New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-14
rnY rrrrGRArH TO THE rmBUNEI


made strong appeal for the purity of the ballot
box as the only safe guard TO American insutu-
tions. and condemned in the strongest terms
all ATTEMPTS at fraud, declaring that those
who succeeded by fraud would perish by
fraud. He concluded by saying that IN his opinion
a new era Of good will and brothcrly affection IS
dawning and wished for by tine whole country, and
that the prople of all sections are demanding that
nothing shall be done TO impede its coming,
This speech from one whose opinions have the
greatest we CHIT with his party, and whose honesty
and patriotism are doubted by no one, will assist
materially in overcoming opposition among the
Democratic members OF the House.
The majority by which the bill was adopted 10y
the Senate this afternoon is an encouraging one,
and the measure goes to the House with an indorse-
meut that ought 10 insure its acceptance theIe
The Democrats of the House Will hold a caucus III
gard TO this bill before the MONDAY IeVeSs'
WHO SHOULD PAY FOR CASTLE GARDEN.
A HEARING IN COMMITTEE YEsTEEDAY-THE REA-
SONS WHY TIE WHOLE COUNTRY Is MORE BENE-
FITTED BY CASTLE GARDEN THAN NEW-YORK
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
WAsHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Mr. Potter and Mr.. Cox
and the New-YOrk Emigration Commissioners oc-
cupied the time of the House Committee on Com
merce this morning in the submission of arguments
in favor of the bill prepared by the commissioners
year ago, and introduced in the House at that
time by Mr.. Potter.
This measure is Just now of greatest pecunary in
terest to New-Yor City, but its general scope is in
nOsense simply of local importance Many years ago,
when the DEVELOPMENT of the West began to attract
hundreds of thousands of immigrants to this
country, there was a necessity OF providing
for the care of strangers who were without
means or friends, and of guarding against the I'M
portatIon of foreign paupeTs, lunaucS, lm0eclles
and criminals TO become charge upon the public
The New-York Board Of Emigration Commissioners
was then established. Its eX-othcio members
were the Mayors of New-lork and Brook
lvn. and the presidents, for the time-be-
ing, of the two great beneficial societies,
the Irish and the German. The State Of
New-York supplied the plant-Ward's and Ran
dalrs Islands the buildings upon them Castle Gar
den etc.-and the expenses of the commission were
paid by the collection of head-mOney from the
steamship companies at the rate of from ~ to - 90
ON each immigrant landed this " head-mOney" be
in lieu of q bond of $500 given by the company for
each passenger to protect the State of New-York
from loss by being obliged to support any OF the
persons brought.
While the shipping business was good the steam
ship companies did not complain Of the head
money but when business began to fall off and
very heavy tax upon their receipts question
having been raised az to the cOnstitutIonalty Of
this tax collected under State laws, the matter
carried TO the Supreme Court Of the United States
and there decided IN favor of the companies, This
of course stopped the collection of head-mOney,
and the Emigration Commissioners were obliged
either to suspend operations OF look elsewhere for
the means to continue them.
To abolish the commission not to be thought
Of The work that il did land still does was indis-
peusable. To Americans Castle Garden Is only
known as polygonal building on the Battery in
Ncw-York where emigrants land, but all over
Europe, and especially in countries from which our
population has chiefly come, 1t IS known and appre
ciated as one OF the most benefcent institutions Of
the country Every immigrant who lands there is
registered enabling hun to bo traced if in
curry is ever made for him. He is supplied
with an interpreter If he is not familiar
with the language. He Is given an opportunity TO
write or telegraph TO his friends. If he desires 10
remain temporarily IN the city he IS placed i'll a
suitable boardIng-huuse in accordance with his
means If he Is consigned TO some distant point he
put in the way purchase railway tickets at the
cheapest price, is given information IN regard
10 the locality To which lie is bound,
and is started on his way. If he is lett
ia Ncw-York without money he is sent
10 bis destination or TO some place where
he can obtain employment. The excellent care thus
taken of immigrants and their protection from
thieves aud sharpcrs has made Immigration to this
country much more popular than 1t otherwise
would have been.
Nor il fair that the expense of maintaining this
commission should be paid by the State of New
York as It has been paid since the decision of the
Supreme Court stopped the collection Of head
money! New-YOrk gains no special advantage by
having these strangers landed at her docks.
Every branch of business there IS crowded, and
labor is a drug in her market. The States Of the
West and SOUTH in VIII .ch these immigrants settle
and whose great industries they help to develope,
are the Immediate beuefCIaTles. 1t is not strange,
therefore that the State of New-lOrk, which, be-
sides furnishing the lands and buildings, has also
paid out half million dollars for the support OF
the commission should be urging Congress 10 take
TINS hufdenwhch really belongs to the General Gov
ernmcnt OF from It's hands. Two plans have been
proposed for providing for the care of immigrants.
The first IS to place the whole subject in the hands
OF the Federal Government, and have it provide
the necessary funds and manage the bust
ness itself; and the other IS TO have
Congress appropriate S25O,OOO a year. TO
be distributed among the several ports of
the United States in the ratio of the numb or of i'm
migrants arriving at each, except Chinese, and