The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-18
THE COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRA.
TON,


Right Thing Mt the Wrong Time-Thc
Irish and German Immigrant Aid So
cieties Driven on the Field.
The Board OF Commissioners OF Emigration met
yesterday afternoon at two O'Clock. The follow
ing members were present:-Henry A. Hurlburt
George Starr, George w. Quintard. George j. For
rest, Edmund stephenson, Sgismund Kaufman,
James Lynch. The last two gentlemen are er
oDscio members OF the Board, In virtue OF their
being. respectively, Presidents OF the Irish Emf
grafton Society and the German Society. The
President, Mr. Hurlburt, was in the chair.
Alter adopting the minutes Of the last meeting
and hearing the report OF the Wards Island Com
mittee Mr.. Hurlburt arose and read paper TO
draw the attention OF the Board to a letter over
the signature OF Mr.. Willy walach, that had
been published in a city journal of the 10th INST
In that letter 1t was made to appear that the
present Board OF Commissioners are ''tncned to
DISCOURAGE IMMIGRATION FROM GERMANY
and TO revive the obnoxious and narrow minded
Know Nothing agitation.n MIR. wanach cast re-
Elections upon the Board in saying that it was
''under the control of professional politicians who
wanted every Office Tor their own friends and
partisans." Mr.. Hurlburt hurled back this
charge as unworthy OF any gentleman who has
ever occupied so responsible position as that of
Commissioner Of Emigration, and wanted this
this Board No previous Board had done much to-
wards settling the South with German immigrants
as the present. German clergyman Mr.. Robert
Newman had been employed since November last,
and the result OF his labOrs was that the passages
of 3l4 persons had been paid TO South Carolina,
one OF the States which eX-Commissioner " allach
wanted to make it appear had been overlooked.
The speaker was never q Know Nothing, and had
'no prejudice against any industrious foreigner OF
any nationality" The present Board is the crea-
ton OF last years legislation. 1t had been formed
in compliance with demands for reform. The Old
Board it was that had been contaminated by
CONTACT WITH THE TAMMANY RING,
and their appointees were no better than they
ought to be. They were, for the most part, Ring
democrats. Changes were expected at the hands
OF this Board but not such would make it parti-
san. For these changes the Commissioners, who
possessed the right to vote upon appointments
and removals, were responsible, not the two
Presidents (of emigration societies, for they were
denied the right of voting upon such questions
This is not an Irish, English, German, French or
foreign Board, but one OF oflcers OF the State OF
New York. TO protect and care for emigrants Of all
nationatles, and 1t should do its duty such.
After hearing the above paper read through Mr..
Lynch observed that he thought reflections touch
ing party politics should not be renewed
Mr.. Kaufman expressed his urgent wish TO be
relieved from the Castle Garden Committee He
vehemently affirmed that Wallach's statements
as to the insults, sneers and unjust treatment Of
German immigrants and their representatives by
the new Board
WERE PERFECTLY WELL FOUNDED
Mr.. Starr believed that the falling of of German
immigration is more due to the late panic and re-
cent advance of the price OF labor in Europe than
Mr.. Lynch said that reference had been made to
snecursts. There were no slnecurists OF any &C
did not amount to more than 200 or 81 600,
thing not worth while mentioning. There had
a maep what ami 1he Be sd n
the contrary. The speaker thought that it was
hardship the way IN which Catholics had been
treated with regard to
A FEW BUCKETS OF COAL
consigned for their place Of prayer but as ior MIN.
Se nad SAID his ~ 1 s5s
An animated discussion now ensued between
Messrs. Stephenson and Lynch with regard to the
Irisn and German elements about Castle Garden;
especially with reference to sending the 3l4 Ger
man immigrants TO South Carolina, without giving
any OF the Irish an opportunity OF proftIng by the
chance. 49,; - s-.. s-a.-~'. - -
adopted by w1ica the Keepers of boarding houses
from the buildings and offices about Castle Garden,
without permission from the Board.
At the suggestion OF Mr. Starr resolution was
adopted whereby August Wagner was appointed
telegrapnist to the commission, at salary of $685.
per annum.
A resolution was adopted for the purpose OF re-
gnestlng the Dock Commissioners TO repair the
as 1t is in a ruinous condition.
Mr.. Kaufmann said that the flooring Of the ro-
address 70 be sent TO the three principal railroad
companies who are mainly benefited by the use OF
it, requesting them to do the necessary repairs.
MIR. Lynch saw the commission running into
debt. There is no extravaganza in the Board ex-
cepting couple of little slnecures Of $1,000 or
$4,000 year. The 81 80 head money from the i'm
migrants Is not at all sufficient, and
THE sINEws OF WAR MUST BE SOUGHT IN ALBANY.
The Board cannot exist as it is to-day and, If 1t
and take the whole matter in hand.
Mr.. starr said the commission was accused OF
being extravagant, and that tpe too numerous en-
poyes were receiving very high salaries. Some.
thing should be done to satisfy public opinion.
There are times when the employees, If not entirely
ide, are at least but partially employed. He
wanted to abolish some positions and reduce the
Mr.. Kaufman thought that while it is possible
some OF the Officers may do little in the depths OF
two or three winter months, 1t did not therefore
follow that these employees should be dismissed.
There are doubtless removals and reductions Of
expenses that could be made with advantage to
the Board, out they should be carried out in q
proper time and manner.
Mr. starr moved that the services OF E. B.
Quincy, clerk OF Wards Island Committee, be dis
pensed with.
This was the signal for an explosion Of protests
from Messrs. Lynch and Kauimann who, together
with Mr.. Forrest, got up grabbed their umbrellas
and overcoats, and
LEFT THE MEETING ROOM
remarking as they ala so that the Board had now
NO working quorum present.
The lour remaining Commissioners decided that
there was quorum present Mr.. Starr then called
Tor the previous question: and under Its operation
the following removals and changes were unanl-
mously made, this gentleman moving the changes
in the Castle Garden department and Mr.. stephen
son those OF Wards Island:-
The services OF E. B. Quincy, clerk Of the Wards
Island Committee, were dispensed with.
Mr.. Rice, clerk, removed.
X. SnOburn, clerk, dismissed.
Alexander Mcdonald, clerk Of the Irish Emgra.
ton Society, discharged.
John ID. Marcellus, messenger OF the Telegraph
Bureau, discharged.
Deputy superintendent Lorenzo Contador, dis
charged.
The services OF Charles Kuckenbock, clerk of the
Labor Bureau, were dispensed with.
John Brand, letter and notice clerk discharged.
John A. stanton, chief clerk of Wards Island
Bureau, discharged.
John J. Rudy, clerk OF the Landing Bureau, dis.
charged.
The salary of Nicholas Fitzpatrick was ordered
to be 1920 per annum instead of 81, 500, as or-
merly. This man mas been employed in the Com
mission Tor the last twenty-f years.
The salary OF George Gardiner, chief clerk of