New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-26
no KEEP BACK THE PA UPERS.
INVESTIGATING IMMIGRATION EVILS.
REPRESENTATIVES, or STEAMSHIP LINES TESTIFY


BrFoRE A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.
The Investigation of immigration evils was begun
by the Congress Committee yesterday only three
members of the committee were present. NJ III. Ford,
of Michigan; Richard Cuenther Of Wisconsin; and
W. W. Morrow, Of California. Mossrs. Oates, OF
Alabama, and spInoa, of New-York. were the abscn-
tees. The committee sat in the parlor Of the West
Minister Hotel from 10 m. until p. m with
recess Of an hour and half during the hottest part
of the day But with this recess every one con-
cerncd suffered. The witnesses hurried out as soon
as thelr turn, and all who were forced to
SIT the ordeal out pcprng and gaspng, looked after
them with cnvlous eyes.
The three committeeman began their inquiries with
zeal, and as a matter of fact elected far moro than
was necessary. The sfcnographcr nearly filed
bulky notebook but nothing startling sensational
and parativcly little of momcntous bearing the
important subject Of investigation was recorded.
Representatives Of the Hamburg American Steamship
Company OF the Anchor, Inman, Red Star, French,
Guon, the North German Lloyd and the Fabrc lines
examined. To give the essence of their testi-
mony I'm a few lines, they all denied knowledge OF
their European agents pcddllng passage tickets or
soliciting Immigrants, and they all said that certain
precautions taken I'm regard to the Immigrants
shipped, but admitted that these precautions did not
enable them TO find ont whether person was coming
TO America as laborcr under contract, In viola
ton Of the laws of tho country
I n
f. L. Boas, passenger agent OF the Hamburg AmerI-
can Line, gave the following figures in regard to the
number of immigrants carried by his company's ships
I'm the last five years: 1ss3-53, 055, 1os1-56,lol,
1ss5-3s.9f 1ssG-29 7s2. 1ss7-22.352 There are
twentynlnc steamers the lire, and sevenly-iv per
cent of tho passengers come as steerage. Tho
stecrace fare IS s23 Examined by Mr.. Guenher, the
witness said that all the agents had instructions not to
book immigrants likely to become public charge.
william Covery, n member of the firm Of Hender-
Brothers, of the Anchor Line told funny story
about the evasion of the contract law lie was asked
II the company had been sued for violation OF
1t. To this he replied
No. they only been requested TO take passengers
back
o.-Have you ever rcsstedl Ayes, notably once
in the OF farm servant engaged for gentleman
down in Louisville.
Q.-What the result OF that caseI A-The man
came back by the steamer.
Odd the Court determine that he could come backf
A-No he just came, and he was allowed to land the
second time.
Mr.. Coverly said that II man wanted TO bring 500
labUrers from Italy he could get steamship tickets
from the Italian brokers' and the companies could no
prevent II. Sometimes cnterprisng individual
would drum up lot of immigrants and hire cheap
tramp steamer to carry them, charging the ignorant
Italians much as the regular lines.
HARD TO KEEP THE PAUPERs BACK.
John NJ Kirk, passenger agent OF the Inman Line,
said that they took precautions against crippled
or diseased immigrants, but could not well prevent
paupers from emigratlng. Last year twenty Irish
people got assisted" passages occasion, and tho
Emigration Commissioners tried 10 send them back,
but the courts decided against them an appeal of
the company.
Arthur Lederer of the Red Star Line, said that his
company refused 100 Greeks in March because they
were contract laborers, but they were aftcrwan
brought here by the Bordeaux Line.
a. NJ UDdorhln, agent of the Guion Line, said
Our immigrants Scotch, English, Welsh, Irish,
Norwegians, Danes; Italians Southern Europeans
price OF the ticket Is $50. It s15
ago. This VIZ caused by competition.
Q.-You have a conference here the rate7 A.
It's an armed neutrality present. (Laughter) We
have agents all over the country. They are paid 80
head for each passenger booked subsgents get
So head. We have general agents at Chicago Pitts
buIe Philadelphia and Boston. The agents have no re-
strictions the number OF tickets sold. Twenty
five per cent Of our immigrants prepaid tickets
We would sell the agent a million tickets II he would
give the money.
o.-what precautlon does your line take to prevent
unfit characters from comngl A.-They are Inspected
by Government immigration officer, who musters the
passengers aboard taking the record Of the physical APP
pearauce, name age and condition OF each person
o.-Do you take any prccaut.on s-anst the importation
Of contract labocrs violation Of our lawsl A-None
at all.
TICKETS NOT SOLD IN BULK.
f. w. ]. Hurst, OF the National Line, testified.
agents Europe have to give bonds to each gov
eminent according to the immigration laws Of
each country None Of agents that l know Of 60
around pedang tcekts and trying TO induce people to
cnhtIa,e. l don't Bink sold moro than twenty
five tickets single person We never sell them in |
block or blank. We have cut of assisted" cmgrants
Thomas o. L. Schroeder, immigrant passenger agent !
nf the North German Lloyd Line, said that its agents
in Europe had 10 be licensed BY the Government, and
they dare not solicit customers for the tickets.
g. Ter Knilc of the Fabre Line, said:
Our immigrants mostly Italian. The price OF |
ticket from Naples NewYork is s2i To the
my knowledge agents in Italy don't send out
and solicit business. Theirs is commission business In
this city furnish them with blank tickets, from five 10
twenty-five or atty, or even hundred II they are re-
sponsibo The commission OF agents here IS |
supposed be g. but nowadays they don't
account Of the competition among the subagens 1t is
not account Of any love Of the immigrants Most OF
the agents bankers and money changers About IS
per OF the prepaid tickets sold In the United States
are sold New-YOrk Generally speaking, Italians
who land here get from here AMI Job In
the county Some have considerable Most OF |
them from the agricultural cities. but probably fol
want Of sufficient means. do not take farming here
The investigation viii be continued tomorrow at |
10 a.