The New York herald., 1876-01-29


difficulty was encountered by the expert In
formed by him. in tracing
rHE DISPOSITION OF xoLANs DRAvrs
upon MS bank accounts owing doubt TO the Ring
exposures made in the summer and fall OF ISL We,
therefore, recommend IN connection with this matter,
that II be referred TO suitable committee sitting dur
ing the session Of tho Legislature clothed with ample
authority 10 examine further into the matters con-
nected with this particular subject II has been
charged with considerable justice since 1871 up 10
the commencement Of the year 1878 the affairs OF this
commission in the matter OF salaries and number OF
employees have been oxtravagaptly carried on IA is
however, proper that the evidence before the
COMMITTEES IS % the effect that redVe.i9n in the mum
to correspond with the income Of the
commission by reason OF the fact that
discharged when immigration small and readily
employed or procured when the demands OF n
creased immigration required their services Since
1871, also, politics have improperly been permitted 70
degree to influence the employment and discharge
OF employees And this criticism is just IN respect TO
both parties which, Hnco that time, have alAernated
in the control OF the Board The present commission
substantial reduction in Its expenditures
for salaries about year ago, when Il was evident that
immigration was on the decline, and, as at
present administered, the force OF employees
and the salaries OF some as compared with
the services they render arc inadequate Be
these charges OF past extravaganza well or III
founded immateral at the present time 70 the ques
ton whether this commission shall DO preserved or do
stroyed Il has frequently been pretended that by
increase Of the head money the large and valuable in
erest of foreign steamship transportation to the port or
New York would be driven nom IT, From the evidence
before the committee and after special attention the
theory we are convinced that this pFeence Is without
any foundation In fact that the superior facilities
forded 70 immigrants az the port OF New York and OF
which they generally advised by friends and rela-
ves residing here and the efforts Of the societies above
referred to 10 secure immigration 70 that port will
tnue to attract immigration here, and will compel
the steamship companies from self interest to yield
the demands for transportation Examination and
comparison OF the statistics given 70 the committee
TO the effect OF head money upon immigration to this
and rival ports fail to show that Increase of the
head money has operated as a cause In any measure
N n d m Or
Philadelphia but the evidence does show that this
class OF immigrants, generally farming communities
by reason OF superior railroad facilities 70 the West,
prefer the latter ports From all tho testimony taken
are, therefore, Of the opinion and urgently
mcnd an increase OF the head money to 81 80,
OF which fifty cents shall DO set apart TO
iquldate the present Indebtedness OF the com.
debts. The constitution OF this commission also
engaged considerable attention. and considerable evi-
dence taken 10 the proprcty of continuing II in
It's present form AS at present constituted consists
Of six Commissioners appointed by the Governor ana
Senate and OF the Mayor of the city of New York and
the Presidents OF the German aud Irish societies. tho
latter three boing simply c6teio members With
power to vote From S47 70 1873 the presidents OF tho
societies always exercised full power Commis-
sioners, when change was made the law and they
were reduced to their present position From the eE-
dence 1t appears that great credit due TO the dsn
teresed abors OF the gentlemen representing these
ciees and without disparaging the services OF their
colleagues is evident that they contribute largely
the administration OF the important trust conaded by
the State TO the commission In question We recognize
are satisfied and recommend that
A COMMISSION THREE,
appointed by the Governor and Senate, with the pres
dents OF the two societies in question, who should take
the oath OF office prescribed for the appointed Com
missioners, and who should have full powers, should
be constituted The question OF paying salaries to tho
Commissioners (the present Commissioners being
present unsalared was also examined into Regarding
the commission las doubt II regarded by the
Legislature Of 1S47 somewhat in the light OF bcneyo
lent institution, and trustees OF particular fund
ovcr which the Legislature could not eonstitutonay
Appropriation.
