New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-20
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE EMIGRATION COMMISSION.

THE EMIGRATION COMMISSION.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE of
Observation-Disclosures OF EN-surERiN-
TENDENr AND PURCHASING AGENT GAKREI
BERGEN AND SECRETARY JACKSON.
The first and principal witness yesterday be-
fore the Legislative Committee appointed to investigate
the Emigration and Quarantine Commissions was Garret
Bergen lie testified that from June 23. 1878 to Jan T.
1875 he acted treasurer, and from Nov 20, 1879 rs
general purchaser Of the Emigration Commission. lie
Informed time to time, by acquisitions from
the Superintendent Wards Island, that supplies were
needed and then it his habit TO 40 into the market
and buy them. This did not include meat
and miK which furnished for the year
by persons who contracted TO furnish those articles after
proposals had been invited by advertisements Except
on one occasion, he bought the -four from HOLSTER
Chamberlin, and anticipating an advance ator 'he
canals closed. usually laid in Winters stock m the
Spring At such times he bought large quantities Inc
-four to be delivered as needed at speched pice
1t Invariably occurred, said Mr. Bergen th"t the market
prices the time OF delivery were In advance OF ,e
contract price sellers would have been glad enough
20 have reacindcd the contracts He purchased three
qualities OF -four. The drugs were usually purchased OF
McKesson a. Robbins the dry goods Of Tent Grisw"io
Co.. groceries of Schuyler, Son ~ CO. Inc Witness
said that he always In the market ana utehheo 10
purchase he could do TO the best advantage put
usually found that the persons named sold the cheapest
articles lie purchased coal also by direction OF the
Commissioners, and got it from the Delaware, larka-
wanna and Western Coal Company, the pennsylvania
Gas Coal Company, and other dealers In Octooe 1914
he made a contract with John C. Scott TOT large Pa
tty of coal. His contracts for coal were usually H"o III
the Fail Of the year From Jan. to Dec 81 ls|4,
sf9li7 So were paid for coal, at IN average OF
SO a ton A.semblyman vosburg asked the witness
whether could not have obtained coal cheaper nc
had contracted Tor what needed In the spring oi 'o
year. ms nc had found that by purchasing IN APRIL May!
or June he could save from 81 to II 80 ton MI Der
gen REPLIED that he might have done So but explained
that he aced as directed by the Commissioners ASSEM-
blyman Ayord said that in his own town ne folhd nc
could save large amount by purchasing coal Tor his IN
Gyidla use in the Spring and he Thought tk't the rune
would apply in This city. The witness admitted the iaot
but said that il was q matter which was regulated eh
trey y the Commissioners and for which he was not re-
sponshle reply question: Mr. Bergen SAID that the
result of his ppIeIcc member for many years OF
the BROOKLYN Board of Education, convinced Nun that
the contract system an utter failure lie pceNe"
that, with honest purchaser, COMMISSIONS ana cor
pnr.te bodies would save money by having goods pr
chased in the open market "If" said Mr. Vosbureh
adj ressing the witness. u" is considered good policy To
advertise for proposals milk and meat and award the
contract the lowest bidder, why does not the rue
apply 10 purchase Of coal groceries, dry goods ana
other articles 4" Mr.. Bergen replied that nc saw no fe
son WHY IL should not but siil believed that 1t "ond he
better 10 buy everything In ie open market Several
onestions were then asked him By the members Of the
Committee and to these his answers we're substantially
o. follows:
think since first assumed office in the Commission,
the conduct Of affairs has advanced from good IT, pfci
Ticre was undoubtedly, at first, 200 many employees
think there 10 clerks in the Financial Department.
Upon ny recommendation the Commissioners nuaiy --
chnrgcd all cxccp one Tho eysicm OF dscharging
pNoVeS las however, until the ioItc mas ne.n i
months mad quate do not understand now Tue MolS
can be performed with the few persons now employed.
