The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-12
BELGIUM.

BRUssELs March ID, 1874
have to thank the American Minister AT Brns-
sells Tor the following draft OF bin for the better
protection OF emigrants, which will shortly pass
into the laws OF Belgium
ARTICLE Mo person will henceforth be al
Belgium a. Of 70 snip emsrants rom Belgian ports
without authority from the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
ARr a--Tnis authority win be only granted on
condition that sufficient guarantees offered for
the exact fulhiment OF all obligations incurred
towards the said elnigrants and upon payment Of
premiums Of insurance upon the vessels intended
to convey them TO their destination.
ART. 3.-Emigrati0n agents viii be required to
insure at their own expense aud in the interests
OF the emigrants, all possible loss and damage
which may arise rom their failure TO perform Their
contracts OF to deposit sum equivalent to the
amount OF such Insurance.
ART. 4.-Certain axed administrative rules win
be published de terminfng-
First-The conditions under which the authority
from the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs viii
be granted 10 emigration agents. -
Second-rhe cases IN which such authority VIII
be cancelled
and the manner 10 which it must be given.
F0urth-The manner in which Inspections ana
examinations into everything which concerns
emigration Will be conducted
FJ1n-Tne accommodation and provisions neces-
sary In emfgrans vessels.
SiTu-rhe space reserved ior eaeh passenger ana
the facilities Tor their embarkatiOn and landing.
Sepefth-The oDigations incumbent upon agents
duly authorized and upon captains Of emigrant
Eigntn-The conditions OF insurance and the
amount OF the deposit required to replace such In
Ninin-The manner in which enhgrant. ships
win be inspected before their departure. In the
manner already prescribed by the "oode Oh Com
merce.n
delivered declaring that all the provisions OF the
law have been compiled with.
ART. 5.-Emigranls prevented rom einbarking BY
reason or any serious or contagious maiady
properly certtned are entitled TO receive back the
The price OF the passage must he also returned
to every member OF the emigranps family who re-
mains behind with him.
OF port upon the das fixed by contract the eniigra-
ton agents must pay an indemnity 60 each emf
grant or every days delay, TO meet ms expenses
on shore; the said indemnity to be fixed by a
public administrative regulation.
II the delay should exceed ten days and II the
emigration agent has not In the meantime pro.
yided any other means OF transport under the same
conditions as those already liked by contract the
declaration made before the Maritime Commis-
sIoner and Obtain the restitution OF the price paid
for his passage, without prejudice to his claim Tor
Nevertheless, If the emgrant vessel is delayed
by armed f0rce duly certified by the Maritime CON-
missioner the emigrant may not annu his con-
tract require the restitution Oh the price paid
for his passage nor make any claim for damages,
provided ne fs boarded and lodged at the expense
OF the emigration agent.
All stipulations and agreements contrary to tue
tenor OF this article are null and void IN law.
ART. 7.-Emigration agents are responsible for
the transport VI emgrauts TO the place OF their
destination, as fixed by contract.
Enigrants must be conveyed to the place OF their
destination by the most direct route, unless
special stipulation is made with them 10 the con-
trary.
In case OF any voluntary OF involuntary delay
| noon the voyage emigrants must be lodged and
provided on BOARD the Ship or Indemnided for the
! cost OF their board and lodging ashore.
| In OF sAipwreck or other disaster at sea,
! which may prevent the ship from continuing her
voyage, the emigration agent is bound to provide,
at his own expense, for the transport OF the emil
! grants 10 the place Of their destination.
| ART. SIN every case where emigration agents
| have not fulfilled their engagements toward emf
or his deputy VIII pay the lndemnities claimed out
OF the caution money, or guarantees deposited by
the AGENTS subject 70 appeal In cases OF dispute,
ART 9.-Every inract0n OF articles and 3, Of
the present law Will be punishable by flne OF not
less than fifty francs nor more than 5000 francs.
Every lnraciion OF the rules laid down by the
pubic administration charged with the execution
OF the present law will be punished by fine OF not
less than twenty-five francs or more than 900
| francs.
| maximum OF these fines will be doubled
ART. 10-Infractions of the present law may be
| certIfed-
1 by all officers OF the judicial police.
In foreign ports. on board Belgian vessels by the
resident Belgian Consul.
| The transport OF emlgrants under the Belgian nag
! has hitherto been regulated only by few roya
| ordinances and ministerial instructions published
At various periods; and, Notwithstanding all the
care taken by the Belgian government tor the
protection OF emigrants, experience has amply
demonstrated the necessity for some more per-
manent and complete law Affecting their interests.
A commission was therefore appointed some
time ago to inquire infinitely into the subject; and
| this commission has now terminated its labors.
| The government has thus been enabled to take
| mp the question, and the result has been that
| Count D'Aspremont-Lynden Minister Tor Foreign
Ycu,
Legislature, with all the support which it can de-
! rive rom the party In power ttt
Its provisions are very simple and in perfect
conformity with the laws already existing IN other
countries The Belgian governments has Justly
considered that the transport Of cfnigrana is not
an ordinary branch OF trade which could be entirely
abandoned TO private enterprise, and, moved by
considerations OF justice and humanity, IL has re-
CURED that hencelorth all dealings with emigrants
should be placed under State supervision. Emf
grafton agents Will be obliged to furnish substan.
tial guarantees and to deposit caution money for
the iulnment or their engagements before they
Will be granted authority 20 carry on their bust
ness. On the other hand the emGrants will be
saved rom loss and HARM we'll as from lll-treat
ment ana want, which have been 80 often inflicted
on them by greedy aud INSCRIPTIONS people. This
law will Immediately receive the lyaI assent, and
probably do great deal to increase the present
active emigration from Antwerp.
The port OF Antwerp Is about to be much en-
larged and improved. for 1t has become one of the
principal channels through which the great leu.
/ tonic nood Is ever flowing to the United States.
About ten per cent Of the German emigran
| trade is now taken up at Antwerp. The folio wing
statement, compiled from oalcial returns for 1872
| which are the latest accessible up to the presen
! time show the exact number OF emigrants wht
! embarked for the United States under the Belgian
nag during that year,
| Germans. ..........................7, 49,
Relp1ans Observation-Disclosures. 80. 65
Dutch Observation-Disclosures. 60
Luxemturgers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 35
Italians ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. .. 2s
Austrtans. Observation-Disclosures. IA
Swiss Observation-Disclosures. ~
i lsrcn