The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-27


4th :" .............15 18Th" ..............
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10th ............l ToAl 81
In the lst, 5th 9th, sth l2th lsth Iith l5th i6th
goth, 2ls' and I'D, not single report appears.
LETTER OF MAYOR WOOD TO HON. JOHN WHEELER
URGING CONGRESS TO PASS LAWS TO PREVENT
TIE IMPORTATION OF PAUPER5 AND CRIMINALS.
MAYORS OFF1cg, New York. Feb 26, 1885.
FoN JoHN WHEELER
DEAR Sin-In reply to your inquiies respecting the
Belgians lately in confinement In this city have the
honor to advise that they at liberty and beyond
the control of the authorities except far they may
become amenab!e to our laws hereafter
Judge Roosevelt of the Supreme Court released them
the oath inst, and they are now at large whether
for veal or woe remains to be seen.
resisted this proceeding, and hence conscious of
having discharged my duty. However much crime or
des'ituiion may be increased among in consequence
shall feel selfieproaeh. ] cannot, ne yertheless
but express regret that they should have been released
SO summarily at this time. | counsellsd their
detention in prison. but advised that they shoad be re-
turned to Antwerp. and but for this application the
Courts, they would have been their way hither
Their discharge in this WILL fear nuilisy my
efforts 10 prevent the inning Of criminals and pau
peIs into this country appears to establish the fact
that the Courts defend their introduction. Any action
OF the municipal authorities hereafter TO counteract this
will be looked upon Illegal and win be entirely futile
An order that they shall not land will be by snug
Cling them on shore, when If arrested and imprsoIed
writ OF haheas corpus sets them at liberty TO depre
date upon our yes AID property.
II nay not be known TO you that very extensive pre-
parations are now being made in Germany in Belgium,
and otter nations OF Earope for further exporton of
the same class OF people. In Switzerland e prepaia
tory movements have been extensive that tue can
topial governments are now esslang to the cheap
est and best mode Of getting them away.
A singular fact in connection with the public property
OF the towns and villages Of Switzerland AIDES addi.
tiona inducement to the banshment of their paupcrs
and criminals The lands and forests beoug the
mure and in many instances wouh amount value
500 or to 7Go francs per Individual The local author
ties therefore have double object In getting rid Of the
poor The expense OF their support ana OF the evils Il
.her crime are not only removed forever hut the pro
pretory interest Of thoFe rmaiLing s increased by
getting rid OF 80 large portion Of the population ON
al statements show that in OF the districts
sixth OF the whole POI ula,ion subsst by public ms.
The principle OF selfprcfsrystion from The evils of
Grim nal and pauper immigration recommendei by me
fully Understood in Switzerland These villages and
communea are far more jealous Of their local inter
est, even against each other, than have
selves against foreign nations.
pauper resident in canton is not per.
mt'ed 10 become rescent of another can
ten. Every one whiting into another canton,
der the plea Of looking for work is closely watched
the passports and pagers with which they must always
grtater extent Is the Ia Germany None dare
ture into neighboring state without passport aul
other requisite papers and II he is found to DO destitute
(or on the borders Of country every must sbor
certain sum of money! he ia in modatsy ordered back
and, II necessary transferred forciby hack-by the
police, fearful that By entering they will become apgbc
This appears TO he the domestic policy OF the-~ eoun
tries towards each other, but who, however, naye
computations Of conscience, regard for rights in
transferring these outcass TO Ho sever cJn.
tending with each other TO the Of these unfor
them upon Therefore, In not receiving them ani Ia
forciby sending them back but follow the policy Of
the countries from whence they came.
leeret that we have not in this instance folio sci
good an example. The inherent right OF every
nifty TO protect itself from the ipgress Of dangerous per
sons cannot BE- qucstoned Self preservation ia the
frat Law CT nature Why il that quara utins regua
tons are aaoptsd bn. to prevent the introduction OF
cobtagion into ctesg and II II is right .ude conta
gon why's i not right to exclude what Il equally fatal
and destructiye' 10 we protect ourselves from
this evi Dces this decision protect US from itg Are
support from the courts In matter OF such paramount
inportance TO the people Of this cityf
The late Grand Jury Of this city say n their present
ment:-"fo connection with this subject tho Graud
Jury would cali the public attention 70 the of
tu,ions visited by them, fully three fourth, Of the in
mates we're Of foreign birth, While TIE city must
duty 10 bear the burden OF the crime lunacy and pau
psrism OF foreign countries II had TO maintain
only that which originates among the burden would
be eomparatiytly light. While we would extend vel.
come and encouragement TO the industrious apd well
disposed einigTant, from every country, should
far possible prevent the entrance aops Of those
who must become public charge"
The number OF alien passengers who arrived a. this
port last $40 123 of which 1856 500 from
Germany and Switzerland.
Ny observation and expert. within the past three
months have forced me 10 the conclusion that II 10
Institutions 10 receive their greatest shock
raity the severest tAnts, and local taxation its
largest addition.
do not wish TO be understood a. asserting that
this emigration is detri mental q whole. Among
them are many honest industrious and thrifty people,
whose presence here may be called blessing 10 the
country; but II s to that portion that anuce, Who
like The Belsians, have been sent out Of their
try as either paupers or criminals
nearly two hundred thousand found their way here
in 1888 (nany being transferred directly from the ship
10 the aImshopse,) when IL a doubtfuI question
whether our authorities had not the DO srp.l
imprison them bow many may not look for when II
~ known abroad that simple application OF a writ OF
hsbeas corpus y place them at arge in defiance of all
municipal regulationsr
The prosss Of aling prisons and almahouses ha.
now become simplihed. The foreign govsrnment who
de Tres 10 rid itself Of this has but "a
s minister or consul 70 the services some at
torney at the port in this country where Il Il u. ba sen
and rwrit Is taken out, and Z" the deed Il done
In view of these facts need not add that le~.laou
II dem anded without DELAY, 10 put stop 10 III hop,
served 10 enectual manner a. FAR a. il
respects the welfare Of tho people
Very respectfully you're,
FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor.
TIE COMPLAINT BOOK.
Mr.. MehebbacSer complains that Mr. Hunt oscupyng
the stable 200 tc0nd avenue allowed the Crolnn water
to waste the sds ak, ratiug The waktn, 81
most impossible 10 aid neigh bOrbOod ioiCrrbi Cap.
taln Wslllrg, of the Eighteenth uard.
hr Hard compla That tie vAca4t ats on ~, acuth
eide Of Twenty eighth street, b@twoan gtoadwav and
the ntnsre, hlth and rubbish Referred 70 taptaln
speigbt Iscnty fret ware and Commissioner o. Streets
and lamps
1hst tie street commonly known % TInps, ssy Il. IN