The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-07
PROTECTION OF IMMIGRANTS.
Bill to Establish a New Fede-
raj Bureau.
National Supervision Over the At
fairs Of Alien Passengers.
HEAD TAX TO BE CONTINUED.
HEAD TAX TO Be CONTINUED
Wntchiul Care Of Passengers from Beginning
to End Of Voyage.
THURLoW WEEDS REcoLLECTlONs,

penvereu. IN which the collection OF ncau tax on I'M
migrants by States was held TO be unconstitutional
he ntmated that the control OF tho whole subject OF
immigration properly belonged the federal govern
mcnt, and that Il was tho duty Of Congress 10 make
suitable provision Tor the protection OF alien passen-
gers after their arrival in the United States On Tues
day last Mr.. Harvey Of Kansas introduced bill IN
the Senate which Is intended TO bring immigration
under national direction and, at tho same time, the
measure Is intended 10 meet the difficulty occasioncd
by the New York Commissioners OF Emigration being
deprived Of the Of support The bureau TO be cs
tabished VIII be charge the Treasury until such
time sufficient funds available from the head tax,
which, It is understood will DO fixed Mt 81 The chic
Of the bureau Is 10 le styled Commissioner. and his
oincc will be IN Washington, the operations OF which
to DO unacr tho control OF the Secretary of tho
Treasury Superintendent to be appointed in the
principal ports and agents to DO stationed abroad
to look after the interests Of cmgrants the eve Of
their departure from Europe The act allows arrange
ments TO be made with existing Commissioners. so
That IS entirely probable that the United States
will consent to the continuance OF the landing depot at
Castle Garden under ITS present manage
mcnt There Is hardly any doubt as TO the
passage OF Mr.. Harvcy's BILL which contains many
admirable provisions Tho means prescribed for the
punishment Of persons who practice fraud imposi
ton on immigrants Will prove much more effective
interests OF the passengers kept view, and tho
regulations for tho separation OF the should be
enforced strictly. Railroad companies TO be
brought more fully 70 responsibility, and they TO
furnish bonds Altogether, II the provisions OF tho
bill fully and honestly carried out there will be
Improvement in the protection OF the immigrants
which Will DO experienced not alone New York, but
every part Of the Union where alien passengers arc
in the habit OF arriving The following will BIO found
to be fair synopsis Of Senator Harvcy's bil:-
OUTLINE or THE MEASURE
The bill provides III tho first place for new bureau
in the Treasury Department TO have charge OF passcn
gers arriving in the sleerasc IRON ports contiguous
the United sntes and for the collection of head tax
on each such person. All moneys received to 60
directly into the treasury ana Of the fund thus
created al charges for maintaining tho officers and
agencies of the bureau to be paid. super
vision Of emigration, far practicable, is to be
carried out by American consus at the ports OF de-
rarturc, and complaints for nj usage made by imm-
grants after landing to be summary tried before
United States Commissioners IL PROVIDED that the
Commissioner OF Emigration (hcad OF tho proposed
bureau) shalt have power tc enter into contract,
with the OF the Secretary of The Treasury with
any existing State commission under prescribed rucs
and regulations based upon the provisions OF the bill
The new commissioner is 10 be appointed by the Prcs
dent, with consent of the Senate, hold Office
specified number OF years. He Is to be charged, un-
der the supervision Of the Secretary OF tho Treasury
aud he il authorized 70 make necessary rules and
regulations The Secretary Of the Treasury APP
point chief clerk and such other clerks may be
requisite. Estimates for the expense OF the bureau
10 be laid before Congress in the usual manner,
and until the captation tax becomes available the
missioner Is not 10 have any pecuniary interest,"
directly or indirectly iii any railroad, steamship or
transportation company nor IN the settlement OF tracts
OF land
THE HEAD TAX,
to be paid by the owner agent master OF any vessel
To
United States isto be applied To temporarily
sck. TO hire or construct proper landing places, aud
for the benefit o grants generally. Accounts
to be audited by the Fourth Auditor Of the Treasury
and the Commissioner Of Customs. statute adult
OF age two twelve infants less than one year
not being considered in the estimate OF space elsewhere
mentioned.
AGENTS AT FOREIGN PORTS.
II further provided that at the ports OF Liverpool
Hamburg Bremen or any other foreign port whence
large number of emigrants sail annually, agent
shalt be stationed, whose duty 1t shall DO inspect
vessels carving stccrase passengers before their de-
parturc and whether the provisions Of
OF Congress have been complied with; to give oil
essary information to cmigrants AMI perform all
such Other shall be required of HIM by tho
head OF the bureau. Agents abroad also required
10 issue duplicate certificates stating whether the law
has been complied with, one copy 70 be delivered TO
department at Washington. Consus are TO discharge
functions OF agents where none OF the latter sta
toned
At THE PORT or VIEW YORK
inspectors acquainted with the German French,
swedish ana 0tncr 10 De appointed, ana
one Inspector NJ such other ports wnere Immigrants
usually arrive IN considerable numbers who are TO
company the customs officers b0ard vessels conveying
steerage passengers their arrival IL viii then DC TIER
duty To muster the immigrants aud inquire whether
any o. them has just of complaint and " there
be probable cause, tho com plant complaints shall
be reduced TO writing and the forwarded to the
superintendent Collector Customs, and also ~ tho
head OF the bureau II further made the duty OF The
superintendent. or In ports where none stationed
the Collector OF Customs TO prosecute all suits ON be-
hall OF the immigrants Tor personal damages
United States Commissioners are TO have Jurts-
dctiun and give summary trials in all cases
account OF III treatment board ships, insufficient
or badly cooked food damage 10 baggage swindng in
the exchange Of money or by boarding house keepers
abuse by any person agent while in rdnsf loss Of
time while on railroads. overchargc on being placed in
improper or ovcrcrowdcd cars The jurisdiction OF
the Commissioner Is aot to exceed inc penalty Of
500 IN each case with power 10 commit the defendant
until payment Is satisfied
LANDING DEPOT
Is to be established III New York and In such other
ports as may DO designated BY tho Secretary OF tho
Treasury who shall appoint ut each OF such ports an
officer 10 DC known superintendent OF emigration,
who Is required to give bonds Tho latter Is TO have
power 10 nominate such suborduates at such rates OF
compensation shall be approved and established by
the Secretary OF the Treasury IL 10 made the duty OF
the Commissioner 10 provide suitable places ior the re-
ception OF passengers thor arrival oase the
kary wLaryes and aud 10 erect suitable buildings
grants and the landing Of their effects 10 protect them
against imposition aud aud to make and preserve nm
accurate record Of the name, ago. VOCATION birthplace
aud present destination Of each TO assist such as desire
10 obtain occupation as lar rs possioc 70 provide, at
the expense OF tho vessel Tor the immediate and tenn
porary necessities OF those who arrive destitute; to
furnish such Information and facilities as will enable
Immigrants to proceed to their respective places OF
destination In the cheapest and most expeditions man.
ner The erintendent shall also make angcments
with railroad and transportation companies for tho
conveyance OF immigrants NJ the most advantageous
terms, which must specify particularly that comcrta
bic and cominodous cars will In all cases DO PROVIDED
and that
IMMIGRANT TRAINS
shall be run at no less than twenty miles per hour aud
without unnecessary detention and that the officers
and agents shall due regard The safety comfort
and health or immigrants The superintendent miy
issue permits TO proper persons TO convey passengers
from vessels TO the landing depot and also to persons
who may have legitimate business with the forwarding
OF stccrngc passengers the conveyance Of their lug
gage and Tor other necessary and purposes
4 MARIN will Inc m eI La 90