The New York herald., 1876-01-29
THE STATE CAPITAL.
The Commissioners Of Emigration and
Quarantine.
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
A $4,000 Rake" and How
It Was Used.
Revolutionizing the Emigration
Commission.
The Steamship Companies to Pay
Additional Head Money.
WAR DECLARED AGAINST THE LOBBY
Holding Savings Bank Trus-
tees to Account.
The Steamship Companies to Pay
Additional Head Money.
WAR DECLARED AGAINST THE LOBBY
Holding Savings Bank Trus-
tees to Account.
MIsMANAGEMENT OF SING SING.
ALBANY, Jan. 2s. 1875.

Assembly
last year to investigate the affairs OF Quarantine to
report what If any change in the system should be
made submitted their report the Assembly to-day
The following is
THE REPORT THE EMIGRATION COMMISSION
The Importance OF preserving and fostering this CON-
mission cannot be overcstimaed The facilities for in
formation and the protection and given to immi-
grants, from the evidence taken before us lead to
the conclusion that the Legislature cannot bestow its
favorable attention upon any State department with
more beneficial results than upon the commission
in question The present scheme OF protecting
and caring for immigrants originated largely with
the Irish and German societies in tho city OF New
York. The question presented to this Legislature Is
whether IL is desrableo continue this important COM
mission whether 1t shall be suffered either to become
a charge upon the State or be closed. short time
ago the commission empowered to borrow $500 oOo
OF this $3.50, 900 have been drawn, the. loan being
secured by mortgage the real estate Of the
mission The commission is also INDEBTED TO the sew
era counties Of the State for the support Of i'm migrants
to the amount of 500 lo4 III also TO tho city OF New
York for the rent OF Castle Garden $32 000 and upon
the immigrant fund account OF $l3 943 SO, making
total Indebtedness OF S29s 04s "a less cash in hand
$754 90; making a net Indebtedness Of S297, ,2g3 o.
Tho business of the commission the past year can
be better explained by the following table.
Here Is given a table showing by months
for 1876 that the salaries and wages OF Castle
Garden State agents and outdoor clerks $3 243 or
disbursements, including Castle Garden landing depot
meals to immigrants outdoor relief and State agencies
$50 6oe 90; salaries and wages State Emigration and
hospital Wards Island, $s2 s33 %; supplies, re-
pairs and sundry expenses refuge and hospital on
Wards Island ssl4l3 90; insurance on property and
buildings at Wards Island and Castle Garden 544 91
interest loans and certificates OF Indebtedness,
$SSS4 81; forwarding immigrants inland, &C. 81 COZ "a
Total expenditures $lS5 O34 so. Total receipts from
Communication fee OF 81 90 for each alien passenger
landed, $127, ,066)
Tho report sidsi-From which IL appears that
the disbursements exceeded tho receipts by
$4,000. which deficit Is also increased by tho
following OF Castle Garden, amounting to
$l2, 600; debts 10 counties, $4,000 Total 800 000
With the probability II not the certainty OF light
migration for the coming year and from the figures
submitted 1t is apparent that measures afford
ing instant relief are imperatively demanded on the
evidence taken il is plain that destroy or impair tho
usefulness Of this commission would greatly injurc the
prosperity OF the port of New York Tho almpor-
tant question then arises what measures shall be
adopted 10 relieve the necessities OF that
commission and to meet those emergencies
which It is reasonable to expect may arise
The commission possessing large quantities Of real
estate together with commodious accommodations for
immigrants has not, since establishment cost the
taxpayers OF this State one dollar Property owned
the maintenance OF Immigrants, the expenditures Tor
Salaries &c, all have been paid out or
THE conMUrATIos YUND
In our judgment taxation is unnecessary and obec-
tionabe The only remaining remedy for the present
financial embarrassments Of the commission and Tor
emergencies IL TO increase the "head money! Since
lS4I the Legislature has from time TO time changed the
amount Tor which immigrant bonds might be com
muted ranging from 81 so TO 81 so From 1867 10
TO 1871 the head money Communication for bonds was
~ 90, when, having accumulated large surplus by
reason OF the large immigration between those years.
the Commissioners of Emigration IN the month OF
January, 1871 passed q resolution recommending n
decrease thereof 20 the present hgure-namey, 81 90
at which Il has remained Notwithstanding the repeated
requests Of the Commissioners to have increased which
has always met with the sole opposition Of the steamship
agents and companies In the city Of New York The
history Of tho preliminary steps which led 10 tho
adoption OF the resolution above referred TO remained
shrouded In darkness All the powers possessed by us
employed TO ascertain the truth connected with
transaction disrepuabe for gentlemen representing
large portion OF the commerce OF the city OF New York
10 engage in. The lack OF memory Of the witnesses,
especially of the agents OF the companies to the
details OF this transaction, important Id It's results
them and perhaps special in It's character is remark
able. But from the evidence which were |
able 70 elicit we are OF the opinion that |
a contract between the steamship companies
and one Michael Nolan made in
the fall Of 1870 whereby IL was agreed that Nolan |
should procure the reduction Of the head money from
81 90 and should receive one-quarer OF the OF
reduction effected be paid him for each immigrant
dence IL further appears that Mr. Nolan per-
possessed Of any particular qualifications either
by reason OF his knowledge OF legislation standing
as a lawyer which would operate as Inducements for |
his employment by the steamship companies in a |
matter Of so much importance. We are convinced thai
Mr. Nolan acted simply In the capacity OF distributor !
Of fund raised blythe steamship companies for the
purpose OF
INFLUENCING LEGISLATION
The refusal OF Mr.. Nolan TO afford any information,
FIRST as 10 the amounts OF money received Oy him pur
suant to the contract above referred to- second
the banks In which ho had deposited them; third, as
20 their disposition; fourth his testimony the
steps he had taken 70 secure the passage Of the bill In
the Assembly BY appearing before its Committee on /
Commerce and Navigation the report by that commit
tee OF the bill 10 the House; its transmission TO tho
Senate the length OF time which elapsed from its in
PRODUCTION to It's passage IN tho Assembly, his appear
ancc before the Committee Commerce and Naviga-
tlon in the Senate-all Of which evidence COM
petcy refutcd by the journals OF the two houses be-
sides his entire ignorance Of the and identity
Of the person who introduced The bill the Assembly
satisfy US OF the correctness Of the conclusion above
EXPIRE ssed as TO Noan's share in the Transaction After
considerable difficulty the committee ascertained tho
names Of the banks Ia which Nolan had made his de-
statements which appear in full in the evidence sub
mtted by the steamship companies, IL appears that
Nolan received under his contract S7T,5ls IS origi-
naly the contract with Nolan 70 continue for but
one year. but In 1872, upon the Commissioners OF
hndng that the head money at 81 so would
not be sufficient 70 carry the operations Of the in
sttution they recommended its increase and bill 70
that effect being introduced IN the Assembly, renewal
Of this contract was obtained by Nolan from some
Of the steamship companies Others, notably
the National line and Williams h Guon, objected
10 IT'S continuation Owing to want OF
power We were unable 10 compel the attendance OF
witnesses TO issue suitable process for refusal on the
part OF Witnesses 70 testify and therefore 10 ascertain
with any degree OF accuracy the disposition OF tho i
moneys collected by him. An expert Of considerable
experience lMr Tainter) was employed Owing 10 hrs /
continued Illness and absence from the city we were l
unable TO reduce his testimony upon into proper
form for present submission but from the facts fur
nished by him, we deemed IL duty 10 examine GER
lain persons IN private session but could come 20 no
IN
any OF them which would warrant in asserting their
In tho division Of the Nolan money, /