New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-04
TUF TYvIGP1TION BILL.

THE THuIGRATION BILL.
The steamship companies engaged IN BRING
ing immigrants urge the Governor to veto Il
bill which the Legislature has just passed, re-
ouiring them to pay 81 for each person brought
toward the support of the Emig1ant Bureau at
Castle Garden. They say that the law is un-
constitutional Governor Cornell may well
answer: That il a question which VIII
leave to the Supreme Court at Washington
For, observe no one suggests that the bill IN
fringcs the State Constitution. Interference
with the commercial power conferred by the
Federal Constitution ON Congress il the sole
ground of objection. On ii question OF tins
sort the Supreme Court is the proper, rs 1t Is
the final arbitcr.
The purpose of the bill is TO secure some
relief from the peculiar ana burdehsome cx-
penditure sustained by the City of New
York in consequence of the port being
the landing place Of nearly all immigrants.
They scatter at once over the country; but
they must be cared fer at Castle Garden for
perhaps a day each; and the immense recent
increase in the number Of arrivals il rapidly
rendering the expense of such care an intol-
cradle burden. A year OF two ago n bill was
urged in Congress covering the subject, anu
Governor Cornell, in his Message last winter
bespoke attention, but Congress was too busy
The Legislature ut Albany has been unwilling
To- allow the entire expenditure 90 be added to
State or City taxes. Hence this bill. As OWL
cr~ of vessels cat reimburse themselves by
adding ~ to each Immigrant ticket hereafter
sold, the Ian simply requires the steamship
COMPANIES 10 SEE to il that each immigrant
PAYS ~ Castle Garden tavern bill. Tins Is
not unjust, and the ouly prrtoXt for calling II
unconstitutional Is the suggestion that Con
crrss. not the State Legislature, Is the proper
holy to enact il.
In past year. several state laws. SOMEWHAT
resembling t.c present Till, have been con
tested il the Supreme Court. and a,ljudgrd
VOID for TREMBLING ou III" exclusive power II
CnngI, - f. regulate comm rec. TIE d'cl~o"N
taken to,cthcl - not drhy that th,r LAY be-
in each state limited p.wrr +" Protect UN'H
acall,t s,tcih 81 peculiar hIl,rn- ash dangers
tl"u, an influx Il population ir.m i.i'i'h
c,untIirs. They 10 indeed SAY that lninlsi'-
tion l.. not proprr sHAIrci 81 laNAil"n i'i IN
cr,.aSn: State tcNtuurs, and that II Il NOT
subject tu gcurrM u>tiicti. hy the States.
Bat in nciihcr IT the case. grErrIll> mrhil 'n'i
was H." tax either il.rtcl "r applied - t"'
maintenance If tie ulnglant While tairylhE
ia the rity In our lr>tl:rc the MOVED pur-
I,,c of the law WI. To- raise s.fr"n i.r a
marine hospital. IN another, II VAS partly To
Indemnity all the cuunil,S of tlr state against
caarg"s Tor the support at lEialsi"hi' VIZ"
m..hi brc,n" rauprl-. IN a thid' II was
to exclude immigrants supposed Ia Il" " I'"u
vomrn"; aud the means Of luing tbs pro-
vilrl los tie Laws WI, - require from th'
mi. .wncr = bond for 500 in e"l !. In the
Latter cas-. the upiniun Of the Count stlI III cN-
mess terms: " We arc not called upon To- decide
u,,,,, t- riglt ol State IN the Ih~rhcr 81 lcgiS-
yCoa.,rcS,. 10 protcct herself 10y necessary
ard proper Laws against rauIrr> AMI c.nylcicd
crl.ni:,al, from abroad. W hen STAT" statute
lLdtsl t. provisions necessary and aipl'pu-
nj, To tat object alone shall come before rs,
II will 3r time enough To- decide thlt q.ir>ii ID.
Tl.. manifest purpp,, of the statute no" CON
tested j, net to obtain inlraIIiiy. bat iI'nrt /;
tir amount to Dee TAKEN Is lett To- the d~crr-
ton of AN officer. arl the money whrh paid
doe. MT ~ to any fund for the benefit OF ia
Ih,rant-.'
A. Albany dispatches have not given the
text # the hill noN br'orc the Optrrn"r We
,Nr-css no opinion whether H. proNi>ioaN atr
vii.nm the limited power winch tlic SaPirmc
Court ,cria, WIllns 10 conccdr 10 Che state "r
not. Int ,.urr That tribunal his expressly
Lcll the question open, 1t cannot be- Hn.t EYER
FIR the Governor To- allow the blii, Wslrh no
doubt has been drawn with prudent dc>irr "I
a>oidm. objection. To go before that tribunal
FIR final consideration.