Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-26
IMMIGRATION AFFAIRS.
The Investigating Committee Be-
gins It's Work.

New York, July 25.-To-day the Con-
gressional Committee appointed to look
into the immigration affairs of the coun-
try at large began its work. The first
session OF the committee opened at the
Westminster Hotel this morning. Chair
man Ford, of Michigan. Congressman
Morrow, OF. California, and Guenther, of
Wisconsin, were the only members of
the committee present, but General Spi-
nola and Congressman Oates are expect
ed to arrive tomorrow. The New York
Commissioners of Emigration were none
OF them present at the opening of the in
quiry, nor was any one else there to rep
resent Castle Garden.
The first witness to take the chair was
E. l.. Boas, passenger agent of the Ham
burg Line of steamers He was questioned
about the manner in which the company
transacted its passenger business, He
described the company's system of agen-
cies in this country and Europe. Witness
said every person buying ticket had to
present passport showing that he is al
lowed to emigrate and has
not committed any crime. The
company, he says, takes great pains
to inspect all passengers, in order that
none shall come over who would not be
allowed to land here. Boas was ques-
toned closely by each of the Committee
men on this passport question, and
acknowledged that the principal point
dwelt on in the document was whether
or not the would-be emigrant was liable
for military service.
Mr.. Coverly was the second witness
examined. The Committee devoted
especial attention to the Mediterranean
business done by his company.
Arthur Lederer, of the Red Star Line,
thought his line had brought 125 900 i'm
igrants 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,
during recess, said emigrants flock to the
Society's rooms begging for relief and
making complaints. When asked why
they came here, they said they were per-
suaded by flaming placards, which adorn
the walls Of their native villages, setting
forth in glowing terms the advantages of
coming to America, and promising them
profitable employment as soon as they
land. These placards they say are scat
tered broadcast over Italy by the agents
of New York and Italian bankers, who
reap rich harvest from their profits on
steamship tickets.
Louis de Bebian, agent of the Havre
Line of steamships, stated that the ma
jority of steerage passengers who come
over to this port by his line are Swedes.
His company only has dealings with ten
or twelve local agents, and no tickets are
issued to them in blank. The arrivals
for the past five years number about
100000. Very few OF their passengers
remain in New York.
A. M. Underhill said the Guion Line
brought in the past five years about 100,-
600 emigrants, mostly English, Irish
| Scotch, Hungarians and Germans, and
but few Italians. Fully 80 per cent Of
| the passengers coming over the Guior
Line go to points beyond New York, the
majority Of them going to the Northwest
Theodore Shredder, emigrant agent of
| the North German Lloyd line, gave the
arrivals of his line for the past five years
at 33l 900. The majority were Hungari
ans, mostly on prepaid tickets and sold
by local agents, mostly in the Pennsyl.
vania coal regions. Two-thirds of the
emigrants by this line went west Of New
York.
J. Terkuile, agent of the Havre line,
said the majority of the Italian emigrants
went west of New York. He acknowl.
edged that at one time he sold one hun
dred tickets to one party, but he now re-
stricted the number to ten. This was
done to prevent speculation. He claimed
that Italian bankers realize very little
from their commission on passage
tickets.