The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-16

tn Dinleulsy between the Ten Governors
and the Commissioner Of Emigration.
INTERESTING REPORT or THE COMMISSIONERS IN
RELATION rnEREr0.
meeting Of the Commissioners OF Emigrstb
held yesterday, at 4PM, to hear the report OF the
committee 10 whom was referred the consideration Of
the difficulty now existing between the Board Of Ten
Governors and themselves. The following is the report
which accepted -
To TIM COMMISSIONERS EMGRA uoS--
The Special Committee the Laws, Organization and
Operations Of the Commissioners Of Emigration re
That whilst the Commissioners, In the Judgment of
this committee have much cause to congratulate them
selves and the public the successful results well
Iecuniay humane Of the great charity TO
their charge they cannot but express their deep regret
at the absence Of that sympathy and harmony which
mutual benevolence and common object ought pro
duce the Part Of sister institution, to which has
been copfded the distribution Of the alms OF this city
This regret increased by the fact that these differences
have been made public ut time when amicable sub
mission Of them to the arbramcnt Of distinguished citi
had been arranged and before those gentlemen had
opportunity TO decide even in tigate the mat
ters submitted. 1N
Previously to 1897 the year in which this commission
instituted the penscs OF all the poor. both native
and foreign born, who sought public relief here
deray ed by the Commissioners Of the Amshouse, and
the Taxpayers of this city assessed for their support
The tie in the other cities and counties Of
the State. The amount thus paid large to be
the Of frequent complaints. To these added
Apprehension the part Of citizens OF thaspread
ing OF the contagious diseases with which many newt
arrived emgrants afflicted in the autumn of 1S4O
and spring OF ls4 These grave subjects attracted the
attention the legislature To remove least d.
minh them the object of the legislation from which
It is true that before lS47 there was law requiring
bonds to be given By ship to indemnity the coun
~ iron loss but IL vas practically found that paupers
gi supported in private establishments, by the
agents Of the ship in manner revolving 10 hui
mainly and producing disease and death, the sums
received owing TO the defects in the law, small
TO be entirely inadequate and scarcely worthy OF
tice This provision, besides was intended only for the
relief Of this county and extended to no other The law
of Isl, imposed substantially tax of 81 80 for every
,mgrant arriving at this sort in vessel from foreign
country and out Of the funds thus raised the Commits
sioLers OF Emigration were directed to indemnify,
far as might be, the several cities, &c. Of the
State for any expense which might be incurred for ~ucn
persons that such appropriations should be in pro
portion to the expenses incurred by said cities Nc,
se,ersy. The powers and duties thus conferred were
merely those appertaining TO dsbursing officers The
several cities &c. to be paid far the receipts
sufficient for that purpose but county,
town, or CRY, was to have any advantage over any
other county town, city, but each to receive
rateabe portion with the others, according TO the
srnonnt Of expense IL had incurred
The superintendent Of the poor in other counties,
the Governors Of the Amshouse in this aud the Com
mis- oners Of Emigration, each creatures Of the law
which specifies and defines their duties II is not for
them TO decide what the law ought to be, but To
form Their duties under the law it is A denuucia
ton Of the Commissioners for not doing what the law
does direct ia substance prohibits, rlpro
per and as unreasonable refusal on the other side
to perform what the statute requires.
As has been stated the Commissoncrs--now called the
Goyernorsof the Alnshouse were, previously to 1884,
the general almoners Of the city. No law since
that time has changed their duties diminished their
responsibilities in that respect. They much liable
furnish accommodations for all the poor
who reside and seek public relief here. In regard to
New YORK. since May 1s47, and who have not been in
the county five years, the Commissioners OF Emigration
are directed to indemnify them as far as may be- ac
cnrng TO the expenses incurred 1t intended
that the should be the pr0pretors of board
ing house for emIgrants out OF which to make profits but
simply that they should be ndemned for their actual
outlay to the extent aforesaid When the Commission
of Emigration agreed to pay three dollars week for
support of each emigrant iunac (arriving as above
stated in the asylum Blackwcll's Island, It
the superstition that the maintenance Of each inmate
would cost tho Alnshouse that amount. But when
the Commissioners discovered by the reports Of the Gov
that this aupposion erroneous and that the
support Of each fanatic cost considerably less they put
counes towns cities of the State regarding the
rateap,e division OF their fund.-, bound TO do, and
claimed that for the future they should not Be obliged
The Commissioners invested by the sapie Law with
discretion in regard to erecting buildings and OF them.
