New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-17
TIE JAMES FOSTER, JR.

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION
The Special Committee of the Commissioners
OF Emigration, consisting of Richard OGOrmon -
Elroy and Frederick Kapp, who were aPpoiH",
March last to investigate the causes OF Complain
the ship James Foster, jr., have compieteu tD
such conlmitte and submitted their report inc u par
ticu,ars Of the barbarous and inhuman treatment 10
which the Inflated Messengers were suyecVeu TO-
have heretofore been published IN Inn lHiDCNH' ~
suh1cient 10 state that the result Oh INC lh'eouE9
ton by the Committee has fully confirmed the reports Oh
the outrage as published from tlme 10 le' A''cr n1
c,tl, setting forth all the particulars OF tho terrible
voyage and tho evidences taken Dy the committee tno
report conclude as follows:
The Committee are ADVISED that the carpenter, with
two OF the other inferior officers Of the ship are now IN
custody and awaiting their trial indictments FOUND
AGAINST them I'm the UDitad States District Court OF o
Eastern District OF the State OF NewYork on account OF
osnscs alleged TO have been committed by them aGamss
certain of the crew and passengers OF this ship on this
voyage and their trial is likely to take place next month
The Committee therefore, forbear to make any l9tner
comment which might tend 10 throw obstacles IN the
way Of fair and impartial Investigation OF the charges
agsinSt these men, The captain OF the snip ana tne nSS
mate have died on shore since the arrival OF tie snip IN
port, victims to malignant fever which broke out on
board and which had its ORIGIN probably, IN their own
! incNpaeity neslect, or misconduct 49,
The i'll treatment OF tho crew the committee nave not
specay inquired into not being included In the SUD
ect OF tho investigation, which by the statute OF hs
State above referred to- the Commissioners OF
arc empowered to make INC Somuntteee po hro
! that IL their proceedings In tins matter nave
effected no more than 70 "I nTSss bS S' here
and Europe, much good has been done not 70 SPEAK
OF the advantage which the testimony taken by them ana
pspetuated may be to passengers seeking redress by
cV proceedings In seeking for the causes Oh hesS JUS
GEtsrs the committee are willing TO make al due allow
snce for the unusual duration Of the voyage at INC most
incement season Of the year. aud the dem'fa ii
tbn cSntipUed isbor opxiety and exhaustion to which
officers and must be suDlecod. Care!ul ana lnO
STpooI viii the benefcent provisions Of the English Pas
ssnger of 1855 and 1862 would have gone lar to pre-
Eengers subjected. In these acts, provisions arc
made for the examination and survey by an Imgrau3n
ties for cooking for tho number and quahcaton OF
passenger COOKS Wloh no hct IvIuo " w IA, ~
fAring men; and for the manning OF the ship with an
efficient 10 the satisfaction OF the Emigration officer
Tie Committee unable TO how unless these re-
Gurements OF the British law had been evaded openly
violated, the caames OF this voyage could nave oc.
cUrTed me principal security against the recurrence Of
uc evils 10 be found PERHAPS in the rapid dscou-
tnuanCe Of sailing ships IN the carrying OF engTants 20
this port and the Institution OF steam vessels in their
stead The story OF the misiortunes OF the James Foster
Junior WILL 10 ia hoped increase tie tendency In that d
recton 10 is the manifest dny OF shPOwnerS TO eNer'
else great and caution In the choice OF the officers,
whose hands the and government OF passengers
difficult aud delicate office, requiring, perhaps,
larger share OF patience. good temper forDesranee
educated in the rough school OF sailors life; And II is
yet hard 20 imagine any situation ia which men arc
more completely helpless, moro completely at tho mercy
| OF those who may he set over them or have Juster
tban passengers In emigrant ships Tho establishment OF
an eCciont police the seas by whose Injustice
nro toward which phanthrophy kas yet made little
| progress. Much must st depend on the humanity OF
shipouners and the careful choice they mako OF their
agents. The Committee beg leave 70 suggest as
| subject for the consideration OF tho Board
| OF Commissioners Of Emigration whether the en-
sctment Of some such provisions as to emigr@gt
| slips as aTo to be found In the British
passenger acts above referred to- would tend to tho
protection Of passengers the Atlantic aud tho IN
crease Of thsr security and comforts The subject well
worthy the attention OF the Congress OF the United states
When Is remembered how much Of the present popula
ton OF the United states made mp OF Immigrants or
their immediate descendants and how nuoh OF It's wealth
enterprise ana prosperity has sprung from their labor
nothing surely should be loft undou0 by the country
which they have chosen for their home which could tend
make their voyage TO these shores convenient and
easy possible and impress them In advance with the
proYdent for their welfare displayed by tho country
IN Vic their future lives 10 be- spent aVd 10 whose
advancement their futuro labors are 10 DO devoted