The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-27
THE EMIGRANT PROBLEM.

HOW ARE THE SICK AND DISABLED TO BE PRO-
vIpED FoI?-''HEAD MONEY" AND ITS HIS
TORY.
For considerable time past the Commissioners OF
Emigration have been seriously annoyed by tho I'M
pcdments thrown in their way in the carrying OF
their semposed work OF protecting tho emigrantsl
landing this port During the past session OF Com
gress bill presented looking to settlement ofthj
many Troublesome questions which arse IN tho az
jus,ment OF the emigration difficulties, but Coz
grcss adjourned without taking any actin
the bill. At tho present time the Commssioncrsof
Emigration have memorial before tho Governor, po-
ttoning for $3.50 900 carry the business tlbo
commission for the coming year. Since tho decision
OF the Supreme Court in March, 1875, relieving Tho
steamship companies from paying "hcad money" tho
commission has TO rely on tho appropriation Of tho
Legislature for the funds necessary TO maintain the IN
sti,ution. HERALD reporter yesterday had CONVEX
with Commissioner Lynch relative to tho penf
ing difficulties and received from him the following
tcrcsting information =
COMMISSIONER THE TROUBLES.
ITO begin at tho beginning may say that q
back MS 1s47 tho Legislature provided that the
sgnec ownor OF every vessel arriving ut this port
from foreign country, and having on boar\
migrant passengers destined Tor this city, should
u bond TO tho state in the sum OF $500 Tor each \
sengcr, conditioned to indemnify the city against
expense ON account OF the passenger within i've "
from arrival Tho OF the vessel had accor,
to tnom the right 10 commute Tor this bond, by pi
Ing certain sum, which has since varied from III
TO time from 81 so TO 81 so, to tho Commissioned
Emigration VINO In turn had TO pay out OF his con
mutation fund tho expenses Tor any alien who nigh
have ut his port Tor the previous Ave years
THIS system continued from lss7 until March last,
wnen The Supreme Court rendered decision dcclar.
ing tho law OF this State requiring
the bond tor the immigrants arriving aud when
authorized tho communication by tho paymed. Of what
called ''hcad money" a memorial was transmitted
to the Legislature immediately alter tho Supreme
Court decision was rendered asking for an ap:
preparation Of 100000 Tor tho maintenance OF
tho commission, L chief reason assigned being
that the state pledged to the immigrants who had
arrived previous to the rendering OF the Supreme
Court decision. This appropriation was only intended
to protect the immigrants on their landing aud 10 sup
port those who had pad the communication money No
provision for sick and destitute Immigrants,
the Commissioners Of Charities and Correction
fused TO render them any assistance the Emigrn.
tom COMMISSION has been, therefore, under no small
expense caring for those sick and destitute lmmi.
grants who have arrived here since March,
last years Legislature resolution was passed Ia.
structng the Commissioners OF Emigration to prepare
bill Tor Congress looking TO national legislation Tor
remedy for tho emigration troubles, but Congress
adjourned without passing the bin that was presented,
Il, the next session oil Congress went through
last winter. Tho steamship companies are powerful
interest to nght, but there must DO some adjustment
OF the present difficulties Out OF 5000, 900 immi.
grants who arrived IN tho United states
since ia nearly S,oooooU pr ..e% Ianaec
Congress aimed extend 10 immigrants arriv
hereafter tho protection tuat was auOruco
those arrived for the thirty years previous to the
rendering OF the supreme Court decision. The 'head
money! paid by the immigrants themselves. and
the steamship companies were merely the corpora
tons through whose hands passed on Its way 10 tho
public treasury. These corporations have diverted
that money to their own profit from It's proper pur-
said that State laws bearing upon Immigration
laws OF commerce, and should be
superseded by cnacmcns OF tho national
government THIS he thought, was the best way TO
ell ctnally and satisfactorily settle tho difficulties; but
Lave until tho next session OF Congress
before feel secure how the trouble 10 10 be ended
Mean hilc some Of Commissioners have just been
10 Albany, where they have lad before the Governor
memorial asking Tor appropriation OF $3.50. 900 10
carry the work OF the commission Tor tho ensuing
year"
WHAT THE MONEY WANTED
The Commissioners estimate tue cost Of carrying on
tho work OF the commission on the most economical
basis, during the year commencing May 1877, aud
ending AprIl 80, 1878, at $l500D0. as foo~s:-
For maintenance OF The hospitals. refuge, asy-
lum FOR the insane, &c at Wards lsland ESQ, 600
For expenses TO operate the Castle Garden land.
ing depot as protective measure against
fraud on tho cmigrant and for inspection pur-
poses. S,0OV
For rent OF Castle Garden landing depot ono
year. L. 900
For steamboat hire, conveying freight and pas
scngcrs To ana from wards Island. 1000
For legal expenses ...................... 1.G0
For ntorestand bond and mortgage Of $200O00 14,oOu
For Insurance. OF properly 2,OOu
ana to Europe NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1900
To reimburse The various towns and counties Of
the state Tor expenses TO which They may bs
| put on account OF immigrants who have paid
communication heretofore aud may become
charge on them during tho coming ycar..... $1,000
Total. $50, ono
'Supposs the Legislature refuses grant the appro-
priatioas" SAID the reporter
linen the care oil the immigrants will dovolvc upon
the city aud county, and tho city aud county viii have
To shaltcr and protect all the sick and destitute people
who may arrive at this por:.