selves taking Of and supporting those who would
Otherwise become charge on the several counties,
towns and cities Of the state. Seeing the lack OF
commodation, not arising from design want Of pru-
increasing and unexpected numbers of applicants for
public ad, and believing that in this city they could
take Of and support such emigrants in certain
comfortably at The Amshouse, an at los
price than would be incurred by the city for them the
Commits oncrs determined to exercise this discretion e
certain extent and therefore erected buildings for the
reception and of all emgrants who had arrived
this IOrt and who needed public assistance nBe.ra
Treatment, except smallpox patients, in the city, and
luuaiics. OF tia LATTER there was not at first "a
,G rs aS sns Ssa q now il
contemplation rs soon the number 10 he
supported ana the means, will justify the outlay
The Commissioners also thought it unsd,isibe aud i'm
prudent 70 increase the number of hospitals for that
highly contagious disease, smallpox, The Governors of
the Almslousc having alpeady such hospital; hut
present, and for three years past smallpox pa
.cns lave been sent toa separate building AT Quarzn
tire exclusively appropriated to their reception All
tllT. Itn ri Il.
receive into their institutions Wards Island and
when is ntmsted that class .of syphilis
patients, those affected with kindre. dzease,
who chateesb!e to this Comm sson' treat
ed maintained by the Governors Of the Aims House,
the n;i1aaton involves either a rhetorical fiction
true, shows neglect Of duty In not sending them ia
Wards lshnd, Nhtrc, so far as this city is concerned
they by law belong.
The case Of migrants az well as other ca involving
ilnl RS onment, isqute different. Vagrancy by las
Is misdesneaDor Men imprisoned for II FOR
pet larceny othcr misdemeanors md committed for
hot more ttan SIX months, and "lept 1t hard labor
y The sentence Of the Court they deprived of the
opportunity OF earning their livelihood and are
,Lea' Should the Comm,ss soncrs Of Emrratior
be charged for their support any than
for the maintenance OF an cmsrant sent to Bisckwelps
Island Tor THEFT Or TO the State Prison for Burglary
srson any other felony there TO be kept 1T bard
iabcst" The Commissioners are moi penitentary on
cerf but merely dsburssng officers n bic fund
collected indemnify for raupers, pay for the
support OF criminals, who for nurht that is known
earn enough to supJ or Themselves by inc hard labor
10 which they have been sentenced.
That ecnsicts from abroad, and inmates Of foreign
poor houses, been shipped TO this country, and
PASSED from shipboaid into Rshouses, Is
matter. The Commissioners called the attention of the
erslatie 10 these lcts four years but that body
declined TO act doubtful perhaps of their powers under
the constitution. The Commissioners have also sub
mt'cd lie matter 70 the consideration OF the general
government, whose powers upon the subject I'M
aoub4i The Commissioners havo enaeaYored to trace
such e., have imposed penalties upon the vessels
bringing tim, ard aided 10 return them whence
they c.ie; and If they have not done more il has
/ negligence
hut purely from insuti lency of power. They cordially
mite IN ic hope thai this subject may become matter
of treaty grLiiob; but whist inc lying ia the hope,
ihsy aso project against this importation Of criminals
and lauprs, "a which ey have nterposed all the cppo
sifion with which the law has clothed them being In
vol Ell Of against them bcsiies, any
| foicfn Ianper foreign convict whose support is
clar.tabe 10 the und under the control OF this
nissu II N ICED oil support IL sent TO Worls H'snd;
h ans other foreign auPer foreign convict arrit ing
ny way ~ tanaca Otherwise, whose support il not
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