The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-24
CASTLE GARDEN.

THE COMMISSIONERS OF cHARITIKs MOVE
AGAINST THR COMMISSIONERS OF ENIGRA-
TIoN-srArE ACTION VERSUS CONGRESSIONAL
INAcTIoN.
1t was expected that before adjournment Congress
would have made suitable provision for tho and
protection OF aliens landing In ports OF the United
States The decision OF the Supreme Court denied to
State authorities the power Of collecting head tax on
emgrants and by this stroke tho functions OF the
New York Commissioners of Emigration were brought
IN point OF fact to termination aud the federal nu-
thortes, according 10 the opinion OF the highest
tribunal in the nation, bound to step In at once
and take their place. Accordingly bills were intro
duccd providing for tho establishment Of Bureau OF
Emigration In the Treasury Department, and there
seemed to be no doubt that the change, in many
respects beneficial would be easily and satisfactorily
effected. 1t also seemed lkoly that matter which
had for long time been a subject OF much bad feeling
In the Western States toward New York would be re.
moved for 1t must be remembered that Indiana, Wis
consin, Iowa, Ohio ana Illinois have always objected
to the collection OF head tax passengers
from Europe in transitu through this State
who after leaving It's borders never afierward
became in any way burden or expense
to It The benefits of the Communication fund only
available to such cmigrants as remained within the
limits OF New York while the tax collected from
all VINO landed AZ CaSte matter whcre tDcr
destination In tho bills submitted Congress ample
provision mado for renting or building docks and
landing places the several ports Of the Ualtcd States
where emigrants Ia large numbers arrive ana IN the
of New York II was well understood that Bedioe's
Island would DO very cheeruiy given up by the War
Department a depot to supply the place OF tue
the Battery which it was proposed to abandon. A
head tax was also provided for be paid by tho
of the passenger ships and no matter IN what
part OF the country sick or INDECENT cmigrants re
CURED and the fund created was open Tor their rciiei
STATE BEcoMES REsPo>sIBLK
TITO New York Commissioners OF Emigration, who at
this time were deeply involved in debt-the valuable
passengcrs heavily morgaged and all possible sources
of off without a chance OF being restored
instead Of shaping their action to suit the altered and
anticipated condition OF AFFAIRS turned all their
gcs procure continuance OF their supervision
foreign arrivals Insolvency was admitted but as they
Justly SAID, 1t would DO necessary TO exer
else some sort OF protection over emisrants
pending tho transfer from State to federal
control As they were willing 10 assume this business
bankrupt they were, there SPECIAL objection
Before anything like sufficient time for Congress TO
had elapsed tho Commissioners succeeded ia having
passed IL the Legislature appropriang $500, coo
from the State Treasury for its benefit aud this heavy
burden on the taxpayers OF the State seems to have
been only toward defeating or pOstponing Con-
gressional action The law IN question was approved
by Governor Tildcn, May 10, last BY it the Comp
troler authorized to draw warrants on the Treas
when presented in favor Of the Commissioners Of
Emigration for such amounts rs they may from time
to time require for the purpose OF paying current ex
penses during tho year commencing May l. 1876,
which shall not exceed in the aggregate 5000 0OO but
when any appropriation Shall be made ny Congress Tor
the purpose enlioncd no more money was to DO paid
under the act Detailed accounts OF expenditures
required 10 be presented verified by the oaths OF
majority Of the Commissioners. before any money
be paid which IN exceed the sum Tor which
the detailed account is presented. This act, passed
over three months ago, and under which the Com
mission has managed 10 struggle along, relieved Con-
gress as probably intended otany pressing obligation 10
on the bills before IT, AT all events, Congress has
adjourned leaving tho Commissioners IN charge and
gong deeper into debt
BATTERY PARK AGAIN
II has been before stated that the Commissioners OF
Emigration obtained possession Of Castle Garden
the result of bargain with certain railroad compa
MES VINO were 10 ENJOY nonopoy ., Tue sso .,
which they estab shed themselves at the Battery was
designed to systematically and continuously wrong the
inexperienced and conidng strangers who landed
there and not to them. The Commissioners still
desire to remain there, though they cannot pay rent
for the premises, interest their mortgages, or pos
siby meet "current" expenses for the support Of
Castle Garden and the institutions on Wards island on
the $500 600 Legislature has appropriated for the
year ending May next. In any view OF the situation
their rst duty Ia ~ retrench In their present SIT
uation they can no more pay $1,000 year rent Tor
Castle Garden than they pay 500 600, and us tho
to give Bedloe's Island or some other SUIT
neither sense nor reason in the Board
pcrstng in the attempt to render vaueless Of the
York can boast The Board Of Aldermen has pract
cay decided that It has control the renting
leasing of Castle Garden. The Commissioners OF the
Sinking Fund, Consisting Of the Mayor the Recorder,
the Comptroller and the Chairman OF tue Finance Com
mt,eo OF the Beard Of Aldermen possess, II seems,
authority to permit or disalIow the Emigrant Com
mission 10 remain ut the Battery.
TROUBLES
The threatened proceedings at law by the Commits
OF Charities and Correction against the Emf.
grant Board for the recovery oil the amount due for the
support Of sick and INDECENT aliens. will add 10 the
of tho latter and drive still further
ward the wall There IS hardly county in the State
that has not similar ella to that urged by New York,
and the aggregate now due to hospitals, poorhouses
and other eleemosynary institutions OF sll much
below 100000 To meet these obligations, which, AZ
the law stands constantly increasing, the Com
missoners have, stated. and should be kept in
mind, no present or prospective means. The only
thing that remains is the heavily mortgaged property
Wards Island which Is getting day by day more deeply
cncumbercd. Ii would really seem to be the height
of absurjty 10 continue ut Castle Garden system that
Ia already eating up the OF the Commission which
might prove hereafter OF to the class Of people
contributed to their purchase but against any yielding
to Inc necessities OF Tho situation and the bankruptcy
that them Ia the face the Commissioners cling
to the shadow OF power when It's substance has all van
ished.
THE SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
Al present the Commissioners OF Emigration possess
q very prccarous kind CT existence Their only
Is from tho State. and Is entirely inadequate for
their purposcs Every day they deeper and ire
trcvaby debt and promote the early alienation of
the entire property on Wards Island The Commissions
have far continued to arrange matters to
tnuc Office though having really no legitimate rev.
enuc aud have made emigration an unnecessarily heavy
burden the people OF the state The decision OF the
Supreme Court OF the United States settled the law in
the matter forever. Their eGorl to njurc the public by
the value OF the park at the Battery should
not be tolerated.
The Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund have, IL
seems, accorded PERMISSION repair The damage done
at Castle Garden by the late fire In order that the Emf
grafton Board may continue IL landing depot. This
decision seems at the very least hard to understand
With the exception Of few interested parties the
First ward the public generally md the press of the
city favored its removal The Board any event
not remain at the Battery much longer tor whom the
$780, 600 appropriation exhausted there Is
prospect of more money being forthcoming II Is not
likely that heavy tax will be imposed on the people
Of New York for purpose falling under federal con-
troll and which the federal government will doubt
after Congress rcasscmbcs in December
The whole matter shows n strong light with what
tlaa Cor xrisc linn IN