New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-05
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THE CAsTLEGARDEN MATTER.


rhe speoiAl Committee Of the Board Of Councilmen,
.oipted by the Board TO investigate the Castleiar-
An abuses. met Yesterday afternoon in the Council
rhamber. City Hall, Mr.. Smith in the chair.
J.aac Newton was the first witness examined. In
= oDinion n specic landing for emigrants neces
.ry for their protection b. believed that the Com
suisgiopers Of Emigration charge twenty per ceut on
passengers furnished to railroads and STEAMBOATS, he
sd given orders 10 bis clerks TO decline receiving tick
n. on which too much profit had been charged; IT
made but little difference whether the ticket came
rom the runners or the Commissioners the charge
vas generally the same be was IN Albany when
Efforts were being made 10 pass the enactment giving
Castle Garden to the Commissioners; he only reco-
Heoted of seeing Commissioner Crabtroe there; Mr..
pevin, the counsel of tue Commissioners, was In
Albany; wns present at the meeting at the Astor-
House at which discussed the prOpriety oil giving
ne use of Castle Garden TO the Commissioners; from
Nev-York 10 Buffalo the Commissioners charge the
,sme vt my Office; the charge 10 81; the various
abroad and steamboat companies allow the Con'ni7,
ppers twenty per cent additional TO the established
.es; Of the 81 charge TO Buffalo, 81 is given to the
6srty bringing the emgrant these persons are not in
sl cases licensed runners.
Witness proceeded TO express his opinion in relation
"A the interest of the emgTahts at Castle Garden when
M. PKRRY protested against witness giving opin-
os relative to the management of emigrants.
Witness does not know that emigrants are charged
core going West by the Commissioners than the ordl-
[rv rates the Peoples Line never had any office at
.sle Garden the emig grant tickets sold them by
sCapt Crittenden our charge TO Albany Is so cents;
"a al emgTant passengers we receive 40 cents the
E,o cents going to the Commissioners has known
,Ahipp of the transportation Of emigrants since the
[Dse OF navigation; don't know whether ThurlOS
Weed has any interest in Castle Garden; there Is
manner in which EN- grants can be carried cheaper
ssn by the Commissioners that witness is aware Of
Counselor PERRY remarked that only very slight
changes have taken place in the charges since the
ooenng OF the emHant depot at Castle Garden. Inns
vas effected by the mutual agreement OF the different
fJnpanes and all tickets these routes are sold at
castle Garden. The examination was continued at
considerable length aud Mr. Newton, IN closing MS
sydeDce desired to state that be had no connection
Or interest in the emigration matters, and never ex
eced TO have lie further stated that the amount OF
money swinded from the emgrants before the esta6-
lsbInent Of the depot at Castle Garden was beyond
fAlculatiop He lad known as high amount as
$4,000 10 be taken in single week from emigrants.
The men at Castle Garden needed watching. the
rate of 90 per cent allowed TO the Commissioner was,
IN his opinion too high. If the amount of emigration
sbe ensuing year was proporonate with last year the
rroft thus derived would exceed 100000. For his
,at be should not participate in the robbery OF emi-
grants.
Mr. Hem was next examined, and testified that he
sad been employed in Castle Gard-n as assistant
veigher; be had known of emigrdnts being refused
tickets because they had not money enough; he re-
nembered instance of party who wished to 90 to
Cincinnati and asked 60 in the office; the man
had only 90: witness went to Mr.. Newton and
cured ticket for the party was at Castle Garden
I.ree months, and left OF his own accord had good
opportunity of seeing the treatment to which emgans
we're subjested at Castle Garden; if the emgrants
bsd no money they were turned out of doors at the
tnd of q week. sent to the island; the accOmmOda-
tons generally were very bad and the emgrants were
cAen obliged to sleep benches the emigrants were
slowed to 60 out the Battery in the daytime; some
ldtbe Commissioner generally there all day; Mr.
kennedy was there most of the time.
Dennis Tracy, policeman, testified that he was de-
sled at Castle Garden. Witness proceeded at some
kngb 10 eDumerate the abuses sustained by emgrants
la Castle Garden. He stated that the Commissioners
ave preference to those who had money and desired
20 into the interior TO the exclusion of those who had
0money; the preference was generally given to the
Ger1nans aud be had known of ships containing emf
rants who had money to be taken in before vessels
lsing on board poor emigrants, although the latter
1gh be in a suffering condition; witness thought the
sdtution a very good one if properly managed.
After some further evidence the Committee ad-
Mmed