The TACT is the reduction cannot be made IN ?root,"h
to the falling of in Immigration. IL requires a. nncl
clerical force to take care 81 70 ~ of 100 ngfs tc
bureau r,H S iyba her there Is Itti or much
work to do II computed before lcft me Depart
mcnt that according to tie estimated arrivals thr year
which we PLACID at 15OO0O-ii does not lock now ~ II
they would amount TO mch more thin half thit number
to support the Commission during the year Under
stand that in the years 1874 and 1872 the opro,
to $3.50 spTang mainly from the steamship companies
the agents OF which a Albany, notably bernard discern
and Mr Rudd lObbcd sanlly 10 defeat The PASSAGE
OF the Relief bill TIE increase in the head money VIII
not affect slightest degree Immigration to this port
When the reduction made from g 30 to ~ Do the
nuni of arrivals not increased, and to have Kept
taricd grafton. Railroad e0mp ttCn VIII not induce
immigrants 10 20 Philadelphia or Baltimore, because
around the Immigrant here. 60 long The Commis-
soIlrls look the foreigner for him. protect
him against pundcrcs, and put Their sros arm around
him. he viii come to ms port, ana shond
IKE The Committee t TO- take o, notice ., OF t t1
head money. 1t is included in the passage money,
which is The same now as It %as Tnen e TAX n ws no
difference in their prices when tue reduction was made,
claim to feel pity for who have been benefited by
reduction When purchaser, never bought at the
request in maOn Of amy Of the Commissioners at any
particular Place The sellers had 50 far rs know, no
business relations with any Of them made purchases
TOR the Department Just the same az | would do Tor
myself although, Tor my own PRIV aeuso, never bought
anything Of any OF the persons who supplied the Com
Tie Secretary, Mr. Jackson. then recalled. he
testified thar II the boarding house Aeerers lnosed noh
to legal proceedings, at the exleIse OF the Com
mission Boarding house keepers we've not allowed to
change money immigrants. Wnen immigrants land
they asked tie State, hut not the precise Locality
10 which they gong since 1877,
had declared their intention OF settling IN NeN-f0rk
State Regarding the financial condition OF the imm
grants, Mr.. jackson was not able to give exact
information. One he could state. parGy com
posed of 20 families when they landed had in their pos
session dIait for $4,000 In eases OF tiat hh me
Commissioners took Of the draft, getting II cished
speedily as possible without any ehaIge to me lnil
Endorsing the checks ~ .pealns o. tne deicency ~
tne deficiency had been $3.50 per month"; exclusive %
county claims for the next six months IL would proba
claims ana OF coal Inc actual deficiency would he about
100000 $4,000, which includes coal and every thing
appcrtiinng to the working OF the Commis sion. lie
i inat If they had = So instead Of 81 80 per-
u "Gu any Gencnry Up 10 July The dcisicncy, in
Guiding county clalins was a5oh TI0ooo. When ashed
CLAIMS exosbtnt not te witness ,ted that the
examined the claims, rejecting whatever
was cXOritant Tire Commissioners had not out
agent 10 make an examination in over year. The wit
ness stated that ey something's had appiicaton, for re-
lief immigrants VINO, having gone 10 Otncr states
lad rtWile,i The Commissioners IN slrn eases, gave
tie applicants WORK If they abe to work; if they
SICK they cared Tor them until they were wed
and then obtained employment for them. ZONE
| times temporary advances were made to these who
needed money There was no truth In the report that
Nagranth from other states, abit-boded men, came 10
| Castle Gardeh ana HNcl thtIc thr hsh"h Inc Winter
Inc immigrants WHO came here now a. compared IL in
teliieencc win thoss VINO came over when The tide Of
! Immigration was larger, were aoout equal. The Com
nlssOncrS when they were cOgnZint Oi the ltcts usI
ally returned cODvic or paupcIs 10 their native country
There was no rcIuislion al International law when re-
Quircd that the character OF me Immigrant shoud he