National Republican., 1873-01-07
PRnrRCrInN Tn R,IInRANrs-

The commissioners OF emigration OF New
York city have determined, as was to be ex-
pected, to set every machinery to work to
defeat Mr.. Conger's bill, because II IL de-
signed to take the control Of immigration out
Of their hands. To enable the friends Of the
bill to see clearly the reasons for the speedy
passage Of the bill the following facts are set
forth,
First. II Is admitted that the New York
State commissioners cannot afford the emf
grants any remedy whatever in case Of abuse
on ship-board. Complaints Of bad food and
rough treatment and Of overerowdlng have
been made very often, and testimony taken,
but the commissioners have found the case
beyond their power and Jurisdiction.
Secondly. II is admitted that a. soon "a
the emlgrant passes beyond the confines Of
Castle Garden he is-beyond the Jurisdiction
OF the commissioners. And IL IL also fact
that nine tenths Of the emlgranp arriving at
New York leave the jurisdiction Of the Castle
Garden commission within twenty -four hours.
Third. II ls also admitted that Immigrants
arrive In large numbers ut Port Huron,
(6O,OoO,) at Baltimore, and other ports whore
no State commission has been organised, and
where they have no protection whatever.
Nor does any one look after their interests
At intermediate points like Buffalo, Detroit,
Chicago, &c.
Fourth. Every immigrant landed at New
York ls taxed el.50-the entire Income Of
the Board Of Immigration for the past year
having been toSo, 600 This sum Is expended
for the benefit Of the very few emlgrants who
are lmpecunlous and who are compelled TO
remain at Wards island.
Fifth. The last New York Legislature made
avery slight examination only Into the affairs
Of the commission, and confined lts examina-
tons exclusively to the commissioners them
selves, and to Mr.. Canerly, the superintend-
ent. The testimony, however, was sufficient
to induce the Legislature Of last year, that
was not oyermuch given To reform, to abolish
the commission; but the Governor pocketed
the bill, and thus they were retained In Office.
Sixth. The investigation showed that every
part OF the management was characterized
by prodigality Of expenditures and extreme
carelessncss, II not criminality. The follow
ing are few Of the facts elected.
Mr.. King, relative Of Mr.. Tweed, was the
purchasing agent" for the commission until
January l, 1872. II was admitted that through
false invoices and bills the commission loat
1000 annually, yet no attempt was made TO
dlsplace him until Tweed's Influence had beep
destroyed, nor has there been made any At
tempt whatever 10 recover the money or to
punish the swindler.
Mr.. Casserly, the superintendent, and a
brother Of Senator Casserly, testified that a
few years since, when an attempt was made
n Tlana ka
to Mr.. Gonger's bill, Gen. Hillyer was sent to
Washington to defeat 1t. The expense was
only $4,000 The year before 1sTO) they spent
$1,000 at Albany. Their counsel were Pat
rick II. Jones aud Judge Waterbury. Here
are 5000 Of the poor immigrants money ex.
pended-not for his benefit but to secure i'm
munity from supervision and to rivet the
chains upon him go that he may continue to
DO swlndlcd.
The commission issues licenses to runners
to solicit passengers and to keepers Of board
ing houses, and number Of those are the
althiest holes In New York or anywhere. |
Some OF these men have been In prison. and |
even In the pcnitentiary. Nearly all Of them
keep places so vile that the stencil, even on
the sidewalks, Is intoerable, and vet they are
ehe "eu VIM nave stCufeu licenses TO solicit |
passengers and to fleece the strangers whom |
they take In.
Mr.. Nicholson, one OF the commissioner. |
testified that he paid out sl, 900 per year for |
cigars and lunches ~ for the commission |
ers and their friends. Here Is petty system
Of swindling indulged in by the commission
ers themselves. On the one hand Is the Door
emigrant taxed sl.5O for landing, on the
other are the commissioners wasting this |
money In cigars and liquors for lunches" |
Is conveniently substituted.
About s2OO 900 OF the surplus fund was
placed In the safe-keeping Of the Tammany |
Hall Savings Bank, and when Tammany |
bursted the bank suspended aud the money |
was lost Why was this money, when New |
York is full Of responsible banks, placed in |
this particular banki The commissioners |
haVo made no answer to this question, nor |
nave they attempted to make good the
money.
The above are but few Of the facts In re-
latlon to this commission. There are many |
other and even greater abuses, but as they
require explanation to be fully understood
FaaaFyR than for ff,enn.