The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-21
THE EMIGRATION INVESTIGATION.

HOW TEE HEAD MONEY REDUCTION WAS Eff
FEcrED-AN INVOLVED QUESTION TO The
"BALD EAGLE"
The Assembly Committee appointed to investt
gate the affairs OF the Emigration and Quarantine
departments met at CASTLE Garden yesterday
morning and resumed the WORK OF taking testl-
mony in regard TO the management OF the affairs
of the Commission or Emigration. Special atten-
tion was PAID TO the subject CT head money.
The first witness 0aiied was
Mr.. JOHN 8. WILLIAMS,
OF the nrm OF Williams & Guion. he said he re-
membered having been notified some time in
1871 to attend conference with tue Commis-
soners OF Emigration; he did NOT at the time
know what the conference was for, but suisse
quently learned il was IN reference 10 the reduc-
ton of head moneys; as FAR as mis- knowledge ex.
tends all the commissioners were al the time
In favor OF q reduction from 81 30 20 81 80 per
capita on all immg ants He was spoken TO on
the subject by Mr.. Bernard Casserly then the
secretary the Commission, and during the con.
versation MIR. CasseriY said ne was in favor OF the
movement as It would ultimately prove OF ad-
Vantage to the State. Mr.. Williams knew nothing
OF a bargain having been made between the Com
missioners ana the steamship by
which the rates Of passage were to be
reduced when the head money was cur
tailed. Mr.. Williams knew q man named
Nolan, who went to Albany to lobby the Reduc-
ton bill through. The bargain made with this
man was that he was TO nave twenty-h cents
a head for each immigrant arriving in port from
the passage OF the bill up to the LIST OF July. He
did not know that Nolan was IN partnership with
General Patrick Il. Jones and General Htlyer He
did not know
now MUCH NOLAN nAD RECEIVED,
but AZ rough guess ne would say about $4,000
or $40, 900. Az the conference all the steamship
lines were represented, aud then It was decided
that Nolan's expenses should be PAD. lie was
not POSITIVE, but he thought tnas nc steamship
Interest had a man az Albany. he had never
known that MIR. Wnitbeck was counsel for the
Here Sneaker Mcclure inquired OF Mr.. Williams
whether 1t was customary for MIN 10 contribute
Tor lobbying expenses. Mr.. Williams answered
That now and then he paid ''slignt contribu.
tOnD to SEND a committee TO Albany, or some
thing of "tnat klnd.D MIR. Williams was OF oplnion
that immigrants would 90 TO the port where the
expenses were lowest without any regard TO tha
relative comforts Afforded. He Knew that pas
sengers had been landed at other ports and tran
shipped to New YOik in order that the companies
could escape the head money. He knew tnat tne
head money In Boston was 81, and That the dollar
was refunded A the IMMIGRANT lett inc state
wIthin twenty-iour hours. lie then told OF an
irresponsible Dody, called the
NORTH ATLANTIC STEAM CONFERENCE,
OF which ne was u member. This body has no
regular ofliccs or regular time for meeting.
Ex-Leutenant Governor Alvord said That for
this reason IL should be called the "ParoSysmal
North Alantic steam conference
DIR. GUSrAvE sCHwAB
OF oelrlens Co., said hls company was not OF
the North Atlantic steam Conference. rhe Eng
nsh lines which consider the English interests
the only interests decide In conference what theJ
should do and then ask the other companies TO
scceds to the arrangement. Mr. scnweo Is Oh tns
opinion that the IDEA OF reducing the head money
emanated fro u the commissioners OF Emigration.
He does nos know MI Nolan but has seen NAV
At mis- once drawing per capita stipend, ana no
believes Tn man to be Nolan, The agrecment 70
pay Nolan was ''cut and dried" before tue GER
man companies knew anything Oft. Mr. SchWao
promised the committee all tao vouchers IN Ma
| possession.
| THE "BALD EAGLBn UNDER FIRE.
! j. W. Husteu, who wss commissioner Of EmlgIN
/ ton in 1871 nc signed tue contract FOR Dunulna
a sea wall at the southwest corner Oh n Mus
| Island The contract Was not awarded u lttou'
specifications, as before stated Inc speeihV~
tons were produced . -, - :,
! MT, Avord--Mr. Hustled, wish 90 ass you ~
! during your many terms OF once AZ MANY yOu
were ever approached Win arguments h'eIHI
scientific or inanciaY
MT. Husted--l never was.
| Messrs. sarrel and herne were also examined
as to the manner o. building the sea wall Jusl
| spoken or from thelr testimony IL anncars tht
work was well dnnS