New-York tribune., 1873-04-19
THE EuIGRAT1oY COMMISSION.

The Commissioners or Emigration are no
part of the local government of New-YOrk-
yet they have been heretofore under the die
tation of the Ring, and have in their actions
as well as in their selection been Influenced
largely by local considerations. This is proper
in some respects for the protection of city
and State but it is unfortunate that political
issues have been permitted to affect the ap-
pointments Much of the ineffciency and
almost all the corruption of the Quarantine
and Emigration Boards are clearly traceable
to the fact that former Governors have per-
mitted such considerations to affect their ap-
pointments. We are glad to believe that Gov.
Dix appreciates the truth of this, and will
avoid like error in the selection of the new
Board soon to be appointed.
Heretofore, also, questions of religion and
of nationality have affected the selection Of
these Commissioners. The improperly Cf per-
mtting the first to interfere in affairs purely
of business and affecting thousands of every
faith and no faith, are too glaring to be dis
cussed. And yet much Of the discOrd among
the Commissioners of Emigration can he traced
to this very cause. If the nationality of the
Commissioners were to be taken into account
and this fact of itself exposes the fallacy of
making selections on the basis of representation
of the nationality of the emigrants. Heretofore
the Irish element has largely predeminated in
the Board, although the percentage of Irish I'M
migrants landing here is only 26 in 100, while
that of Germans is 46. But this prepOnder-
ance of Irish representation has been the
effect of local politics; not the Irish immi-
grants arriving here but the Irish vote poled
here has been represented in the Commission.
There can be no efficient Board not composed
of experienced and honest men irrespective OF
politics. nationality, and religion. 1t is
neither the principles, country, nor faith
of the immigrants with which the
Commissioners have to do. An expe-
rienced railway manager retired from
business, shipping merchant gone into other
lines, fnancier who has not managed to lose
his own money and can be trusted to manage
the funds of Others-these are the classes from
which the Emigration Commissioners should
be drawn. Any other principle of selection
will give US a Board as divided as the pres
ent. We would add. that it would probably
be as inefficient were it not that Mr. Wallach
and one or two others make the present Com
mission respectable as working body.
Gov. Dix has lately been advised from all
sources as to his appointments, and any num-
Der of names of fitting persons have been
suggested to him. We have no suggestions
to offer him, save these general ones, and
these will readily commend themselves to his
good sense. But we may be pardoned if we
warn him against some of the most officious
of his advisers Two very shrewd operators
who have organized sham Emigration Society
which we expose in another part of this paper
have lately consulted with him as to the
pending appointments. These men have de-
ceived him and great many others, and have
managed under pretense of aiding immigrants,
to obtain considerable sums from the charitably
disposed The Society they pretend to represent
is not known to any reputable Germans; the
Commissioners of Emigration know nothing
of their operations in aid of immigrants, and
our careful Investigations show the two man
ayers 10 be cheats. We commend them to the
tender merces of the police, and suggest that
swindc m transparent as that which they
conduct ought 10 be summarily dealt with:
The Commissioners of Emigration owe II TO
the immigrants as well as TO themselves TO IN
yestigate this concern and expose at home
and abroad the deceptive purposes OF the men
who conduct 1t. In the meantime we do this
latter duty for them. The exposure seems
sufficient tJ warn all persons against their ap-
pealS and arts; il, however, tins be not
enough, other transactions of the same nature
and disreputabe careers in other localities
will be made public For them the wisest
alternative IL to-emigrate.