The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-22
SOME STARTLING FACTS
Brought out in the immigration
Inquiry at Pittsburgh
BY THE FORD COMMISSION.
Hundreds of Insane PHupcrs from
Europe Passed by the Castle
Garden oaicIals-.othcr In.
tercsttns Testimony.

: PrrspvRGn, Dec. 9l.--To-tlay's SCI
sion OF the Ford Investigating Con
mittee was devoted 10 taking testimon
especially regarding the importation
contract labor. The witnesses examin
cd were Superintendent Elliott Of Put
lie Charities; Master Workman Eccle
Robinson, of the Brass Workers Nation
al Union Assembly; Master Workman
Doyle, OF District Assembly No. 8 X. o
L.; President Smith, Of the flint glas
workers national union, and Jamel
Cambpell and William Cake, presiden
and secretary of the Window GlaS
Workers Federation. The evidence
went to show that men had come TO this
country under contract aud in many
cases TO work against skilled labor.
During the Investigation Robert G.
Elliott, Superintendent OF Public Chari'
ties, said that an insane department was
connected with the almshouse. During
his connection with it it had been over
run with emigrants who had been per.
mitted to land ut Castle Garden in vio'
lation OF the law OF 1872.
"Since that time how many paupers
or insane people have applied to the de-
partment of public charities in Pitts
burgh for relief Immediately after their
landing in this countryP" asked Mr..
Ford.
"Oh, hundreds" was Mr.. Elliott's re.
las many as SOO?"
"0h, yes! More than 800"
give hundred?"
"Yes, sir. ! should say 1000 more
"Then your experience with the au.
thorities at Castle Garden has not been
altogether PLEASANT?
81 should say not. have been at Cas-
tie Garden and witnessed the examina.
ton OF emigrants there. 1t is farce and
is conducted much us one might be eX-
pected TO examine cattle. Why, sir, We
have received paupers-insane paupers
in Pittsburgh within forty-eight hours
Of the time they set foot on American
soil, having been passed as all right by
the Castle Garden authorities. Ere.
guentiy people have come, to us and
odd us they had just been re LEASED irom
an insane asylum in England or Ireland.
National Muster Workman Robinson
said that the men employed on the pipe
lines and railroads hGreabouts were
mostly Hungasians, Italians and Swedes
Ie had been informed by Pennsyl-
yunia railroad official that about 500
immigrants came here every week in
the season OF spring and summer. These
lluportatiOns hnd tue effect of decreas'
ing the value ot labor.
District Master Workman Doyle stated
that he had known Of the importation
ii contract labor in WestmOrcland and
Fayette counties. They never become
American citizens. He had reason to
believe that Hungarians, Italians and
Swedes were Imported for work On the
railroads aud pipe lines. They do not
enjoy the blessings OF home such rs
the average American w0rEingman has.
they have no family ties here and they
live like hogs.
~ saw them" said lie, sin the ditch
with piece OF bread aud raw bacon for
their dinner. They are not intelligent
aud IN American workman cannot COM
pete with them us they do not know
what fair rday's work is and are imposed
on by their employers"
President Campbell, OF the Glass
Workers Federation, said that they had
tad no trouble since the international
federation OF glass workers had been
formed.
President Smith, OF the Flint Glass
Workers, cited the case of White
Mills, Pa, glass manufacturer, who was
importing contract labor. He said he
had an affidavit from Thomas Latham, a
workman, in which the latter swears that
when he wanted to quit work on Novem.
Der last, $50 was deducted from his
wages to pay his passage from England.
He had been hired with four others to
come to this country and work.
This completed the evidence, and the
session adjourned. -
The members Of the Commission will
leave for Detroit in the morning. The
members seemed well satisfied with the
evidence that has been taken here.
Chairman Ford. in speaking OF 1t, said
'The evidence shows an alarming state
of affairs so faras the paupers and insane
are concerned. 1t is surprising to US
At the lowest estimate there have been
500 OF such immigrants come to thissec
ton alone since the law went into effect
and contrary to its provisions"