Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-01
POOR DELUDED ITALIANS
tLURED TO THIS COUNTRY BY FALSE PROMISES.
Land Claimed By the Italian Emigra-
 ton and Colonization Society.

tion and Colonization society. NEW YORK, Aug 1.---The taking of testimony by the Congressional Special Committee was continued at the West minister Hotel By re solution offered by Congressman Morrow any two members of the Committee designated by the chair man constitute quorum to take testimony in this city, and the chair was given power to name a Sub Committee of three mem- bers at any time to take evidence outside of New York. The first witness examined was Francis. co Blamonte. He said that he was twenty. six years of age. He cams to this country to work, and had AmericanGzed himself sufficiently to wear a blue jumper. He said he owned some land at home, worth about 20O0 francs, on which he grew olives. He paid his own passage, and with the railroad fare it cost him 154 francs from his native village; he had 200 francs when hs left homo; he had not been able to obtain work since he arrived in this city, but had maintained himself by carrying wood; some of his companions had ob- tained work and had been left ir the woods; about 1,50O came in the ship with him; the man from whom he purchased his ticket was not steamship agent, but representative of a society
 Further examination of the witness dis closed the existence of a society in Naples knoWe as the Italian Society for Emlgra- tior Nnd Colonization, whose stamp was on the witness's passport. To Con- Oates the witness said he would rather pick up sucks and make few coppers that way for living, or 20 back to Italy, than take work for three francs (say fifty cents) day and hls board and lodging.
 
 No.
 The Chairman Then how will you go back to Italy2 Somo one must send mo back. Laughter.
 Continuing the witness sad that the representative of the Emigration and Col oniZation Society at his home and also at Naples told him that he would get work in America as soon as the Society bought some land in this country; when he came here and landed at Castle Garden, he was told by the agent of the Society that he would get work as soon as God sent it; that the matter was in the hands of the Almighty; in Naples the agent of the So- clety told him he was fortunate to be con signed to the Society in New York, as all such emlgrants were at once provided with work, the New York Soclety owning lands on which they employed the Italian imm grants, whereas other immigrants were not so fortunate; he was induced to pay ten or twelve francs moro than the regular rate by these statements, and by the statement that the steamer he was to come on would come quicker than other boats.
 In Castle Garden, a man who witness believed represented the Italian Emigra- tion and Colonization Society took his passport away from him and gave him . card in return; the witness produced this card, which was one of the Italian Emlgra- ton Society's, and merely contained it's address, s Pearl Street and A State Street, and the name, ''R. Marzo, Director" Inc witness said that the agent told him that the passport belonged to the Society, as the Society had paid for it, but he knew that he had paid for it himself, and he asked that it be given back to him, and that was done immediately.
 To Congressman Morrow, the witness said that one of the inducements to emi- grate held out to him by Torclli, the agent of the Italian Emigration Society, was rha he was told that he would be taken care of by the Italian Emigration Soclety in this city from the time he landed i'll Castle Gar den; the party that came from hiS native place comprised twenty seven persons l; they carried one letter of introduction for the entire party from ToreIli to the Italian
 
 pies.
 Continuing, in reply to Congressman Morrow, the witness said he had borrowed 200 francs in order to come to this country and had agreed in writing to pay back the sum of POO francs with interest at the rate of 25 per cent. or 250 francs in all; the writing was his own promissory note; he had not borrowed the money from Toreili the agent of the Emigration and Coloniza- ton Society, but from some one else in Sellia; the notes will fall due on January 8l, and if not paid it will be protes ted and his olive farm, which he valued at about 2,OOO francs, would be liable for the | debt and could and no doubt would be seized; the man who lent him the money was SiPnor Nicola Lo Stumpo, who was 1 in that business.
 To Congressman Guenther the witness said money lenders charged as much inter- est as they could, from 20 per cent up; sometimes they icharged as high as 66 per cent; the witness could not tell how all his companions felt on tho subject of going back; they would probably rather find work and remain in this country. Congressman Guenther--- Gin an aside-I believe so myself. Laughter.
 | Biamonte was succeeded on the witness stand by Giuseppe Menitte, aged thirty. two, very much like . stevedore in appear ance. He, too, wore 8 blue jumper, and said he had wife and four daughters at his home in Italy. He had been a clerk to the municipality at home. This caused some surprise among the memb bers of the | Committee. The witness said he had 400 francs in his possession when he left home, but not a centime when he landed at Castle Garden; he was three months on 1 sea, having been detained at Quaran- tine; what little he had after leaving home he spent on board; he would work for five francs a day and his board; ''would he work for two francs g. day and his boardp' What could he do with two francs a day! He had applied at the Italian Con. sulate to be sent home and had been re- fused; he had also applied there for work and had not been successful; he did not owe anybody anything in Italy; the legaI rate of interest in Italy was from 6 to 1( per cent; there was law against usury in Italy; that law was avoided by includ ing the interest as part of the capital debt Murderous Wedding Guests in Nebraska a
 EWING, Neb., Aug. LA young mar | named Schmidt, his sister, and two broth