National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-16

NIT. NnnN0F. OF MlEulkNn, WHO IN Inc huAIOI |
Of the bill for the better protection Of imml- |
grants, will endeayor to place II upon itS |
passage on Wednesday next. As 1t IL a
measure Of more than usual importance, we
present herewith a synopsis Of IL history and !
A statement of Its leading proylsions
Az far back as 1855 Congress endeavored to
remedy the evils Of oyerorowdlng In the steer
age. Il enacted that no less than sixteen
SQUARE feet Of space shall be
allowed 10 each adult passenger; but no at
tention was paid to the law by ship-owners,
and repeated violations were reported by Gus
toms officers. The Treasury Department, on
attempting to enforce the provisions Of said
act was met by an adverse decision In the
United States district court, where II was
shown that technical defects existed which
defeated the operation Of the act.
Daring the late war the tide Of immigration
greatly diminished, and as tho entire energies
Of the Government were concentrated for the
preservation Of the national life, no effort was
made TO remedy the defects In the statute Of
1855. An effort was made by Secretary Ne
Culloch, during President Johnsons admins
tration, TO procure the needful legislative ac-
ton, and bill was drafted for that purpose,
but, owing to the Impea chmsnt excitement, aud
to the general dlstrust existing between the
legislative and executive departments, no
notice was taken Of the project by either
house Of Congress.
Official reports from the custom-housc off,
GERS having been received, which showed nu-
merous violations Of the statute of 1855, Sec
Rotary Boutwell, sent a competent agent to
Europe and to New York to investigate the
entire question, so that any new law that
might he drafted should cover all practical
points essential to complete protection.
On his return the agent made a report,
which was printed by the Department and
copy sent to each member Of Congress Early
at the last session Mr.. Conger, who represents
the port port Huron) where the third largest
number flmmigrantsa arrives annually drafted
and introduced bill very similar to the one
now pending. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Commerce, and by IL fully con-
sidered and Mr.. Congcr was authorized to
report II TO the House with sundry amend
menta. The bill was reported and recon-
mitted, and q motion to reconsider entered
with view Of calling il up for action as soon
AZ A suitable opportunity presented itself.
On the 18th Of May last the President, who
had already alluded to the subject in his an
nual message. scnt a special message 20 both
Houses. urging speedy legislative action upon
| this subject in his usual unostsntatious but
terse manner, and transmitting the report Of
the Treasury agent.
I'm June last among the resolutions adopted
by the Republican national convention was
one pledging the party TO advance measure,
for the better protection of Immigrants, and
several hundred thousand pamphlets wer,
circulated, printed both in the English ant
German languages, entitled 'Thc Republican
party-the Protector of the Immigrant,
which appealed to the people, and particu
larly to our adopted citizens, for Tenewa
of political confidence on account Of the In
terest taken BY the President In the welfar
Of the immigrant.
Mr.. Conger's bill has lately again been re
vived, both by himself and by officers Of tn
Treasury Department and more than ordi
nary pains have been taken to perfect tn
system. Time and practical trial will un
doubtedly suggest further amendments, AM
an attempt to provide for every possible con
tngency would have rendered the bill to-
cumbersome and lengthy to be managerial
before parliamentary body like the HOus
of Representatives.
We herewith submit synopsis Of It's mos
important provisions: Section one provide
for the Organization Of bureau, having aI
the usual powers Of such an organization
and provides further that the commissions
Of immigration shall have no pecunlary In
terest, directly or indirectly, In any railway
steamship or transportation company, nor II
the settlement Of tracts Of wild lands"
Sections two and three provide for tn
penalty to be Incurred for the violation Of tn
act by the steamship companies; and ais,
that they shall pay one dollar in lieu o
all State taxes for each steerage passengc
landed, which money shall be used In defray
ing the expenses Of the bureau and for IN,
sole benefit Of immigrants. The commits
sloner Of immigration Is authorized In anothe
section to contract with any existing Stat
commission for the care of immigrants a
any particular port; for II, for instance, tn
Castle Garden commission Is placed In prope
, hands, there Is no disposition to supersede
! as q local Institution.
Sections four and five provide for the In
/ spection Of the vessels by officers understand
ing, II practicable, the language spoken b
the immigrants, and the duties Of these OIL
GERS among others shall he TO report any viola
ton Of this act and to aid lmmIprants 10 en-
force their rights.
Section six provides for courts Of sumnar
Jurisdiction to the amount Of a fine Of slO(
These emigrant commissioner courts sba