New-York tribune., 1876-12-16
DISCUSSING THE HEAD-MONEY TAX.
HAMILTON HILL OF BOSTON AND Mr.. RANDOLPH
AGAINST 1T IN COMMTTEE-MR. DEvLIN OF
EEW-YpRK IN FAVOR.

HAMILTON HILL OF BOSTON AND MR. RANDOLPH
AGAINST 1T IN COMMTTEE-MR. DEvLN OF
. NEw-YoRK IN FAVOR.
TBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-The bill introduced
by Mr. Cox session at the suggestion Of the New
York Emigration Commission legalizing the collection Of
So head money for each immigrant arriving at our At
antic ports, discussed during the whole session OF
the Commerce Committee OF the House to-day. Gentle
men from New York and Boston represented those who
favor and those who oppose the measure.
Hamilton Hll representing the Boston Board of Trade,
was the first speaker He directed the attention OF tine
Committee TO numerous resolutions adopted by meetings
Of business in parts Of the country during
the past years In regard 10 the collection OF head
money. He said that the Boston Board OF Trade had
nut itself on record over and again against It. The
passage Of the bill is not urged he sad by the rep
resentave of any commercial manufacturing, or agri-
eutura interest OF the country OF the members
OF the Massachusetts, Board Of State Charities have been
anxious that there should be some legislation on the sud-
ect but as far as could find out no board OF State
charities representing arg commonwealth In the
Union has declared itself In favor Of this
particular BILL the only organization which urges us
passage is the New-York Emigration Commission; that
body prepared the bill and its representatives alone APP
near iIits behalf The theory OF the measure, Mr. Iii
said is that every immigrant coming into the United
States pauper that 10 Is therefore necessary To
collect So head money for each in order to establish
u
its passage The bill also requires the agents OF steam
ship companies 10 ask OF all passengers certain ques-
tOns in order prevent the landing in this country OF
criminals paupers, and others whom public policy re-
auires shall not become part Of our population The
truth that such people will have no difficulty in an
swering the questions proposed.
Mr. Hill then spoke at some length or the debt whlch
this country owes immigration, and drew the concu-
sion that the United States well afford to bear the
incidental evils which have accompaniment. He believes
that Ihe class Of immigrants which now arrives COM
prises as general rule, people Of intelligence who have
definite plans before they leave their own country and
he thinks that the necessary provision for the care OF its
paupers ia matter for each State to manage for itself
Boston, he said, has made perfect arrangements; the
Emigration Commission, in behalf OF the State examines
every person arriving and allows none except proper
ones to pass others prohibited from landing The
same system prevails in Philadelphia and Baltimore In
order 70 accomplish what the New-York Emigration
Commission DESIRES he would advise that organization
TO invite representatives OF boards OF uaue from the
Atlantic coast and the great West to conference In
which some can be devised that would be mu
tually satisfactory.
Mr. Deylin, representing the Emigration Commission
of New-York, made speech in favor OF the Dill lie
sad that the Boston commissioners have no legal right
10 prohibt any one from landing, nor can they legally
send back any improper person brought TO s country
as passenger any vessel; the steamship companies
can refuse TO take such persons back and turn them to
the streets OF Boston 10 Wanuer at Will wiz ~ ~ "
give them information protection. He knew OF no
boards State charities In the United STATES VINO arc
opposed TO this bill the chief opposition comes from
boards of trade who are less In sympathy with
steamship companies bringing immigrants to this coun
try These companies, he said, have always been op
nosed TO the collection OF head money! 1t question Oh
dollars and cents them, but matter OF humanity 10
tbe state He illustrated the Importance OF the measure
70 York by quoting tho statistics OF Immigration
during the last twenty-five years In that pc
Rod. he said, out of 100000 OF immi-
grants who have arrived in the United states
600. 900 have come through the port OF New-iorki
none of these people have ever complained OF the head
money tax the measure is not one OF oeal inpolHo.
IN tho institutions OF the Empire State there are
today many persons who have been sent there from
iowa wisconsin, and other Western states ana VINO
have had to be supported at the expense OF those
states had it not been for TINS systeih'