The New York herald., 1870-03-08
THE EMICRANYg EMEUTE.
Investigation by the legislative Comnltiss-
Second Days Proceedings
l. Herman After the "Plum in the Pud-
ding'-sharp Examination Of the Commits
honers OF Emigration-The Late Riot ON
Wards sIslaud-ln:sresting Testimony.
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o'n3 -Snarp examination OF tho Conmis-
sioners Of Emigration-The Late Riot ON
Wards sIsand-ln.sresting Testimony.
The Assembly commirse on commeroe aud Nssi-
CATION OF which Mr. Lawrencs D. Herman IA chair \
man, met atthe rooms OF the Commissioners OF Emf
grafton, ~ Castle Garden yesterday at eleven
O'Clock for the purpose OF continuing the investi
gallon into the causes OF the late on Wards
Island. The following named members Of the com
mittee were present:-Aessrs. Herman BerEen
Kavanagh, Nacntman, Decker and Clarke. The ex.
animation Was conducted by Mr.. Herman, who
questioned each person brought before the commit.
tee at great length.
Commissioner Lynch being called and sworn tes-
tled that. 80 far ~ he mad seen and 30 lar rs no
knew, the trust reposed In the commission was well
administered The superintendenr on the island
was good dsciplinar!an ana Oils his post credit
ably though some say that his treatment Of the emf
grants Is harsh He rhe Commissioner was IN once
six weeks. and visited the island three times. The
intention Of the Commissioners Is to render the con-
dltion OF The emgrants comfortable; there could
ne no danger In giving the emigrants knives and
forks and spoons to their food With there were
proper police regulations; the superintendent Ia
empowered to make all necessary regulations; the
men get vegetables at dinner and have plenty 10
eat; dd not get this information from the inmates
OF the institutions it would be premium ON Idle
hess to give the emgrants better more food than
they get now; they have no proper ground Of COM
plaint but well cared for the barracks might be
improved; the object OF the commission is to pro-
tect the emgrants; they might be elevated socially;
the condition Of the barracks or the treatment they
receive is not calculated to elevate them socially;
member OF the comm sson derive proTt directly
or Indirectly, from his ONCE without perjurlpx
himself
Commissioner Loutre chairman Of Wards Island
Committee, next called and sworn. lie testified
| that he visited the island twice week; have not
been there since the 22d OF February until yesterday
although chairman of the committee; have special
duty; the superintendent has discretionary power in
| dealing with the cmigrans; ne can send them on
the island contne them In the cells. or put them
| bread and water diet. but cannot punish them any
other way; the general treatment OF tue emgran.a
is good don't know the causes OF the recent riot;
think at the amounr OF food furnished the inmates
OF the institution is sufficient; the average number
OF inmates ID 1900; have heard that there were
eight towels in the washhouse; the wash
| ing accommodations were ample; these are
matters which should receive the attention
4 Of the superintendent who acts under the
direction OF the commission generally; the supern
| tendent never made requistlon Tor spoons; saw
| some spoons IN the hanas OF inmates thres
mouths ago; the supplies are mrnlshed on requisi.
tions drawn by the mead physician, apothecary and
| steward signed by the superintendent; the latter
l purchases coal, UOUF, eggs ana lutQDeT III ~ Cis.
cretionary with him where the purchases are made;
the repairs on the buildings are made by Mr.. Walton,
VINO was appontsd pol Dy the Ward's Island COMMITTEE
work and he superintended; Mr.. well.. the super
mat se ns
snoud be empowered BY law TO prevent
;Ss,o rk sas going on 1s
saSooOo set apart as fund for the erection OF ns
insane Asylum; The commission realizes enough
money Keep the emigrans properly. ana II the In
mates OF Wards Island do not get proper treatment
it s the fault OF the superintendent and officials
! under the commission ~ 4u
Commissioner Smith, being sworn, said that he did
not think there was Sufficient cause for the not the
property owned by the commission is worth
| 81. 00o,0o0 could not state what was paid for ~;
Winston for $50 0o0 don't think that the amount Of
money received on account OF emgranIs Is sum
cent to support co,he iced and house properly the
inmates on Wards Island; the number OF enigrant u
who arrived at this port IN the four the witness
was Commissioner was $50. 1871. and the money re
ceived Their account amounted to about 81 800 600.
