New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-17
RAIL VA Y NEWS.
PAYING COMMISSIONS TO AGENTS.

COMPETITION or THE NEw-YoRK CENIRN VRE'
AND PrNNsYLvANIA RAILROAD COW ANifs-
Iur EMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS ATTEMPT TO
REFORM TIE SYSTEM
Emigration Commissioners Ulrch, Starr iauS-
self and Pinckney took testimony from various
persons at Castle Garden yesterday IN relation TO
The evils growing out of the custom II the Trunk
railroad lines III paying commissions to agents;
runners. hotel and boarding honse Keepers ahu
others for tie sale oil railroad tickets TO immigrant
than Sl50.00O had been paid BY the Ere
New-York Central, and PcnnsVlyanla ooma-
panies during the past year TO the steam
shin companies for their services rs agents
IN the sale Of railroad tickets A resolution
the Commissioners. IN order TO protect Immigrants
from being swndlcd III transportation ra'es, nave
allowed Office room 10 the railroads tree upon INC
agreement that the immigrant should get the pele
fit of the lowest established rates, II was IN ther
opinion wrong in principle and injurious 10 Tue
interests of the immigrants Tor the rillioaa
COMPANIES to offer, allow and pay the
commissions alluded to; and the agents were re-
questcd TO discontinue the payment OF snch coinls-
sions and to abolish all outside agencies aud So
called boardin g-house agents. In case OF rciusai
70 consent to this the Commissioners should demand
that the companies pay INTO the treasury OF me
Commission the amount or shch cOinIi'sSiohS' io'
the support of ITS institutions
The Castle Garden agents OF the three COM
panos were summoned TO recommend what c0did
he done III the interest OF all persons concerned
They TcuueEtcd that, as the ger cfdi passenger
agents had sole authority III such matters, they oe
excused Congressman Muller. representing the
Frie COMPANY said tlat his road always looked ont
for It's own Interests aud lie was at all times pre-
pared to protect his road. He knew thdt largo
amount Oi money had been pad TO the steamship
companies in commissions, but his sipeIloIS MADE
those arrangements. Mr.. Ulrch cited cases where
pursers and stewards If steamships Influenced the
passengers during the voyage 10 take certain I1uic'
and then made out the order and received the
commission lie thought the Immigrant should he
allowed to trust 10 the officials Oi Castle Gafuci,
where they would be certain or not beng sWlndIed.
II was resolved 10 summon the general passenger
agents of these three roads before the Board during
the first week III September.
Since it was learned that some of the missionaries
were working IN the interests Of the railroads ana
receiving commissions, they have been deprived of
tie privilege of communicating with the lmml-
grants until the clearinghouse k,epers we're ad-
mitled. They have c"inpainGi OF .,;,i tmiS
duties. All Of the missionaries having
the privileges Of Castle Garden were summoned be-
fore the Commissioners, who are desIous OF pro-
wang a remedy.
The Rev. A. ". BIossctt, representative Of the
Protestant Emgrant And society at Castle Garden
for the past seventeen ycais, said that his was an
independent organization for The purpose % assist
ing aud aiding immigrants bcth spiritually ana
physically Ills duties were much lnterlered with
by the new rules as before lie could get an oppof-
tHnity 10 speak to the immigrants, they were hli-
RED away BIZ their friends. runners ana others who
ri,,ht he inclined to imn0se upon them. He had met
unprotected Young girls who had become ac-
ouainted with strangers on board Ol tie vessel.
Only few days ago hc detected and had arrested u
had lust arrived. to y dsOrdcrly house in the city.
Ry having the privilege OF ass0catng among The
Immigrants before the hoardug-hOuSe Keepers got
To them he had been able 10 save many before they
got ont of the IncloSuIe It was always duty to
distribute his tracts. lie had MANY times saved
money for the Immigrants hy adv sIng them 10
lcaye their luggage az the Garden until they were
gong away permanently. He rad never received
one cent in commissions, ont bad referred all lrml-
grants ~ he regularly authorized agents for their
tickets. Ia" Commissioner coup limcn eel the Wit
nr- bv saving that NOS one Voil col fault had been
found with him during bis seventeen years Of
service.
The Re-. Mr.. Berkheimcr represent
said that the object OF lis society
in Ncv-lork wa. the establishment OF IN In.mi-
grant boarding-house and a mission. Ihey gave
advice. cared for The protection OF IN" immigrants.
and made their charges ~ low rs possible. The
new rules at CI-,lr Garden !n'crfued seriously
with his work. lie was NOT interested IN the sale
of railroad tickets or lands, nor in the
cxchang. OF money. nor bad lie ever received
aconni~sIon lae hOuaekrcpcr ~ charge of the
lodgug-hOusc attended 10 such business, ami The
commissions were contributed Tor the benefit Of the
poor
The Rev. s. Keyl. representing tho Lutheran
Il ssouri synod. sand that lie Intcrc !cd himself IN
the sale of ticscis and received commission upon
them which h. put III the treasury for the benefit
Of the Immigrants.
Missionary Joseph koelble representing the
Roman Catholic Immigration Committee for New
York and vicinity, said that he gave advice ana as
si-tancc 10 iumi grants seeking n, and told them 10
bay tickets OF the agents at Castle Garden
Missionary +. X. >k0y OF the Norwegian Lu-
theran Synod. made a similar statement.