Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-01-24
rPupLIc-No. 205. 4
Approvod, Ialy 4, ls6I.
AN ACT 10 encourara lmmieratio

| AN ACT to encourage immigration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives Of the United States Of America
in Congress assembled, That the President of
the United States is hereby authorized by and
with the advice and censent Of the Senate, to
appoint o Commissioner of Immigration who
| shall he subject to the direction Of tho Depart
ment Of State, shall hold his office for four years
and shall receive a salary at the rate OF two
thousand five hundred dollars a year. The said
Commissioner may employ not more than three
clerks, Of such grade as the Secretary of SInte
shall designate, to be appointed by him, with
the approval Of tho Secretary of State, and to
hold their Offices at his pleasure.
Sec. 9 Aud be it further enacted, Thal all
contracts that shall be made by emigrants to the
United States in foreign countries, in conformity
to regulations that may be established by the
said Commissioner, whereby emigrants shall
pledge the wages OF their labor for a term not
exceeding twelve months, 10 repay the expense
Of their emigration, shall be held to be valid in
law, and may be enforced in the courts Of the
United States, or Of the several States and Tor
rtories and such advances, if so stipulated in
the contract, and the contract be recorded in
the recorders Office in the country where the
emigrant shall settle, shall operate as a lien upon
any land thereafter acquired by the emigrant,
whether under the homestead law when the title
is consummsed or on property otherwise aoQui-
red, until liquidRted by the emigrant; but moth.
ing herein contained shall be deemed to author
ize any contract contravsning the Constitution of
the United States or creating 10 any way the re
lation of slavery or seryitude.
Sec. ,. And be it further enacted, That no
emigrant. to the United States who shall arrisu
after the passage Of this act shall be compulsiyc.
ly enrolled for military service during the exist
ing iusurrsction, unless such emigraat shall vol.
UNFAIRLY renounoe under oath his allegiance to
the country Of his birth and declare his intention
20 become g citizen Of the United States.
Sec. 4. And be il fvrther enacted. That thers
shall be established in the city Of New York an
office to be known as the United States Emgrsut
Office and there shall be appointed, by and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate an
officer for said city, TO be known as supericten-
dent Of immigration, at en- annual salary Of two
thousand dollars; and the said superintendent
may employ clerk Of the fret class and suoh
superintendent sbell, under the direction OF the
Commissioner Of lmmigra,ios, make oontraets
with the different railroads and transportation
companies Of the United States for transporta--
ton tickets to be furnished 10 such immigrants.
and TO be paid for BY them, aud shall under
such rules as may be prescribed by the Commits
sioner OF Immigration protect such immigrants
from imposition and fraud, and shall frrnsh
them such information and facilities as will eDe.
BILE them TO proceed in the cheapest and most ex-
peditious manner to the place ofther destination.
Aud such superintendent Of immigration shall
perform such other duties as may be prescribed
by the Commissioner of immigration Prorided,
That the duties hereby imposed upon the super-
iniendent in the city of New York shall not bO
held to affect the powers and duties Of the Com
missioner Of immigration of the State Of New
York. And il shall be the duty Of said super
intendent in the city Of New York to see that the
provisions Of the act commonly known IS tho
passenger act are strictly complied with, and all
breaches thereof punished according to law.
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That no
person shall be qualified to fl any Office under
this act who shall be directly or indirectly in
terested in any corporation having lands for sale
to immigrants, or in the carrying or traneporta-
tiOn OF immigrants, either from foreign countries
TO the United States and its Territories or TO
any part thereof, or who shall receive any fee
or reward, or the promise thereof, for any SER
vice performed or any benefit rendered to any
person or persons 10 the line Of his duty under
this act. And if any Ofhcer provided for by this
act shall receive from any person or company
any fee or reward, or promise thereof for any
service performed or any benefit rendered to any
person or persons in tho line of his duty under
this act, he shall, upon conviction, be fined one
thousand dollars or be imprisoned not to ex-
ceeed three years, at the discretion of court ef
competent jurisdiction, and forever after be in
eligible to hold any Office of honor, trust or pro-
ct in the United StatsI.
Sec. G. And be It further enacted, That said
Commissioner tf Immigration shall at the com.
meneement Of each annual meeting Of Congress
submit detailed report Of the foreign mmigra-
tiOn during the proceeding year, aud a detailed
account Of all expenditures under this act,
Ste. 7. Aud DO it further enacted, That the
sum Of twenty FIVE thousand doaTs, or 50 much
thereof as may be necessary, in the judgment OF
the President, is hereby appropriated out Of any
money In the Treasury not otherwise appropria-
ted for the purpose of carrying the provisions CT
this act into effect.
Approved, July 4. 1864.