New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-19
-y4TJcyt1 CH1RGE or LuluGRATJON.

NATIONAL CHARGE OF IMMIGRATION.
We trust the bill before Congress, placing the
care of Immigration in the hands OF National
Commissioners, will soon become law. Some
such measure ought TO have been passed long
ago, As it stands with its amendments the pro-
poscd bill seems 10 us wise. 1t places the entire
immigration business under tho supervision OF
the Treasury Department, which Ia to supply
rules for the guidance of local Commissions
The President is authorized to appoint three
Commissioners for New York, and one each for
Boston. Philadelphia. Baltimore, Charleston,
New-Orleans, San Francisco, and Huron. At
other ports where immigrants land the Col
lectors are to have charge The Commissioners
are to be honorary and to receive no salary. 1t
is believed 10y the friends of the bill that there
will be no difficulty in finding eminent men who
will be willing to accept the positions. The
present Board of Commissioners i'll this state
serve without emOlument 1t Is proposed to
amend the bill increasing the number of Com
D.issioneTs here from three to four, and making
it incumbent on the President TO select two
Democrats and two Republicans. This SEEMS
to us to be wise.
1t is not necessary tC adluce arguments in
favor of taking the control of immigration from
the States, and giving it to the GOyernn ent.
1t is purely National business, and should he
discharged by the Nation. This State has borne
the burden of twO-thirds of the whole enormous
influx long enough. Under National control
there would be no di 1iculty IN securing from
the steamship companies, which reap enormous
profits from the business, sufficient head-tax
TO pay all the expenses OF landing the immi-
grants. 1t is estimated at Castle Garden that
the average expense is 40 cents Il heal, but
many competent authorities think that liberal
estimate. Of the National importance and
value of this vast increase of population which
pours in upon us annually, there is no doubt
Superintendent Jackson, whose seventeen years
of experience at Castle Garden have given him
admirable means for Judging, estimates the
average amount OF money which each in.mi-
grant brings at $S5. lie makes that as an ap
proxmate estimate only. There is great diff
Guilty in ascertaining the precise amount for
those who have the most conceal the true
amount for ieaI of taxation or swindling, and
those who have the least pretend to have more
for fear of being sent back as paupers.
Taking the $50 estimate, the total amount of
actual money brought into the country in this
way in a single year is enormous. The total
arrivals for 1892, for example, were about
735, 600 according TO the official figures OF the
Treasury Department. With $50 each, they
brought In $G2, 100000. The 10000 who
came in 1881 brought $61.20O000. In his
estimate Mr.. Jackson includes the amount paid
for railway ticket West. Railway officials
estimate the income from immigrants received
by all railways in 1881 to have been not less
than 81, 900, 900, and in 1892 about Sc, 0OO,O0
Economists reckon each able-bOdied immi-
grant to be worth in brain and muscle $1,000
to the producing capacity of the country. 1t is
a fact that nearly all the arrivals of the past
few years have been young, healthy vigorous
fellows, who have come with definite purpose
of working for living 1t Is entirely moderate
to say that 700 900 of those coming in 1881 and
10000 of those coming in 1882 answered to
The economists description of "able-bodled."
Here we have then q direct addition to the
wealth of the country of 81 100000.
Adding TO this the total in absolute money, and
we have 81, 543, 100000.
These are impressive figures They show,
what we cannot arrive at so clearly in any
other way, the enormous proportions to which
immigration las sweled. Clearly business
so great as this, and Of such general benefit to
the whole country, for the immigrants are dis
tributed through all the States, ought to he
controlled and regulated by the National Gov
eminent Every precaution should be taken to
protect the interests of these valuable new
corners, to secure their proper treatment while
on their way here, and their safe transportation