The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-25
EMIGRATION.

Important Meeting of the Commissioners.
stated meeting OF the Commissioners OF = NIL
grafton was held last night at the New York Society
Library buildings University place. There were pre-
sent Messrs. Cuban c. verplanck lpresidenn,
Winston, Kapp. BessInger, A. Oakley Hall, smith,
OGorman and McEroy.
communication was read and referred to the
castle Garden Committee from emigrants who had
taken tickets Liverpool from Messrs. Foster Co.,
for the New York Central Railroad. and that they
arrived by the Minnesota the 23d instant
and on presenting their tickets to MIR.
Robert Murray, agent OF No. Bowling Green, New
York, he refused TO accept them, and that he did
not recognize Messrs. Foster Co. The afidavit
stated that Opponents had reason to believe that
Murray had ample funds OF Messrs. Foster Il Co In
hand to indemnify himself against loss These emf
grants were compelled to claim the protection Of the
Commissioners and obtain relief from them.
report was also read from the Commissioners
who mad met in reference to the building OF new
asylum for Iunatics at Wards Island. This report
recommended that the plans OF Dir. Carl Pnltrcr be
adopted.
In reply to Mr.. O'Gorman Mr.. CAssERLy said that
the approval OF the plans by the Commissioners and
the report having been read with others at previous
meeting OF tine Board, he considered that II was
adopted. In answer TO further inquiries IT was
found that this was done at meeting OF the Com
missioners at which quorum was not present.
Mr.. Oakley HALL urged that it was highly neces-
sary that all the information that 1t was possible TO
get about the building OF so important an institution
as the asylum at Wards island should be obtained
before the Commissioners Committed themselves to
any SPECIFIC plan, however good That plan may be.
He showed the great advantages OF that Ill reference
10 The plans FOR the new Post once.
Alter lengthy discussion motion OF Mr. O'Gor-
man, seconded by AIR. Oakley Hall, that the minutes
OF the meeting, with The exception OF that relating
to the accounts be not confirmed, was carried AFTER
Ied:-.That notices be issued IN three OF the daily
papers requesting architects 70 send IN plans Tor the
lunatic asylum on Wards Island, and that they DO
sent in before the 10th Of December; and that the
committee be instructed to advertise Ike notice TO
builders when tney are In position to 10 So Ihas
5000 be placed at their disposal for the purpose OF
remuneration architects who may forward planS.n
| Mr.. KAPP then drew attention to the present moae
OF railway conveyance for immigrants. The express
trains TO Chicago thirty hours, while It took
| from four to Elk days for Immigrants TO get from
| New York to Chicago; and that Immigrants have
| not proper accommodation, and that some OF the
immigrant trains compelled to give the right OF
| way TO caitle trains. MT Knapp then called atten-
abuse and imposition. Inc booking frauds, against
which the Commissioners have labored so energetl-
cally since It's creation, and which, with lew ex-
| ceptlons, were almost entirely done away with,
| were now more nourishlng than ever. In
aG s s mero aeens
| were In the haoit OF issuing orders Tor
| American inland tickets on the so.called Great
| European, American Emigration Company
state oil New York, ana which OF late had refused
! to accept such orders. Not week assed In which
| dozens OF Swedes and Norweglans and also pas.
| sengers from Liverpool and London were not
checked III this way and prevented from continuing
| their Journey their place OF destination. Although
| IL was made condition or the readmlssion or Mr..
| Van Ness TO Castle Garden as agent u the new
| York Genital Railroad that he should dlscon-
| tinue his booking agency at Havfe, the no
| torious Foss stiIl issues his orders there
on New York, and from fifteen 70 twenty agents do
| the same under him. Complaints or Sill worse
nature had been frequently brought against the Erie
| hallway. lts agent IN Castle Garden was charged
| with selling tickets TO points on LAKE superior via
BuiIalo py a steamboat line which has bnt one SAIL
| Ing day III the week, SO That the passengers VINO
contracted with Mr. Hogan had usually 10 wait sew
| eral days before they could leave Bulalo. Other
emigranIs VINO were bound FOR Preston, Z. W., COM
plain that they were induced at tue Shanper streeG
onice OF the Erie Railway to buy tickets wa Bulfalo
whch cost them double the price II would nave COST
II they had gone there directly ana occupied twice
the tune. He thought IL was time these operations
should be stopped. These neIarlous transactions
were laid by tue public on the shoulders OF the Emf
| grafton Commissioners. He thought the whole raii-
| road system III Castle Gorden should be changed.
lie wouiu not allow road 10 be represented In the
Garden tnat sold tickets IN Europe. his opinion
a the agents ought to be removed from Castle
Garden, ana the business should De done ulrecuyy
between the Commissioners and the companies.
that change were radical he would suggest thar
that the commissioners compel the roais 10 appoint
one man who should De their sole representative IN
| their intercourse with the Commissioners.
| Mr.. o'GoaMAE said that he had conversation
that evening with an Erie agent and he was told that
the charges made by Mr. kapp as 10 mat road were
| not correct first class trains went IN thirty-slx
hours ana enligrant trains III Sky hours. he was
authorized To say that ii an opportunity was gwen
the Erie agents would show those stateficAts 10 DC
wrong.
very long discussion took place and a mOtioIl
| OF Mr. Bessinger to refer the charges made by Ar.
| Kapp to the hallway Grievance Committee was car
| rleu.
| Mr.. KAPP then drew attention to the twentieth
| section OF the article under which the Commission
| was formed when stated that mo person holding
Office under tie government OF the United States or
this state, or OF any OF tneSe States, or VINO SnOul
| be III the employment OF the Commissioners OF Emil
| grafton shall solicit custom OF any transportation
line, shall be interested III any way directly or
indirectly IN the forwarding OF emigrants, under q
penalty not less than one hundred dollars and not
exceeding three hundred dollars TO be used for and
| In the name oil the people Of this State.n
| In reply TO inquiries Mr.. Knapp said that the seq
ton bore upon the appointment OF Mr.. Justice
Hogan.
Mr.. O'GoRMAS, Mr.. HALL aud Mr.. McELRoy were
OF an opinion that If there had been an evasion OF
the law the Commissioners were not the persons to
institute proceedings for penalties
Mr.. HALL said that Justice Hogan had consulted
him at the time OF his appointment to the agency or
the Erie road, and when he tMr. Ham was District
Attorney he had advised him chat he was not break
ing the law; to that opinion he still held.
On motion, after a long DISCUSSION by Mr.. BES-
| SINGER, tnat the motoa be referred TO the Castle
| Garden counsel, an amendment was made TO refer
the question 10 the COUNSEL or the commissioners,
| and the amendment was ultimately carried by the
| casting vote OF the chairman.
| The meeting then adjourned.
| The sem.-monthly statement OF the Commissioners
| shows as folow5:-NumDcr OF emlgrants arrived to
| November IL, 1869, 23a,3lS; number Of en1gIants
/ arrived since to November "a, 1859, 5324; total
arrived to date 2i $751; to same date In 1865 ZOO 451
| Cash ACCOMPLISHMENTS In bank, Januaryl, 1859,
| ss,04l; aggregate receipts TO November a. 1858,
STS5,4s7 total assets, $7g552S; disbursements as
| per previous accounts, to November IL, 1869,
| 100000.