The New York herald., 1877-01-14
THE IMMIGRANT TAX.

WHAT THE STEAMSHIP PEOPLE SAY AGAINST
''HEAD MONEY" OPINION AND CRITICISM OF
THE IMMIGRATION COMMISSION.
The subject OF paying 'head money" on passengers
landed here by the steamship companies has been
serious matter IN legislation especially, since .
decision was rendered by the United states Su
preme Court deciding against the constitutionalty Of
the law last March. Since then the steamship com.
panies have made combined effort against tho meas.
ure, which Congress has revived by tho ntroductoB
OF bill to rc-estabsh the tax. aud within few daya
the committee to whom the bill referred decided
to recommend act calling Tor tax OF 81 30 pea
capita
To this the companies demur and make very stout
protest Tue lnman me has even commenced . suit
equity In tho United stn,es Circuit Court
81, lo0,C COO pad by them as head money since thor
company has landed passengers NJ this port In ordcs
to the opinion held by the parties affected by
this law aud its provision u HERALD representativ
called upon the Commissioners oi Emigration and
several Of the steamship agents Mr. Cortes. thu
ngcnt OF the White Star line, was found at his
oice, and being advised Of tho import Of the visit
cheerfuy gave his ideas He said the tax on pas
sepgcrs. commonly called 'shcad money" was very
unjust measure, especially within tho past yeara
NO PAUpgRs CARRIED.
Tho immigrants now arriving ut these shores
were OF very superior class. Paupers scarcely
ever brought and II low passengers indipent the
companies soc 10 that they returned Europe
as soon us possible. Tho only instance Of this KIND
happening was the landing OF number OF Poles by tho
National line, and these people shipped hero
undcr false pretenccs Tho company, on ascertainns
the fac Of their destituton, took them back
whence thcy came.
OTHER
the United States ports that We fear in cons
Is subsidized by tho Canadian government TO The
amount OF $3.50 600, thus actually paying premium
Tor immigrants, instead Of laying thor coming
Out OF every 800 the White Star limo carret
nj least 200 have been residents OF tho United States
and who. for convenience and economy, prefer "a
travel IN the STORAGE instead Of Tho first cabin. IL
furthermore, this company should charge the head
money to such passengers and tho fare
set at f6 Ss., the Canada limo would at once
reduce their rates 10 10 nnd carry on the trade Ia
order distinguish the residents Of the United states
from aliens just coming two kinds Of tickets would
have TO DC printed, each containing declaration on
the back setting forth such facts II Is also useless
send English speaking immigrants to Castle Garden,
pecally such destined tor other places than
New York. II Is well enough to send Germans,
Swodes, French other nat,onat,es TO tho Comm,s-
sloncrs TO obtain the benefit OF interpreters
RuxSNa CASTLE GARDEN
Castle Garden In itself Is good enough restitution
while passengers are inside OF it; but away 1t
what good IL u TO the immigrant? Mr. Cortcs further
stated that TWO years ago the Commissioners OF Emil
grafton averrcd that they could get along Of
sl0O,O O0o pcr annum. Then tncy estimated their
expenses at $4,000, and TINS year they propose TO
do their work for $40 ooo He th,nks tina, any re-
spectacle business easily that institution
for $50 00O and give general satisfaction Boston and
pniladclphia have better system There the ci,iss
take care OF their own immigration, aud
known to navc been swindlec.
Mr.. Cortes SAID he could do no better than give the
following reasons against tho passage or"A Bill Re.
gulate immigration, 2" which have been prepared by
tho steamship incn:--
!. Is opposed 70 the spirit and by hlea authorities be.
treaties with foreign Powers
!. Violates sns comi,y Of nations by preventing is
Neither England France. spain, Portugal. Italy
@ s siii''a BILL '-''' impose such tax proposed ~
IL is prohbitory In its nature and wrong in principle
II ajax ~ be imposed Of $50 500 81 900 any
d,sad"a".a"e Of shs u"i,.a sSes 'e"d"s 'ns
IL VIII have tendency 10 otvert immigration to Canada
It win interfere with the Development Internal
trade BY turning traffic to the Grand Trunk and
Every able bodied Immigrant is estimated by s.s.isti.
clans TO be worth 10 the country $50 gold.
country BY regular lines steamships making passages
within fortnight are totally different n ehaeac,s ability
who came In sailing ships and frequently G
the United states supreme Court year decreed
To- the s ct na % Ss
period.
ton OF Europe Immigration Is beneficial to tho country
and does not increase paupcrs the statistics OF 1870
cS"sSa,"s New Yort 10 20 the grss. port Of entry.
~. 1t Ncs YORK has incurred expense In connec.
s w a Y. n s" s asssy of in
II has ever expended immigrants in the u
Tor which immigration has furnished employment
H. rhat very small proportcn OF the Immigrants
= prO he ol uiy yinv
the percentage OF foreign population in various states Tho
cent. lows" per cent SsSr..ss S per cent, iii.
cent ~ Gsas Ss, Sc 30 e..
q, per cent. and ~ Arizona, ~ per cent.
their growing foreign steamship trades opposed to this
~ Also the inland cities OF Cincinnati Chicago Ds,rois
10; The National Board Of Trade aud all the principal
local boards OF trade throuront the country cppo.e H.
,,a ~ a TIE a. nc sonysnon' composed q dsssate'
c'ples; oJceting to Aay head money tax.
landing S any criminals. p.sr' sick or disabled persons
s"s to up place s% .sss s us 20
be considered this b ayoring local interest chat
Of the New York Emigration CommissionJ ought not 10
Mf. John q. Dale. OF the lnman linc was next VS.
itcd and avcrrcd that his company business
commencing the suit tho recovery OF 100 OO0
paid to THIS Sta,o head money. Hc thought the
itor.a IN Fridays HkgALD did the steam coinpa-
MES Injustice, especially they have reIuced ther
such an extent that the carriage OF emigrauts has
dropped from 80 600 TO 20 600 per nnnuin The hsad
money enters into the expenses oil running vessels
the Same as iuci wages, &c.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
Mr. jackson, superintendent o Castle Garden, In
answer To tho reporters request or statement cheer.
fully volunteered all the Information he Possessed on
the subject lie sad:-"If such thing Az u SUIT loi
tho recovery OF head money can be maintancd u
would involve at least 0,0OO 900, collected on
G,OOJ. 900 cmigrants from lst7, tho this law
enacted until II was declsi cd constitutional last
ted
the SUIT of the Anchor line" Mr. Jnck sou cited por-
ton of Judge Miiicr's opinion contradiction to the
statement oi Tue steamer agents. that they must pay
tue head money out of their receipts.
LEGAL DPisios.
In the SUIT Of henderson Brothers vs. tho Mayor,
&c. Commissioners VI Ernigrator appellants, va Tho
North German Lloyd. Justice Miller says
The master requires OF tho passenger before he Is
mitted bvari ms part OF the passage money. the
which ne knows lac must Tor the privilege ~ lanhag
him Ia New YORK It's, have srcady ssid Ia effect
tax on the passenger which hs the
th. v"yares voy only c.nps Cd when lands tho