New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-27
FACTS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS:
INVESTIGATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE.


The Committee of Congress continued it's inves-
tigation of the immigrant traffic at the WestmnsteR
Fotel Yesterday All the members Of the commit
tee except General Spinola were present, and the
room was crowded.
The first witness was John II. Cortis OF the
Cunard Line, who gave some interesting facts
about the part taken by his line In bringing steer
age passengers TO this country and agreed with the
other agents in saying that there was no known
means of ascertaining whether immigrants were
coming under contract not The Cunard
brought over / 1888 immigrants in 1as3 and dur
ing the first six months of the present year has
landed 2f,l94. He said in reply to question BY
Chairman Ford that 4,2Oo prepaid tickets were
sold between July, 1887, and July 1888. but
claimed that not more than ten or twelve tickets
had been sold to any one person at time The
immigrants carried by the Cunard, he said. are
mostly English, Irish, Scotch and Scandinavians;
few Italians come that way. The line is obliged
to return on average from twelve TO fifteen
passengers year. When asked il the Irish Emil
grant Society was agent Of the Cunard Line,
Mr.. Cortis said that it was.
Vernon H. Brown, who was next called, Is the
general agent Of the Cunard Line, and agreed
substantially with what Mr.. Cortis had said. He
thought that the extraordinary rush OF inn grafton
to the shores of the United States this year duo
partly 10 the fear of war in Europe and partly to
prospective failure of the crops in many places
FACTS ABOUT THE ITALIANS.
Attilio Monaco the Italian Vice-Consul here, was
next called and took up the rest of the morning scs-
sion with an interesting account OF the state OF his
countrymen who have come to this country in
search of employment. His principal interlocutor
was Chairman Ford, but in the course OF his cx-
animation each member Of the committee had
turn at questioning him. He showed willingness
to give full information on every point within his
knowledg,, but found some difficulty in understands
ing some of the questions and also in making him.
self understood in English. The substance OF Signor
Monaco's evidence was as follows: He had had
occasion to great many Of the Italian immi-
grants that have arrived here during the last five
years, and admitted that many of them came in
extremely destitute circumstances. The Consulate
was authorized aid Italian subjects who are un-
able to work and to send them back TO Italy.
Mr.. Ford-How much you authorized to spend an
nuslly for this purposci
Mr. Monaco-The amount is not stated. We can spend
whatever may be needed-we are not limited
Mr.. Ford-Has the italian Government sent any money
for this purpose recentlyf
Mr.. Monaco-Yes, a month ago money was sent 10 our
Minister Washington, and transmitted to the Consulate
Mt. Ford-How this money sentf There was
pressing need of it, presume and it was not sent By
mall. Was it cabledi
Mr.. Monaco-Yes cable was sent by Governments
to the Minister telling him to forward the money.
Mr.. Ford-How much was recevedI
Mr.. Monaco-S1, 000
As this dialogue was continued, 1t transpired
that no other funds except this one thousand dol
lars had been sent by the Italian Government at
any time for the relief of these immigrants, and
an audible smile passed around the room. The
largest proportion OF the Italians who have come
here in the last five years witness said, wers
farmers or farm laborcrs in their own country.
About 20 per cent were common laborers, 80 per
cent artisans and the remainder agricuturlsts.
Many OF them had, no doubt, been induced TO como
here by tic et agents and others who had an intes
est in getting them to emlgrate. Money Tor their
passage had been advanced, which they were re-
quired to repay with eXtortionate interest. Tho
actual fare from Naples was s24, and he had known
many cases in which the assisted immigrants had
been obliged to pay from 81 10 TO $50 premium on
this sum. The lowest premium he had ever known
one of these people to pay was So. They must
settle this debt out of the first wages they earn
WHO ARE THE coNTRACToRsi
Chairman Ford asked the witness at this point
if he could not give him the names Of some of tho
contractors who are or have been engaged in this
delectable traffic, but Mr. Monaco replied that,
while he knew many of them, he preferred not to
give their names. He admitted, however, that
they were TO be found in Muberry-st, in those
queer establishments where there is a money eychang
ing counter in front of drinking den and the
sign Banca Itaano" over the dingy front door.
Many of the honest and simple workmen place
their hard earnings III these banks, ana arc
robbed of all they possess. lie gave the names
Of three of these swlndlers who have duped their
credulous countrymen; they were Durante, Mas
trovalerio and Bergamlni. lie did not think these
banks" were under Stite supervision.
The witness said that large numbers OF these
laborcrs had been brought here under contract TO
work for the railroads and Oh the Aqueduct Their
pay is about 81 20 a day, and passes through tho
hands of the bosses" instead Of being paid di-
rcctly to them by the companies for whom they
work.
"a, 0oO and 5000 arrivals Of Italian immigrants
at New-Yorlx There 70,0 900 now in the city,
25, 900 OF whom live IN and near Mulberry-st,
and 5000 or 5000 in the Z" Little Italy quarter.
From rs to 80 per cent Of these are men. On be-
| ing asked by Chairman Ford if it were true that
artisans, such as brick layers and stone masons,
the winter, Mr.. Monaco said that he had
known OF such practice, but could could not not
be TO Tna' and tSs Italian Society
! have had upward OF 5000 applications for ald
during the last year, and there are now IN New
York between three and four thousand OF these
laborers out of employment. The witness de-
Tended his countrymen against the charge Of be-
| ing dangerous and quarrelsome, saying that they
were naturally of a mild and peaceful character.
In the afternoon. Passenger Agent Coutanseau,
of the Bordeaux Line, and Louis Couteucln, presi-
| dent of the Italian Emigration Society and OF the
| the principal witness was Robert Morzo manager
| of the Emigration Society who was the organizer,
with the aid of ConsulGeneral RATIO. a little less
| than a year ago In addition to substantiating
many of the statements made by Mr.. Monaco, Mr..
Moro gave the history Of the Emigration Society,
which, he said. was founded with view 10 pro-
! tectng the innocent immigrants from the outrages
| that had become notorious. The society had a
capital of So 900, half of which was paid up. The
immigrants by paying one dollar year are aided
| in finding employment. in prosecuting their claims
against dishonest employers, and in other ways.
| The evidence Of Mr.. MORO will be continued to-
| day. The hearing will be begun at 10 o'clock.
| At the meeting of the United Labor party at
Cooper Union lnst night resolutions were adopted
setting forth the views of the party on immigra-
tion, and copy was voted TO be sent TO the
| investigating committee.