The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-26
Immigration Inquiry.

| NEW YoRK, July 25.-To-day the
Congressional committee appointed te
look into the immigration affairs OF The
country at large began its work. Tha
| first session of the committee opened al
| Westminster Hotel this morning
Chairman Ford. of Michigan, and Con-
gressmen Morrow, of California, and
Gunther, of Wisconsin, were the only
members of the committee present, but
| General Spinola and Congressman
| Oates are expected to arrive to-mor-
row. The New York commission
ers of immigration were none OF
them present at the opening OF
the inquiry, nor was anyone else there
to represent Castle Gardens.
The first witness to take the chair was
e. L. Boas, passenger agent OF the Ham
burg line of steam !. He was questioned
about the mann IN which his COM
pany transacted the passenger business,
He described the company's system of
agencies in this county and Europe.
Witness said every person buying
ticket had to present a passport show
ing that ne is allowed to emigrate and
has not committed any crime. The
company, he said, takes great pains to
inspect all passengers. In order that
none may come over who would not be
allowed to land here.
Boaswas questioned closely by each of
the committeeman on this passport
question and acknowledged that the
principal point dwelt on In the docu
ment was whether or not the would-be
emigrant was liable for military service.
Mr.. Coverly was the second witness
examined. The committee devoted
special attention to the Mediterranean
business done by his company.
Arthur Lederer, of the Red Star line,
thought his line had brought 1850
immigrants into the country in the
past five years. Ten per cent. of the
tickets sold IN New York are prepaid.
A representative of the Italian Society
flock to the society rooms begging re-
lief and making complaints. He was
asked why they came here. They did
as they were persuaded by flaming
placards which adorn their native vii
lagos setting forth in glowing terms
the advantages of coming to America
and promising them profitable en-
ployment as soon as they land. These
placards they say are scattered broad
cast over the land by the agents of New
York and Italian bankers, who reap
rich harvests from their profits on
steamship tickets.
Louis Debbian, agent of the Havre
line OF steamships, stated the majority
OF the Storage passengers who come to
this port by his line are Swedes. His
only has dealings with ten or
twelve local agents, and no tickets are
issued 70 them in blank. The arrivals
for the past five years were about l00,-
600. Very few of their passengers re-
main in New York.
A. N, Underhill said the Guion
line brought about 100000 in
the FIVE years past, mostly English,
Irish, Skotch, Hungarians and German,
but no italians. Fully 80 per cent of
the passengers coming over thr Guion
line go 30 points beyond New York. a
majority of them going to the north
west,
Theodore Chroder, emigrant agent of
the No1h German Lloyd line, gave the
arrival over his line during the past
five Yeas at 331 900. The majority were
Hungalsans, and were mostly prepaid
tickets, and were sold by local agents.
mostly stn the Pennsylvania coal
regionss Two-thirds of the emigrants
by this line went west of New York.
J. Tierkule, agent of the Fabre line,
said thejmajority of Italian emigrants
went welt OF New York. He acknowl-
edged that at one time he had sold 100
tickets to one party, but he now re-
stricted the number to ten. This was
done 10 prevent speculation. He
claimed that Italian bankers realized
very little from their commission on
passage tickets.