New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-01

From Ireland. ......................... 6Sl, 6O6
From England and Scotland....... $40, 100
From Germany. Observation-Disclosures. $50, 448
From Sweden and Norway..... 96,057
From all other countries minimum. 1S6, 251
2,32O.4s4
In the face of an annual accession of a
half million of emigrants, the immigration
question is assuming magnitude and i'm
portance second to no political problem.
Statesmen of the first rank may well ask
themselves, Whittier are we drifting? How
is the homogeneity Of our nation to be pre-
served? By what means are the toiling
millions to be guided into the proper chan
nels to secure their livelihood? BY what
means are they to be taught to understand
our political institutions? What measures
are adapted to implant patriots love for
his new home and new political institu
tons in the breasts of these strangers? And,
lastly, what measures shall be adopted to
protect them while. upon their journey,
whether it be on board ship, at the landing
place, or while in transitu upon public con-
veyances?
HISTORY OF EMIGRANT PROTECTION.
Up to 1s47 neither the Federal Govern
ment nor the several States took any cog
nizance of the immigrant. He was per
mitted to land, it is true, but no one was
authorized to supervise or direct his move
ments. In New York, where the largest
number of immigrants landed, the greatest
abuses prevailed, and but few immigrants
escaped from that city without the loss OF
nearly all their ready money. To obviate
this evil, a society was organized. which OBJ
tanned q charter from the New York Legis-
lature. The original charter members of
this New York Immigrant Commission were
composed of honorable and philanthropic
men, who did their utmost to protect the
immigrant from the swarms of swindlers that
waylaid him on his arrival. Subsequently
the New York Legislature taxed each immi.
grant $3.50, which was collected from the
shipper, for the defrayment of the expenses
of this commission. In some years nearly
a million of dollars was collected, and
large surplus accumulated, and three years
since, the capitation tax was reduced to
$1.50. Unfortunately the commercial at
mosphere of New York, which has tainted
everything with corruption, has also infested
this commission. Some three years since
the Board of Commissioners, the majority of
whom were already strong Tammany Hall
pdTtlSduS, were lHFeStcu Will INC power Vi
filling all vacancies arising in the board,
and thus the vast sums of money collected
from the immigrants, we're squandered or
used to subserve political purposes.
Last winter the New York Legislature au.
thorized the Committee on Commerce to in.
vestigate this Tammany Hall Immigrant
Commission. The testimony was chiefly re-
stricted to permitting the Superintendent,
Mr.. Casserly, and the commissioners to tell
their own tale. And yet even this testimony.
which was wrung from unwilling and inte
rested witnesses, proves the existence of
system of callous and heartless scoundrelism
which for refined cruelty and disregard of
can rarely be equalled. 1t is almost
beyond the limits of belief, that within any
pretending to be civilized, sys.
tematic robbery of the poor could be car
ried on with such perfect impunity.
Mr.. Casserly, the Superintendent, upon
oath, stated that the amount expended for
salaries during the last year amounted to
nearly two hundred thousand dollars. 1t
was proved that large amount of sinecure
Offices are maintained, and Mr.. Casserly
that the management might
be carried on more economically. He stated,
more over, that men were engaged on account
of their politics, and that Tammanny Hall
made regular political assessments-the
amount that he himself paid for election
purposes, when VIM. NJ. Tweed was elected
to the Senate, was three hundred dollars!
The Legislature Of New York, at its last
session, abolished this commission, but Gov.
Hoffman, in pursuance of bargain between
tn Greeleyites and the Democracy, vetoed
the bill
While this systematic robbery was con.
10 Horl Oh IL
German Senator, has never uttered word
His eloquence> not directed to building
up better system, or of tearing up by the
roots this widespread corruption, but it was
solely directed to Grip pie, sell out, and be-
tray his Republican friends, who are the
only true friends of the immigrant, and who
have endeavored to secure his protection.
MODEL PURCHASING AGENT.
The testimony further shows that VIM. NJ.
Tweed recommended Mr.. King, relative
Of his-''no nepotism therefor the place
of purchasing agent for the commission, and
he was retained in his place until last Janu.
airy, when the power of Iammany had been
somewhat broken. Let no man, however,
permit himself to believe for one moment
that this Tammany Hall combination is
squelched. 1t is merely lying in wait to
seize the Treasury of the United States, by
the election Of Mr.. Greeley, because it has
80 impoverished New York city and placed
it so heavily in debt, that for the time being
its enormous drafts upon the resources of
that city cannot be honored.
The following extracts from the testimony
show the extent and ramifcations of the
knavery Of this purchasing agent. 1t will
be seen that the stealing on meat alone
to SIS, 200 per year; and vet no
effort has been made by that commission
and its attorneys to bring this knave to JUS
tice, or to compel him to make restitution
he was simply dismissed after the temporary
downfall of VIM. M. Tweed.
THE PURCHASING AGENT,
Mr.. Frederick Shack, President of the
German Emigrant Society, and commits.
,:oner er-oficio, stated that politics had en-.
t;rely too much to do with the management
Dfthe emigrants. Formerly, when respecta.
Bile men were on the commission, the char
lcter of the board was higher. Now that
Tammany politicians were on it, they used
heir positions for party purposes.
Gam President of the German Society of
New York, established in 1884; am er-o0icio
member of this board and attended all the
meetings; am q member of the Wards Is
and and the Finance Committees; get no
salary either from the society or as mem.
Der Of this commission, on the contrary, am
put to considerable expense by becoming
acquainted with so many poor people that
,oed helm. Mr. King maid too much for