The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-03
Proposed State bureau OF EIaniSra.
si0Ia and Statistics.

Proposed State Bureau OF EIsamfgra-
tioIa and Statistics.
The Joint Committee on Immigration re-
ported 10 the General Assembly Yesterday
4 lill for the establishment of "Board OF
Agriculture, Immigration, and Statistics"
The bill provides tha: the Governor. by and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate,
shall appoint some competent person TO hc
styled "thc Commissioner of Agriculture,
Immigration. and Statistics" He is to hold
Office Tor tie term of two years from his
qualification: he must reside ut tie capital OF
The State; and is to receive for his services
salary Of three thousand dollars per annum.
There is to be associated with said COM
missioner. 10 constitute the Board, the Gov
crnor, Auditor Of Public Accounts, the Sec
rctary of the Commonwealth, and the Trca-
surcr.
The Board is required to meet at least
once Il month. and is to have general super
vision Of Tic business of the Board. II is to
report to every regular session OF the Gene
raj Assembly IN account Of lis transactions,
and whatever may be deemed imporlaEs for
The information of that body and the people
Of the State in regard TO its operations.
For the purpose of facilitating the labors
OF the Board ard oi dil'llsing its influence
| and advantages 10 all parts Of the Common
| wealth, it is required to secure, il possible,
the appointment iy the county court Of each
county, or hv the council or trustees of each
city or town. OF Onc Of more immigration
agents for such county, city, or town, who
shall also hc agents Of said Board in pro-
| curing all such Information and tIansactng
| such business rs may lie required by the
| Board within the limits Ct such county, city,
| OF town. Such agents are 10 be paid for
| their services by their respective counties,
| cities, or towns, either hy a percentage Oh
| all lands sold thcrciu. or i'll any other way
| ,lrclucd hest hy the authorities; and local
! agents are required tu c0nd!rt their business
| in accordance with tho rules and regulations
| prescribed tv Tie Beard.
Ii will ,c the duty Of the Board to procure
| Trustworthy statistics and information in re-
| :Glrl 10 tie population, the agricultural,
| mining. manufacturing, and commercial re-
>nuit,S OF the State, arranged lay counties,
cities. and towns, and embracing whatever
in tlr Judgment Of said Board mag he neccs.
Sary 10 Il proper knowledge and appreciation
pf the advantages cf cred ty this State 10 per
sons o; other ~" es and Of foreign countries
WHO may dC-'Ie to ch ngc their homes or to
invest their capital IN enterprises within this
Commonwealth. And it Is directed to pub
lsh and re GATE such information i'll such
manner as the Board may deem best calcu.
| lated to reach and influence the classes
sought 10 bc attracted to this State. All books
| and maps thus published are to be sold, III
| reasonable numbers, to any licensed real
estate aren't Of this State ut their actual cost.
The Board is authorized to appoint 4
clerk. with salary not 10 exceed s., 800 per
| Ia, ,l,.,ll l,n I A 4
| OF kccpiug.itS records and i full account OF
all lis expenditures.
ii MAY also establish an agency in the city
of Norfolk to have charge OF any Immigrant
depot which may be there organized by said
Board. acting Tor itself or in conjunction
with similar boards Of other States, under
such rules and regulations us said Board OF
boards may prescribe, in order to secure and
protect the rights and interests Of ilnmi
| grants ard settlers and their families. To aC
| III he support and maintenance OF the depot
and agrncy 1T Norfolk, 4 c:!litation tax OF ::
vii! hC imposed on every passenger over The
age of twelve years landed from any port he
yord the limits OF The United States, and tht
master or owner or conSigncc OF the ycssc
landing such passenger is made liable foI
said tax or port-ducs, which may be recoy
cred bv suit or warrant at the instance ant
in the name of the Board or its agents al
| Norfolk.
The Beard is to fix the salary of such agent
which shall not exceed the sum of II 200
such AGENT to he directly responsible to salt
Board and removable at its pleasure. TIN
funds arising from tie poIt-ducS are to b.
raid into the treasury TO the credit Of tn
Board and kept separate from the approprl;l
ton TO he made by the General Assembly
and Shall be applied exclusively TO deirty tn
expenses of the depot and any hospital con
nccled Herewith. 4 register is required t.
he kept by said agent Of the name, age, sex
and nationality (?) of all passengers so taxed
with the date of their arrival, and the nam
which they came.
The agent, under the directions Of sait
Board, may also arrange with suitable per
sons for the accommodation and entertain
ment of immigrants and settlers at the place
of landing until they are ready to proceed tc
their destination. but at the expense Of sucl
immigrants and settlers, every prccautiol
being used to prevent their being imposed
upon or nlaltrcated.
| The Board is authorized to make any nr.
rangemcnt deemed fair and judicious with
licensed land agents and others for the re-
gistry in its Office of real estate and other
property offered for sale, and may prescribe
| such rules ana regulations to facilitate the
| purchase and settlement of such lands rs may
lie just and best calculated to facilitate the
| objects Of said Board, and may require, for
the purpose of deiraying the expenses of the
Board, the payment to it OF a fixed or sradu-
atcd percentage upon all sales effected through
its instrumentality, care being taken that
such arrangement shall be just and fair to all
parties concerned and to all sections OF the
| State.
The committee recommends an appropri-
| alton of thirty thousand dollars, payable
upon the warrants Of the Auditor Of Public
| Accounts upon the Treasurer of the State,
| out Of any money in the treasury not other
| wise appropriated, and the Board not to
have the power to make its expenditures on
any account whatever to exceed the said APP
preparation.
The Board is also given power to appoint
such domestic and foreign agencies rs it may
find necessary in the conduct Of its business,
and mu st make such rules and regulations
ia regard to such agencies and their compell-
sation as it deems advisable.
The bill proposed will be in force from its
passage,