New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-29
SUNDAY EDITION.
JULY 90, 1888.
CONVICTS AND PAUPERS.
TWO LARGE CLASSES OF IMMIGRANTS.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY TAKEN By THE CON-
MITTEE OF CONGRESS.


correspondent of The New-York StaatsZeitung,'
who made some startling disclosures about the
deportation Of convicts from Germany 10 this
country lie said that he had given considerable
attention TO the subject of the emigration OF
his countrymen TO the United States, and dis
covered in 1885 that benevolent association
known as the Society for the Relief of Discharged
Convicts, with headquarters al Munich, was send
ing large numbers Of convicts to this country.
A royal counsellor named Bauer is president OF
the society, and Leopold, Prince Regent OF
Bavaria, is an honorary president They have
agents at all the principal ports, and notably
one named Baedeller who is stationed at Bremen
and has been active in assisting German convicts
to this country The actual figures in their
printed reports show that twenty-sevcn convicts
were assisted to come to the United States in
1888; twenty-five in ss4, and thirty-six in $50.
These were the only exact figures the witness
could supply on the subject
Mr. Forthwith. did you do when you discovered this
.ralci
Mr.. Wolff reported (. MI Porter. who was then
Assistant Secretary and the then United States
Consul Bremen. Mr.. Harper, instructed to make
inquiries about the traffic. In December 1885, he sent
reply 10 the Department saying that he could find
evidence Of the existence Of such system but as the
time report Of the Convict Relief Society, In
figures given OF the number Of criminals
instructed by the Assistant Secretary Of
State, Mr.. Rivers, to investigate the subject. He re-
ported that # fact that tao Relief Society was send
'ng many OF the dangerous criminals in Germany,
those who beyond reformation TO the port Of New
York. The rule their passage and send
Them board the with keeper who would give
them 100 marks about $685. the moment before tho
steamer sailed for their expenses landing here and
so that they might not be sent back as paupers
MAYOR HEWITT VISITS THE COMMITTEE.
I'll. o1r
at this point by the arrival of Mayor Hewitt, who
came TO invite the members of the committee to
dine with him to-day, at his country-hou@ in
Ringwood ~ J. Some of the committee were Mr..
Hewtt's colleagues in Congress. They promised
to go to Rirgwood il possible. The examination
of Mr.. Wolf being resumed, he said the criminals
had been sent to Chicago, Pittsburg, Milwaukee
and Cincinnati to his knowledge and added:
A. the present there is In Jail in Cincinnati
who told police that he tcketoleave man from
Germany and had been sent TO this country by the Munich
Society The prisoners are allowed select the point In
this country they have friends and their fare Ia
paid that point.
Mr. Ford-Do you know Of any recent casesf
Mr.. won-It appears that check has been put upon
the energy society this direction by the
sensations of Germans who live in this country Tho
made forcble protes. against this traffic and
the result is ha only two conets have come this year.
These arrived by the Saae couple Of months ago The
American Consul Munich had cabed the authorities
here, and they intercepted and sent back But on
their return Hamburg they sent TO England by
an agent the Munich Society and sailing from there
under assumed came back here and are now some
whero this country.
MI Ford-aye you positive information in this easel
Mr.. Wolff have 1t is. however. OF private and
confidential character.
Mr.. Ford-Is It from correspondent in Germany
Mr. WoG-It is, and not at liberty to disclose It's
source
Mr. Ford-what IS your opinion Of the character and
quality the people who here from Germanyf
Arc they better than they fifteen
years agol
Mr. wolr-In general better There are more farmers
among them They with little money and
West settle in the country. The German Govern
ment estn,;rs th>. the National wealth is decreased
sos every 100 900 people emigrate from
the Fsthorhnd
MORE ABOUT THE POOR ITALIANS
After giving his opinion as to the methods which
might be effective in checking the food Of unde-
sirable immigration Mr.. Wolf was excused, and
the rest of the session was occupied in hearing
succession of the poor victims from Southern
Italy. These wratched creatures told substan-
tally the same story, and it was an extremely
pathetic one
They were happy and contented in the poverty
and ignorance of their sunny village
home, they said until, during the win
ter and spring of the present year.
Turing bait was set for them in the shape of a
flaming placard posted on all the walls telling Of
the land of gold beyond the sea. They gathered
about these pacards in groups and heard
them read and explained by the tricky
hirelings Of the padrones, who were taking this
means to induce their ignorant and ductile coun-
trymen to emigrate. All agreed that they would
never have come over had they known the real
state of the case; that they were only willing 10
h.aA
ing citizens of this country. Some of them had
their fares prepaid with the understanding that
they should pay back from two 10 three times
the amount, while others were induced 10 sacri-
flee what little they possessed to pay their way,
the padroncs made n fat commission on their
passage, they were rushed on board steamer az
Naples, and dumped al New-fork without
penny, to shift for themselves. $50
Vincenzo Zurlo left his wife and four children
at Cerce Maggiore, village some distance from
Naples. lie was fOrty-seven years old and could
neither read nor write. lie had worked as
farm-aborec for ten g nts a day and his Iood
ever since he was man, and the prospect OF
making from ten TO fifteen times as much eouId
not be resisted. lie arrived hsic in April and has
nor worked q day. lie lives on charity here,
and it does not require much Imagination 20 con-
ceive the fate Of his poor VIE ana children ia
Italy.
MI Ford-why yen not worked since coming heref
zurlo by interpreter-I had no money 70 pay the
bosses They asked from So to 81 &c get one work. and
could not obtain the money to pay them
THE VICTIMS OF sItARpERs."
Giuseppe Granazeo crippled with rheumatism
and fifty-fve years old. was an oil trader in the
province OF Salerno, and made Is to / Z francs
day He was well when he sailed from Naples
but the severe weather of the spring here made him
ill., Three sharpers." called Giuseppe Scudiere,
Gennero. GERMS and Graechino Giannattasio, had
spread the cry Go 70 America and you Will earn
money" throughout the villages in which Granazio
was acquainted. He sold his mule and other ef-
fects. and came here Ivy the Cachemire. Of the
French National Line, last May. He paid his
money 20 the men. and landed here with just ono
dollar in his pocket. lie remembered that tho
name Of the Cachemire the printed bills
posted in his village. and believed that the
" sharks were working in the interest Of the line
10 which she belongs. He had not worked day
since his arrival. having fallen sick and was kept
wholly on charity. as his starved and pinched ap-
pearance seemed TO indicate. His wife is still in
Italy, supported by their son. who is shoemaker.
nnrn M Rninonn tnld hn and