New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20
THE MANAGEMENT OF CASTLE GARDEN.

THE MANAGEMENT OF CASTLE GARDEN.
One of the important questions upon which
the Legislature will be called to act,
is that in regard to the enforcement OF
the law reconstructing the Board of Emil
grafton. The act passed at the last session
failed to become operative because the Gov
nor endeavored to make use of it for partisan
purposes. 1t is quite possible that he has
learned something since his conflict with Mt
Grady on this question, and will not again
nominate for responsible office such politl-
clan as Mr.. Murtha. 1t is certain that no such
person will be confirmed by the Senate
In the case of the act passed AT the last ses-
sion to grab the patronage of the Board OF Har-
Dor Masters which also failed to become
operative the Governor now recommends It's re-
peal. AS he makes no such recommendation
in regard to the immigration Act he evidently
has not changed his mind in respect to that
But there are some features of the new law
which might well be amended. 1t was passed
fer the sole purpose of grabbing patronage III
provides for Commissioner at salary OF
Sc, 600, and one deputy at $4,000; and an
other deputy on Wards Island, at $1,000 IN
addition to a suitable residence" with proper
"fucl and light" The need of this in
creased expense is not apparent
But there is n more Objectionable feature
in the bill. The present Board of Emigration
is to be supplanted by three Commissioners
one to be appointed by the Governor, one to be
chosen by the Irish Emigrant Society, and one
by the German Society. In this way the prop
elty of the State is virtually placed under the
management and control of two persons chosen
bv private societies. The only direct represent
alive of the people will be the Commissioner
chosen by the Governor but he will be in mi
nority The expenditure of the money contrib
utcd for the maintenance Of this new Board
of Emigration will be in the hands of two If
responsible officials No matter how good may
be the intentions Of these two officers the prln-
ciple is altogether wrong. Under the present
law these two representatives of private sOcie-
ties are simply members of Board which has
seven other members. That is a different thing
from being placed in the majority.
The Senate Finance Committee which made
amanimous report to the last Legislature on this
subject, after referring TO the fact thar the
proprictv of the exclusive recognition of the
Irish and German Societies was not clear, said
And even if the present recognition of the
" lIlSll ana GERMAN SOClttlcS dIOut NtIt W NOH-
tinuc, the designation of a single Commits
sioner to be appointed by the Governor would
l." be impossible, for all will conccde the impro
"prety of a board of three of which the ma
"iorty should be appointed by voluntary
associations who could thus Overule the
"0tiiccr of the State itself"
Senator Jacobs signed that report as chair
man Of the committee and attcrward intro
duced and advocated bill in direct cOntradic-
ton to the recommendation of the report. BIT
a proviso in the new law secured to the Commits
sioncr appointed by the Governor the sole
power to name the subordinatcs" As it was
patronage alone that Mr.. Jacobs was seeking,
and as he supposed he had that secured in the
promise of the appointment of Mr. Murtha, he
was willing to allow the management Of all the
important interests of Castle Garden to be given
over to the other Commissioners. This is an
objectionable feature in the act that should be
repealed There is no good reason why the
1OO,O 900 immigrant, who arrived in this country
in 1883 from Great Britain, or the 10000
that came from Scandinavia, should not have
an official representative in the Board Of
Emigration, as well rs the $4,000 that came
from Ireland or the larger number that came
from Germany. A better system of caring for
the immigrants than the one now in force
might easily be devised, but it viii not be found
in the bill passed by the last Democratic Lcgis
latuIe.