The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-15
Tho Enumeration Scheme

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The Immigration Scheme.
To the Editors Of the Dispatch:
Surely "An English Settler" and others
arc in error in attributinS to the Legislature
the intention of forming board OF liiini!'
grafton TO so into the real estate agency ousl,
1ess. Connciyinr the idea to be too absurd
to be tllle. ! have turned to "Senate bill NO.
ia" for the necessary refutation OF the
CHARGE. IFS title is ~ bill to establish q
board of agriculture, immigration, and sta
tistics.v Now, the sale Of lands cannot be
confoundcd with their cultivation, nor does
thc bringing of more people into the state
necessarily involve settling them upon farms
or otherwise. 1t is said that anything can be
nroved bv figures, but | have never heard
That any land was sold by their means alone.
So there is no evidence to the prejudice OF
the Joint committee to be gathered from the
title. Passing on to clause !, read OF agents
to he arrointed by counties, cities, and towns,
for the "tranSactng of such business as may
I've required by said board" and that they are
| To he paid possihlv ''by per centage on all
lands sold therein" At this point arises u
LITTLE mystilcation-"la lands sold" by whom
Bv the said agents, or by estate agents, with
| their assistance? Let us pass on for more
light, if it is to be found. Nothing pertinent
to the inquiry meets the eye until clause Is
encountered. Permit ME to quote this IN
| full:
"I'ho said board may make any arrange
mcnt deemed fair and iudiciouS, with licensed
land agents and others, for the registry in its
office of I'LL real cstatc and other property
offered for sale, and nlay prescribe such rules
and regulations 10 facilitate the purchase ana
settlement of such lands as may be just and
best calculated to facilitate the Objects OF sad
board: and may require, for the purpose OF
dcfrayin~ the EXERCISES Of said board, the
nynicnt to it Of liked on graduated per
ccntasc upon all sales effected through its
instrumcntalty, care being taken that such
arrangements shall be Just and fair to I'LL par
ties concerned. and to I'LL sections Of the
State"
II is in this clause that " the objects of said
board" with regard 10 the sale OF said lands,
should lc clearly defined, as the information
so essentially necessary TO my purpose Is
given nowhere else in the bill. But for two
words it inimht lie read rs very favorable to
tie licensed land agents. and the whole
scheme might G}prar TO be benellcent
scheme for their assistance. by registry and
local agency. III the sale Of lands entrusted
| 70 their care, But who are the "others y
referred to? Ifhy them are meant the great
| body OF .anti-ScllclS. why then the door Is
opened wide enough for the interpretation
"in English Letter. puts upon the bill,
and there is m end Of the inquiry.
! | c.iillot resist The feeling that something
is reiicd in the phia>cology Of the bill. aid
would rather not "fdciRidte the objects
| of the said board . until | know better what
| they are. If it is intended to enter upon so
| iulpOrtant business rs that ct gigantic
| land agency, why does not the bill distinctly
ayow and provide for it? As the case stands,
I cannot assert that the charge is proved;
but Ill TIC same tine an sure that j. ought
10 re publicly declared whether the board
has or has lot the design for which it has
credit. II the design he acknowledged, then
| can support my countryman in most OF the
opinions he iIus expressed. The interference
of any safe board with efficient private cnf
tcyprisc in the settlement Of suitable immi-
grants would he simply disastrous, for the
rcasons 50 cmphat,-llly declared in your
columns OF the 10th instant. VIII the men,
hers ci The Legislature only believe that amy
expenditure OF money iii that direction
would lie worse than rScrS>9 Nor Is 1t Il
mere threat that existing land agents might
| claim compensation: What shall he said OF
the Government which first takes money
from The licensed" land agents, and then
does its best to rob them Of the business for
the pursuit. Of which the g license" money
was paid:
| Engli-hmen will be influenced through
their l'icsits, y private recommendations.
ten times more than by any merely Official
action.
This is Il lantl-Sctter's question. If they
arc wise they will rc.o,ltcly oppose state i'll
reference with the sale Of their lands. The
probability CT success in their great Object IS
vastly greater under private than official
agency. ANOTHER ENGLISH SErTLER.
February II, 1872.
=. 5. fully concur with the opinions eX-
pressed in yotir journal as to the utter mex
pc;!:,nry Of bringing oa4cr immigrants into
this State.