The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-06
Albany. N.Y., Feb. 8. 1874.


ALBANY. N. Y, Feb. s, 1874
An important meeting OF the Joint Committee
on Commerce and Navigation or both houses was
held IN the Senate chamber this evening. Com
missloners OF Emigration James Lynch and George
starr, and e. D. Webster, Superintendent, and ii.
J. Jackson. Secretary OF the Board of Emigration
Commissioners, were present.
Senator King asked # there was any party
present opposed to the petition OF the Commits
sioners OF Emigration asking for an increase Of
head money to 81.
No person replying Commissioner Lynch was
asked TO proceed with his argument on behalf OF
the Commissioners. He said he appeared to
answer any questions which the committee desired
70 ask. He Is President Of the Irish Emf
grafton Society and er-oDicfo member OF
the Board OF Commissioners OF Emigra-
tOn, and has served for over four
years, and felt free to assert that the present
Board performed their duties faithfully, conscien-
tt0usly and economically. They found, what their
predecessors well knew, that the Communication
tax OF 81 so, currency, was not enough to pay the
necessary expenses OF the institution The CON-
mutation fee has never been less than ii 5o Dur
ING Jour years, from 1867 10 1871, it was 81 50
The latter amount was found to exceed current
necessities and the Board, not wishing to accumu-
late CAPITAL and believing that by economy they
nsght be able TO carry on the work at 81 so, pc.
ritloned the Legislature to reduce the commute
ton per cGnita TO that amount tSee pages and
g. report for ls70.) This action was brought abo ut
alter consultation between committee
OF the Board and representatives OF the
Garden in ISL At that interview it was prom
ised by the representative OF the steamship CON-
panies that II they could run their steamers at
less expense they would carry passengers cheaper.
After the reduction OF 81 the price OF steerag e
passage was not lowered, nor has it been to this
been entirely to The profit of the COM
panIes, VINO continue TO collect 81 so each
ner IN which $4,000 OF their earnings OF 1871 and
part OF 1872 were used may be learned from the
testimony given before the Assembly Committee Of
carrying emgrants is very profitable; One;
half the present sum even would well
pay the steamship owners The British steamship
lines are combined in the monopoly, under the title
Of the North Atlantic Steam Tra1ic Conference.
lines owning seventy-lour steamers, averaging
1000 1000, tons each nn, and valued at 100000 ooo
up the prices OF passage were governed
by fair competition. In the winter OF
ence, passages tell TO SIS and under; but the
broken combination was quickly perfected. when
sengeIs are carried from Europe at cheaper rates
70 Boston and Philadelphia, but the people from
e ev od GoTn Siverts come ro@ new nv ,a
means. The institutions OF the commissioners OF
Emigration are as well known in Europe as they
are In the United states. There Is no establish
ment in the world ike Castle Garden; neither are
there hospitals for the sick or places OF refuge Tor
the destitute equal to those on Wards Island.
They institutions that belong to the emigrants
VINO arrive in New York. established and paid
snip lines we're in EXISTENCE snd Wacn
continue to be maintained with the emgrants'
own money: me entrants well know that II they
20 to any other port they VIII find no institutions
OF their own. The charity hospital or the paupeI
county house viii be the only refage for the sick
"A aaft inn IN nor nrinfr fha
sion to S. which was The rate from 1s5;
70 1867, when it was made 81 so, and remained Sc
emit amount (Which is not enough. win divert the
passenger business from New York is TO utter al
rae know " wen bs
70 Boston and Philadephia than they are
% New York They know D well that the
only to New York. They also know that the Inman
line, which was started to run between Liverpool
and Philadelphia gave up the latter city. where
no head money was charged, and came TO
New York, where head money was at all
times charged. More than eighty per cent
OF all the European emigrants to the
United States come by way OF New York although
chief attraction IS the emgration
the State, with Its Observation-Disclosures. From
early ooyhood have been an attentive observer OF
the progress OF emigration to New York, especially
OF Irish emigration. l know how the emf
grants were treated on the wharves OF New York
prey to the vampires OF the city and could not be
saved even by the best efforts OF the municipal
old and ilustrious Irish Emigrant Society
did its work as well as 1t could in those days,
but the labor was too great and mainly by its
and established in 1s47 Since that time there have
come to New York, under the protection OF the
Commissioners, 5,29s, 2o7 persons, OF whom 1885,
S42 were natives OF Ireland. In paying their pass
ages they all paid the head money. and
70 be regarded as paupers in America.
Within 1--WE years after landing in New York,
they had right to admission TO Wards Island.
They knew it to be their refuge paid for with their
stitution so continued. They do not want state
or county aid. They want to be independ-
ent, and therefore wish the State to COM
small advance asked to enable the
Commissioners to pay the current expenses. Irish
immigration has not fallen OF. The arrivals in 1873
were 90, I45, being the highest number reached IN
any year since 1865. 1t Is quite probable that lmmi
grafton will be kept up this year, not only from
Ireland. but from Great Britain and the
this Is the only try III the world this day where
civil and religious liberty can be enjoyed to tue
In reply to other questions from Senators King
and Ganson, Mr.. Lynch stated that the present in.
debtedness OF the Board is about 100000, over
oDe-half the amount being left as legacy by the
previous Board. Mr.. Lynch asked that prompt &C.
ton be taken by the Legislature TO relieve the
Henry Nicol asked postponement OF action on
oehalf OF the Anchor line, that 1t may have an OPP.
portunlty OF replying to Mr.. Lynch. He was not
prepared TO answer any OF the statements made
George c. Bennett, of Brooklyn, said the steam.
snip lines mad no defence. They admitted taking
600 to Albany Tor the purpose OF bribng egisla
tors in the year 1872
At this point the Commissioners retired, when
the committee proceeded with the hearing OF
matters relative TO the harbor and docks OF New
York.
CONSOLIDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA COAL
COMPANIES.