The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-18
THE WARDS ISLAND TROUBLE
The Commissioners or Emigration and
the Church Wards Island-Thc
Counsel TO the Commissioners Rises 60
Explain.

The Com misstoners or Emigration and
the Church Wards Island-Tho.
Counsel TO the Commissioners Rises 60
Explain. tnr
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:- stk
Several articles have appeared in the HERALD
lately charging the Commissioners or Emigration
with an attempt or intention to interfere with the
rights OF Catholics to use their church on Wards
Island. There has been either gross msappre-
hension or misrepresentation Of the facts. The
simple state OF the case is this THE old Commits
sioners, about year ago, at an expcnse,of over
thirty thousand dollars. erected building on
Wards Island with the common funds OF the Com
mission, and, when 1t was finished, dedicated
1t to the exclusive use OF the Roman Catholics
anu 1t was s0lennly cOnsecrated as a Roman Cath
oi,c churcn acc9rd,ng 10 the ceremonies Of that
whether they had the right under the law to make
sucn q disposition OF the funds OF the Commission:
and as counsel o. the Board, advised that they had
no legal right To erect church building for the ex-
elusive use Of any sect. Under such circumstances
to administer the duties OF their once according
to law. They are advised that il is unlawful to
permit the exclusive use OF any building IN their
Mr.. Stevenson, as chairman, and the other
members OF the Wards Island Committee nave the
immediate control OF and responsibility for the use
OF the buildings on Wards Island They found this
church unlaw1uly set apart for the exclusive use
the Israeite denied the common right of worshfn
IN house erected on property given by the State
and paid for out OF public funds entrusted to the
Commissioners Tor the common use OF the sick and
destitute emigrants, irrespective Of their creed or
nationality. What did they dor They simply con-
ferred with the priest to ascertain whether there
could not be an amicabe arrangement by which
all other sects ana creeds who desired could have
their equal rights with the Catholic to worship
recognized.
The talk about Catholic head money is all a sham
the supreme Court OF the United states long since
decided that the State could not impose what Is
generally styled head money tax on emigration
but that the state had right to REQUIRE the
owners Of cmigrant vessels to give bonds to in
demniIy the State against the burden OF pauperism
which accompanies emigration, and that she might
receive from the owners OF the vessels stipulated
amount IN lieu OF these bonds. and thus the State
assumes what would otherwise be the RESPONSE
bity OF the shipowners.
thus the snipowner or consignee paws the state
an amount equal to 81 so on each emqrant, and
the state for tilis assumes the care and mante
nance OF the emgrant when sick or destitute for
nve years. Like the coaling and victualling and
manning OF the ship, this money is an element in
estimating the cost Of transporting the emigrant
and when he buys his ticket he pays it Just as he
pays all the other expenses OF the ship, but not
otherwise. WILLIAM S. HILLYER,
Counsel to Commissioners OF Emigration.