff OF the Governor.
ADDRESS OF DR.. DRAPER ON THE LATE DR.. G.
5. PATrIsoN-We publish, to- day, q full report Of
an address delivered to the medical class on the