The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-22
WILLY WALLACE TO PAIR FLAY."

New YORK, May 20, 1872
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Your issue Of the 10th inst. contained communi-
cation signed "Fair Play" which reflects upon my
official acts as Commissioner of Emigration and
therefore requires my notice. Believing that you
will allow "Fair Play, to both sides l respectfully
request you to insert the following statement:-
My opposition to the erection Of Roman Catho-
lie church on Wards Island is not dictated by any
religious partsanship, but is based upon the laws
governing the Emigration Commission. Section
5, chapter 523 Laws 1851, reads =
But the RECEIVED under any Rg provisions Of this
& az tho a q New York or % mot @
ped or to any Other he @ or than
maintenance Of such persons or passengers
The language used here Is certainly plain and ex-
plcit. The expenditure Of money by the Commits
si0ners for the erection Of church be justified
under the act just cited only by constituting the
words "care support and maintenance" so as to
embrace the spiritual well the bodily require
ments of these persons and passengers If such
construction Is at all admissible, it can certainly
not be allowed until the direct provisions OF the law
have been fully complied with This is certainly not
the case at present. The yearly report Of the Fl
nance Committee shows an expected deficit OF
$4,000, exclusive of the cost OF repairs to the
buildings on Wards Island and Castle Garden. This
deficit will have to be paid out OF the accumu-
lated funds of the Commission. These, accord
on the 3oth December 1871, in round figures,
to S164 000 leaving balance of only $51 900 while
at least 100000 will be required to complete the
lunatlc asylum now being erected. Therefore, after
the expenses for the care support and maintenance
Of insane immigrants shall have been betrayed,
there will be deficit OF at least $4,000.
But even If there was sufficient money on hand
or to be expected to warrant the erection OF
building for public worship claim that it must be
used for the general benefit of all persons or pas
sengers who have contributed to the emigrant
fund.- and that 1t cannot legally be set apart for the
lnGiV ar nf ttlp ,1tunn
sect The idea Of using church for all religious
persuasions, or, ''Far Play peases to put It, to
make 1t Kind Of omnibus, is not novel one, but
has been adopted by the Commissioners OF Charity
and Correction in all the institutions under their
charge In the Military Academy at West Point, and
IN many other non-sectarian public institutions in
the country.
This much for the church. Now, in regard to the
orphan or deserted children OF emigrants, have
Away cheerfully complied with the established
rules, but at the same time have entertained and
still entertain the idea that IL would be better for
terests OF the whole country to provide them with
good homes In the families OF some respectable
farmers than to keep them on Wards Island until
they have been five years in the country and then
turn them out as candidates for the House OF Re-
fuge, the Roman Catholic Protect0rate or the inst
tutions on Blackwel's Island. Therefore, when the
travelling agent OF the Chdrens Aid Society called
me some time ago inquiring If the commissioners
had any boys under their charge who wished to be-
come farmers and Offering to take any such out
West without any expense to the Commits ion,
gave him letter to the Deputy Warden, requesting
him to allow bearer to ascertain 4 there were such
boys and to report the result to me- This was
certainly not the breaking Of the rule mentioned by
"Falr Play.n
advised by the attorney to the Board that, under
the present laws, the Commissioners had no right
to send children under their care beyond the limits
OF our State.
In conclusion, would say that my conduct in the
premises has been Influenced by no religious pfeiu-
what / considered to be the interest Of the emf.
grants and nothing else. WILLY WALLACE. /,