The Opelousas courier., 1866-03-10
ImmigratiOn.
= General Assembly has at last, we
-sppy to see, taken up the subject OF

..:,ppy to see, taken up the subject
lgration iu a practical manner, which
y early carried into effect, will be produc
- tiye,of great benefits to Louisiana. s.
fanas we can see, the series of bills intro
dncpd into the house by Mr.. Williamson
il cover all needed points, both for inducing
auoiorants in foreign lands to turn thei
items hitherward, and for their protection
from sharpers, and proper location upo1
tho;r arrival here. The news from Eu
zone received at the National Immigrant
pnreau indicates that there will be al
exceedingly large influx offoreigners into
+h;s country during the coming spring
summer and fall. and we hope that Lou.
;siana will be early in the field, so that a
Fair nroportion of this "bone and sinew'
nov he secured to till our fertile fields
One other provision might be made, how
over. with advantage, viz: the appoint
,nent of agents at New York and Boston
to induce immigrants arriving there to
come to Louisiana. There are three bills
on the subject of immigration in Mr..
WilIianlson's series, the main points OF
which we give below:
Act 2l3 provides for the establishment
in this city, of Bureau of immigration,
ia consist of two citizens, appointed by
tbe Governor, and the Mayor of New Or
leans as an er- -obcio member. The duty
Y of the Bureau described in general terms,
is aforthe purpose of encouraging immi-
a grafton to the State of Louisiana BY diffu-
[asing information abroad and protecting
h and assisting such immigrants as may
q settle therein" The Bureau will collect
information setting forth the advantages
Ofour soil and climate, which they may.
print in as many languages as they see
proper, and distribute broadcast; appoint
agents in foreign countries to induce emil
grafton to Louisiana, and assist emigrants;
make contracts with transportation lines
for cheap carrying to this point, and to the
localities where they finally decide to
settle; negotiate for the establishment of
line of steamers between New Orleans
and Bremen, and other suitable ports;
visit all vessels having. immigrants ON
board, and report violations OF the pas
senger acts to Washington; keep regis
try of name, age, sex and birthplace of
each emigrant, and report all the facts and
statistics they may obtain to the Legisla-
tare annually, together with such recon-
mendations as in their opinion may pro-
mote immigration to this State.
Act 2l2 provides for the pEptection of
Immigrants. No person shall Eeep an inn
migrant boarding house without special
license, and must give penE bonds for
good behavior; they must keep cards con-
spicuously posted in their houses, and
give to each immigrant a ticket containing
heir charges for board and lodging per
ay and week, and these must be printed
y the English, German, Dutch, French |
I'D Welch languages, and copy filed |
18th the Commissioners. Boarding house |
eepers are granted a lien upon baggage
rail- legal charges. No person, except |
e proprietor, can solicit immigrant pas
ngers or their baggage for these board
& houses, or for forwarding or transpor-
ition lines, except he especially licens-
1l, and he must then wear conspicuously
IL badge bearing the legend, Licensed
Immigrant Runner The Commissioners
HE authorized to appoint proper person
Iol board foreign ships ut Quarantine, for
|6fe purpose of advising immigrants and
II It them on guard against fraud or enr-
HI tion, and no other parties must be per-
III ted on board by the Quarantine Off
n until such. person has been allowed
VII icient time to perform his duties. No
n son shall book immigrant passengers,
III Ugh baggage or take money for inland
\ re, etc, without being licensed and
eeping public office at all times open
IA the commissioners during the transac-
non of business. They must keep con-
zsplcuously posted, printed in the five Ian
Fgnages above mentioned, a complete scale
Of prices OF transportation to the princi-
pal points where they agree to convey
passengers and freight. They must also
issue ticket to the immigrant, contain
ing the amount of fare, of luggage trans
portation, destination and full particulars
of the contract. A card containing the
rates and conditions, printed in the Ian
guage OF the country to which the immi-
gfantmay belong, must invariably be fur
alshed said immigrant before the money
lspa1d. A license shall be granted to no
person coming within this section who
cannot prove good moral character, and
~ citizen OF the United States. The
penalty for a transgression of the law is
very severe. Each member of the Com
mission is required to take oath at the
ehd Of each year that he has not made
any money directly or indirectly, by yir-
iue OF bis Office, except his salary, which
y liked at $25O0 per annum. ii
! Act NO. I1, concerning alien passen-
gers, requires the master of each vessel.
Witllln twenty -four hours after arrival, to
report under oath, to the Commissioners
u immigration, the name, age, sex, occu-
patton, place of birth, last place of resi-
dehce, and condition of every immigrant
he may bring. Ii, on exami- :
natlon, there shall be found among said
any lunatic, idiot, manned,
aSea of infirm person, incompetent in the
opanlon of the Commissioners Of Immigra- :
aoIl 70 maintain themselves, or who have
been panpers abroad such person shall :
aof be permitted to land, unless bond is .
slYen that he shall not become q charge !
g the State; all other passengers may e
and upon the paynlent OF two dollars for f
aaei person. If the master refuses to re- I
porta person of the excepted class, or to ..
slse bond, and the local authorities are ,
put toexpense for his care or burial, an
aeIlon for debt may be brought against
lifM. 7Usa(yitiou Tn 1iahilitx tn analfine 9