of securing tho services OF benevolent but politically
persons and removing the commission as
far possible political Influences we have como
10 the conclusion that it would be unwise
70 make any change In this respect An
never have been charged 70 the commutaton fund
arises out Of the provisions of the act OF 1858 which
subject IT TO the maintenance OF immigrants COM
mtted criminals in the several counties of tho State
II obvious that the fund In question designed
only for the and protection Of immigrants and 10
prevent their becoming a charge as paupers
QUARANTINE AND THE AFFAIRS OF rHE HEALTH OFFICER
The committee, in its investigation of the affairs OF
this commission and Health Ofhcer limited its ques-
tons Whether quarantine should, as heretofore,
tnue charge upon the State whether 1t should be
selfsupportng In the course of our inquiries, how
ever, ascertaned that the expenditures made for
the erection OF buildings Hoffman Island and the
building OF this and Dix Island in many instances
extravagant But all the matters had received
the sanction OF law further inquiry in that direction
/ was deemed useless. We were exceedingly gratined
that a willingness was expressed both by the Commits
sioners and by the Health Officer, Dr. Vanderpoel TO
take charge OF the entire management Of Quarantine
ance, except repairs, out OF the emoluments of the
! Health Officer. The Commissioners proposition in
cluded the employment Of competent Health 0alcer
and his assistant at a salary. The Office OF the Com
missoners Of Quarantine organized originally and
grew out OF the commission appointed to supernend
! and complete the erection of quarantine establish
ments That work Is now completed Tho powers
possessed by this commission are, nrst hearing and
deciding appeals from the decisions OF the Health
0cer second, in conjunction with the mayors OF the
cities OF New York and Brooklyn and tho
President OF the Board OF Aldermen Of the city OF New
York they constituted the Board 10 fix the salaries
Of certain employees in Quarantine third TO audit the
bills incurred by the Health officer The Commits
oncrs are also charged with the care and custody of
the property Of the State devoted quarantine pur
poses II is highly creditable 70 the present Health
Officer that appeal, and, far could ascer-
tain no occasion for any, has arisen during his adj
minstration; nor has the mercantile community any
cause Of complaint by reason Of any Of his acts With
reference 70 the appellate powers OF the commission
It seems 10 US that with proper amendment
to the law, providing that quarantine affairs
shall hereafter be administered and vessels
and cargoes detained only practically ad-
mnfstered and detained In quarantine, little,
any occasion win exist for the continuation Of ap
pellate board The power Of fixing and regulating sal
aries possessed in part by the Commissioners is simply
negative power. The Health officer, by law, employs
and discharges all employees In Quarantine. The
wicdy Board referred to has not for at least three
years been called together, that practically tho
Health Ofhcer has had complete control the i'm
portant question Of expenditures for salaries Tho
power OF auditing bills contracted by the Health ofcer
might we'll be exercised by the state Comptroller
As to the custody Of the property Of the State sub
NIT that the Health onicer could very easily take
the State without any expense to the State Therefore,
OF the opinion that the Office OF
QUARANTINE coMnissoNERs
should be abolished that the powers vested In the
Commissioners be dcvoved upon the Health Ohcer;
that board OF appeals, consisting Tor the time being
Of the Presidents or the Chamber OF Commerce. OF the
Shpowners Association and OF tho Board OF Health Of
the city OF New York be constituted to serve, without
compensation for the purpose Of deciding appeals /
from the decision OF the Health Ohcer that the Health
oaacer pay the salaries Of all employees In Quarantine
pairs be contracted by him only with the Of tho
Comptroller and paid by the Comptroller out OF funds
appropriated for REPAIRS that hereafter appropra-
tion be made for the maintenance OF Quaran- /
tine except tor necessary repairs; that the money |
earned by the States boats Quarantine for tho /
transportation Of passengers and mails and that de- /
Bived from the OF the sick at Dixs Island be
counted for and paid by the Health Officer to the State
In the Of the investigation OF Quarantine affairs
IL became our duty TO notice annual expenditure
for salaries Quarantine boundaries between this \
ate the STATE of New Jersey Tho o