Question by Mr. Keinaa-is that sum sufficient,
with the Interest TO feed cl0tnc and mouse properly
I sii the inmates OF Wards Island for four yearsf
Answer-It Is not sufficient to meet ali the abiit-
ties OF the commission. With respect 70 Nj. Walton
and the proposed asylum witness stated thar ne
thought II would have been proper as was proposed
making VIM msrs 10 Woa as %ona
Jobs on the island TO the extent OF $50 900 at least
sos the po Vse
| enough Don't believe that the state OF things
ported In the papers exists ON the irnnd The in
| mates have opportunities Tor mental improvement.
| They have reading room capaDle on seating nity
people. The average number o. per,ons IN the
refuge s 1900. These matters or detail the super
intendens Is a5undantiy able ~ attend to.
William Milton, tue emigrant whose zeal on be-
half or htS feilow conntrymcn was the principal
cause OF the recent disturbance on the island. was
next examined. He proved 10 be somewhat '.taltn
; on mesmerrm and kndrcd subjects, but per.
iecLly sane on matters oi more Immediate interest
He was particularly sound on the food question and
gave his evidence very clearly and circumstantally.
His statement was fully borne out BY the testimony
OF the other emigrants VINO were examined on SAT
urday, and showed c0DcuslvcIy that the manage
iuent Of Wards island was simply outrageous.
Commissioner Winston, Vice President and CHAIR.
mau OF the Finance Committee OF tue Board OF Emf
grafton, was next examined. lie was the only
member OF the commission who returned direct
a aa suss re aa ss
to draft s3oooo. The receipts last year were from
commntation OF special bonds s.,7lo; securities mad
| to be sold to deiiny expenses. During his term OF
ONCE 100000 had been spent for the comfort OF
| emi2ranis. The total recelrta last year were
Ss35 $50 and the expenses s.7dl1s The number o;
| enIgrants arrived iast year FOR whom communication
Taxing the figures gten by Commissioner Winston
As a OASIS, Mr.. Kcrnan here made acacuation thai
onehalf OF per cent only Of the emigrants who
arrive al this por. each year are accommodated at
Wards Island, which being announced produced a
Commissioner Winston further testified thas no
believed Mr. Walton tue gentleman who repaired
amount OF s7o,ooo without having 70 enter INTO a
contract Mr.. Winston said that he was startled on
hearing that the enigrants on the island were nos
II the Commissioners wers only aware OF
, | such a condilon Of affairs instant mea
sures would be taken to remedy II. During
II the examination OF The Commissioner Mr.. Decker
questioned him rs 10 the properly on Staten Island
formerly held by the commissioners OF Emigration,
. when the extraordinary statencnr was made that
although the land was sold three years slnce ~
some parties 10 the witness unknown, the Commits
sioners were still compelled 10 DAy Sl2 600 per
nun Interest on money borrowed from the Mutual
Insurance Company 10 1892 on account of.it The
money was borrowed for the purpose OF re-erectlng
buildings burned that year py Ssaten Island mob.
| The indemnity opiained from Richmond county for
tne loss OF the buildings was PAID into the state
Treasury, and The Commissioners never got any Of
! II slnce
The committee adjourned to fvo O'Clock and tns
| menDers departed Ia carriages TO catch the evening
| tram Tor Albany. Dir. Kternan atd she other meln.
oers o. tue committee feel satisfied that there is q
big plum In the puddng' somewhere and are de
termined TO get Gt IL. The investigation Is TO bs
a IN Ia fho Iot a