The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-04
The Commissioners NJ Es~sgrstscn and tho
RaalnBsla Interest at Csstls GardeU--H9sv
the EmlgraLts are Treased-The Investi-

gatisE C0mmitsee, &c.
was generally believed that the establishment OF an
emgrsn depot Castle arden under the charge OF tho
Commissioners CT Emigration would be the most effective
Of putting step 10 the frauds and ourages which
daily rerpetrated upon the newly arrived aud I'M
suspecng emisrant II was, therefore, with consider
able qualification that the public the bucng pat 10
this The advocates Of the MEASURE represented
chat would break up the hordes OF runners who had SO
long preyed upon and deauded the poor cmraat' that
would not only afford the poor cmisrant every protcc
oa against The swndng schenes OF ticket vendors, but
would place him possession of ell desirable ntor-
nation bis arrival 10 the country, and would forward
him bis place OF destination at the cheapest possible
rate. All this and more was promised. IL was, IN
fact, to be remedy for the many grew
ances Of which the emigrants hsd sucn Just
cause of complaint When the reform was proposed Is
hardly DO wondered al therefore, that met with tho
favorable consideration and the most active support
Tho larger Of emgrant runners emigrant boarding
house keepers and ticket vendsrs who had lived on the
smgraas and some Of whom had grown wealthy in tho
GUINNESS opposed the proposed change with determined
resolution and the most bttor hostility They WERE how
ever detessca and the Castle Garden placed under
the dominion OF the Commissioners OF Emigration But
the frauds were not stopped with that pomptness which
Il was thought would result from the new order OF things
The ticket vendors continued for some time sell at
an cxorban. the boarding house keepers contnuedto
get the unwary egrauts into their clutches, and the
runners beat and sbased them with perfect inlpunity
utages OF the most 1agraat character were committed
under very walls Of Castle Garden, and the Comms
siouers of Emigration allowed them to
pass unnoced. Not only did they take no notice OF them
but their own agents. instead of protecting the egrants
also abused malsrcated them in the most shameful
manner Some instances published in the papers at
the time in which the Commissioners themselves
figured ia more conspicuous than dgniaed manner be-
fore tho public
Castle Garden was opened emigrant depot in tho
summer CT 1885, and from tina: time up TO the present
has remained their control Policemen were detailed
the regular municipal force for the protection OF the
emigraats the ticket sellers and runners were to DO
kept at respectful distance, and none but
regularly authorized railroad agents were to be
permitted to enter the building In word grand dis
play was made, and the called reform was commenced
with great flourish Of irampess said that the
railroad agents who regularly authorized sold the
tickets at the lowest possible rates. but the result has
proved that the process by which the eigrarts have
imposed upon has only been changed while IN no
particular has there been any Improvement. Complaints
have been made from time TO time In regard TO over
charges and imposition but the Commissioners have rare
Iy interered and when they have taken the
matters complained OF for investigation they have never
pursued their inquiries far enough 10 lead to the ccuvic
ton OF the offending parties. Apart from the personal
abuse and violence which emgraus have received ut the
hands OF their employees they have been prevented from
communicating with their friends outside OF the garden les
they shoud seek other and cheaper means OF anspor
talon than these With which the Commissioners desired
% provide them It was also understood tha: the
petition FOR passengers would be thrown open 10 ali the
railroad companies whose lines extended to the West but
such is not the Two raiiroads-thc New York and
Erie and the New York Cenrs-bsve bad the exclusive
monopoly and have understand sold their tickets at
their own rates, without any restriction from the Com
lssoners Of Emigration In this arrangement the Penn
syvana Central has been excluded although has almost
always sold its tickets cheaper than either Of the
two In fact, have said, the New York and Erie
and the New York Central have hitherto had tie excu
sve privilege extended them of selling within the limits
of Castle Garden any attempt the part of the other
road 20 enter into competition with them, to
have ticket agent OF their in the building has
succeeded account Of the opposition Of the Commission
crs Now tie reason Of the fsvortism in this will
be found very simple when the facts are fully set
forth.
II may be remembered that the Commissioners OF Emf
grafton apprchcnsvc Of being Involved in hopeless bank
rup,cy from the shameful ind highly oensursbe
in which they had managed the affairs and interests
trusted TO their charge applied TO the Legislature for
appropriation Of two hundred thousand dollars. Til.
was considered sufficient 10 relieve them from their
barrassnents and every effort be made 10 obtain
It, Among the parties who were TO engineer the bill
through The Legislature Thurow Weed, who large
y interested railroad operations; Eratus Corning
President Of the New York Central Railroad and VIM n
Seward
Now Thuiiou Weed had laid the Commissioners under
heavy obligations him before this, by the energetic
support which he gave TO their application asking FOR the
was necessary that they should make return for
the service be had rendered Here again, however, he
proved one Of their active friends and although tho
appropriation has not been granted certainly has been
through no fault OF his for he has used all those influences
with which he familiar, aud which politicians oi his
stamp well how to procure the Of
the applicston- In his sndesvors he assisted by
Ersstus Coz ming and WIN. II. Seward, his usepsrsbie
political friend and For tue aid the President OF
the New Central gave that road pm
yileee OF having two three ticket agents in Castle
Garden and the Now York and Erie had also lcai
cooperation IL likewise had permission 10 have is agents
within the building Besides tho interest which Thurlow
Weed had In this matter from his railroad operations he
had also personal interest in II happens that the
general agent OF the New York and Erie Railroad Is rcs-
Ave Of Thurlow Weed, and fact may be attributed
perhaps the active part be has taken all the proceedings
between road and the Commissioners Az the admission
OF Pennsylvania Central would have considerably les
scned the receipts OF the other roads, both by competition
and reducing the sale OF tickets lis agents were Of
course excluded, aud every attempt which thoy
have made 10 be allowed to compete with them on
equal terms has failed in consequence Of the opposition
OF the Commissioners OF Emigration An oner was
made time ago TO tho Pennsylvania road to the ef-
feet that they would raise their prices TO the standard Of
ihc New York roads, their agents would be admitted but
M Arrangement was made Now "A WE have said thexe
roads have the exclusive privilege Of selling their
tcks and, in fact, Castle Garden has been converted
into Office for the transaction OF their business. while
OF the emigrants is, almost always has
been, Of secondary importance The building Ia nothing
more ess than general ticket Office for the New
York and Erie and the New York Central railroads,
The Commissioners, Il would seem have for years
been acting and agents themselves
for those roads, and 70 receive twenty per