The New York herald., 1876-09-11
THE EMlGRANT LAW.


THE MANNER IN WHICH sTEERAGE PASSENGERS
ARE PUT TO DISCOMFORT AND INcoNvEN-
USEFULNESS?
Very much has been written OF late concerning the
dcbarkaon OF cmgrants at Castle Garden and tho pro-
prcty of rebuilding that institution in Its present ioca
ton. Without doubt 1t important question; hut
bevond this there matter OF deeper interest both
the cmigrans and tho city about which little is said
except among the steamship men ana tho passengers
themselves. II involves question OF tho usefulness
and validity OF portion of the laws OF this State which
regulate the landing of stecragc passengers in Now
York city. Al the this law first put In force
both its objects aud it's accomplishments dosira-
be There thousands Of emigrants brought into
this port daily and It was imperative that
lnons should be enforced compatible with the wolfaro
of tho city and of the emgrants.
Castle Garden did its good work, and no ono can
doubt the wisdom Of its first establishment. But al
the present tmo affairs are in very different condi.
tion, and, instead OF emgrants crowding
our shores the European steamship lines carrying
ou. about many passengers they bring into port.
srEEaAoE
is OF another complexion from what IL was Once 10
was almost entirely composed OF poor families. whs
were ignorant OF tho country TO which they
ing required every assistance the State could give
Now there a largo ingredient OF well-to-do and we'll
informed people, many OF whom havo been the
country before and quito able to take Of them.
selves To such the latter II Is an injustice to be
compelled to occupy three or four hours In getting
away from their ship The writer somo Instances
of this yesterday morning upon tho arrival
of tho White Star steamer Gcrmanic. There
wore altogether about 500 passengers board ol
witch seventy per cent travelled In tho STORAGE The
n q
thor baggage was examined, while tho steer
age were Obliged to wait like so many sheep for tho
authorities lot down the 1t happened yes
tcrday that the officers OF the Emigration Bureau failed
reach the dock until an hour alter the steamers
rival In the meantime good many OF the stcorags
passengers got away unqucstioncd But when the
officials arrived the balance Of the stceragc passengers
were kept in portion OF the dock until such timc
their baggage should DO examined and tho barge be
readiness to carry them to Castle Garden. Perhaps
fifty of these people were
cIrzE>s OF THE UNITED STATES
and many moro had formerly become acquainted with
tho country In few cases the officers permitted
them to depart at once, whore thoy were known
be citizens Of this country The letter OF
tho law, however, requires that all person:
and registered at Castle Garden and many who wcro
acquainted with tho regulations waited submissively
until such good time they might be allowed enter
the metropolis OF ''free America"
Most of the citizen arrivals had friends In waiting TO
receive them and were naturally anxious 10 90 their
ways from the wharf possible. Tho writer
saw dozen cases whore Americans who had relatives
tho asked tho officers permission to tako
Wer0
refused and had TO wait until all the cabin passengers
taken of, then their own baggage examined aud
themselves put on tho emgrant BARGE 70 spcnd, per-
hnps more hours In getting through Castle Gar.
den. Their friends, IN tho meantime, must go by tho
cars Castle Garden and wait Tor them 10 get throu,h
. tedious process OF 'rcd tape" Then too,
there were Instances where people had travelled In
stcerage because unable to procure
the caoins, and those had TO 20 through the cmgrant
process
Many OF the passengers who thus detained have
purcnascd by railroads. Tor various aes,lnatons
In All hy nj
very detention In case steamers arrive in the
part OF tho day especially causes Inconvenience in
this regard.
THE VALIDITY OF
which trangrcsses upon the comfort and independence
many people viii form question OF Interesting
debate Tho scene upon the arrival OF tho iermanc
but instance OF what occurs To every foreign
sci bringing stcernge passengers TO this port To those
people who entirely capable OF iooxiny aftcr them
selves the los OF much time In getting ashore and
Injustice. In other city is such thing
done which renders II all the more intolcrable here.
Al Boston amt Philadelphia the stccragc go ashore
with the cabin passengers, and gwen equal faci.
tics for leaving the dock. For tho helpless who
quirc assistance ample provision ~ mado, the
might be done IN New York The Philadelphia iino
advcrtscs these advantages OF dcbarkation IN Euro
pcan papers, and many people travel by those stcam
ers for the purpose OF avoiding Castle Garden. II
would certainly appear that some modification OF the
emigrant laws OF State Is needed TO keep pace with
the altered condition OF things There Is no reason
why an independent and intelligent individual who
what intended tor assistance when be ns!hss
uecd n or ire