The sun., 1890-03-22
WHY NOT BEDLOW'S ISLAND?
CoNGRESSMEN ISQUIRE ABOUF THE
LANDING or IRMIGRARTS.
New York. It Appears, Must Lock After
the PauPers who Escape the Federal
Comtiiss,sssr and Stiek Hsrc-Jersey
Comes Out strong for Sentiment.

NOn6itnstoner ana Stiak Herc-Jerscy y
Comes Out strong for Sentiment.
The joint committee OF Congress- sent to
inquire into arrangements at this port for the
reception OF immigrants and the proposed
change OF the Landing Bureau from Castle
Garden TO Bedlows Island. arrived In this city
yesterday afternoon, and In the evening az tho
Fifth Avenue Hotel gave a hearing to those
who had anything to sny. Besides the Federal
and State officials directly Interested there
was not halt IA dozen persons on hand to rep
resent the public. which Is alleged to be out
ragged at the proposition to land the immi-
grants at the feet OF the Statue OF Liberty
Senator Chahdler is Chairman OF the Senate
and OF the committee, and Representative
owen Of Indiana is Chairman Of the House.
Collector Erhardt explained the reasons that
had led the Treasury Department to fix upon
Bedlow's leland. In the first place he said
the rcnt Of Castle Garden was 4 per cont on
t200.0O0. and for 100000 the GoNernment
could build much better quarters OF It's own.
Besides this, 1t would have takon 100000 or
s50,OO0 to cleanse Castle Garden. Ellis Island
lay SO 10y in the water and was 80 sur
occupied by the Navy Department Tint
its use, seemed impracticahlc As, 10 bed
there. but the rest OF the island is occupied
by an old barracks. dilnpidated brick build
ing once used as o hosni,al. a few uncared-for
Three acres Of 1t lie so that they couii readily
be cut Off by a wall, and would AFFORD nll, the
ment., Some expense. would be necessary, in
would be the case anywhere 1t was proposed
to erect on;Y oneIstory or ct the most two
story Phniid,ngs. h Oh oI handsome design; which
interfere with the view OF Liberty.
sen.t9r EvaIs. ssfsd.IS there anything aGainS, The
military occupants thsrS I.@TerSonSIy i Know Of
nothing
Then Senator Evsrts became curious as to
what the Government proposed to DO with the
average OF nearly three hundred destitute or
helpless immigrants who arc kept at Wards
Solicitor Hepburn of the Treasury Depart
pent was put, ioTward by the Collector 10 eI.
propose to take care of the Immigrants who
arrived, sick or insane. as usual, but that those
cd. II they subsequently, became paupers. would
be charge upon New York or any other place
TrSnts thssS 9sa
they are landed are cared for BY the Emigration
800 in caro- Of the Commits sioners.
Senator EraIts seemed surprised at the
these people upon the city. md thought Mr.
Herburn must be mistaken Mr. Hepburn said
that II an "a Ten, through New l9rk
ment did not see why New York should be fav-
sisted that people dumped down in New York
by the G3vernment are not citizens Of New
York, and intimsttd that it WAS none OF New
York's business to take care OF them.
ser Senator 1tSl asphers2n n remembe, me that Bed;
that perhaps an attempt would be made upon
that ground to shove th99, care Of these pauDers
% on ppohh ,oh New Jersey He tntimatefd af that no
around.
.Commender Folger. Chief of Ordnance. said
that the Navy Department would strenuously
Island for an immiRrent station until some
any sda
powder upon the island would do no damage
set on in several places at once by q stroke OF
liGhtning. apd then the only danger would be
from flying bricks and ether debris that might
Robert A: ,Chesobr9ugh appeared as. q dele
sociatlon, and said that that organiza,ion ap-
Putting the lmmlcr9nt station there was an act
of hs nes sFs Tx
the shedding Of tears over the desecration Of !
the statue Of Liberty. y be 5Tt he th99YGht thNt il
York and her desecrated PARK. WV -'S"
President, RidGway OF the Board Of Emigra-
tion told the lqHmittee ,het the board was
not be either upon Bellows or Ellis Island
Both were surrounded by shonl water and in
times made it impossible to roach them for q
week ut time Geyern"r's Island was little
Castle Garden was the only place. an and he In.
yited the committee to come down and see It.
between now and Monday night. he said.
twelve ships and four thousand immigrants
Chairman Chandler told him that to see
visit OF the committee to New York. '"'
&c StspheHGs9n SAID good word
from HnllOW'S I6lUnH
Mayor EIoyeahd Of jersey tiy tE deSIarsd that
posed to the use OF Bedow's Island for All I'M
migrant station. and Gov. Albeit. who came In
that SO ar as he had been able su earn the
whole people OF New Jerfey, were opposed TO
the proper place ;or the Immigrant depot was
on tho jersey, mninland. because there wore
ter@nI 9t " the to
0f tho Government TO take Bedlow's Island Tor
any such use without the consent Of New
Solicitor Hepburn, admitted that the title to |
the snbnergea land about TIE re island was IN !
Admitting that, said Gov Albeit. you
without erecting wharyes and docks and TO
erect them you have to 20 upon the submerged !
land which you admit belongs 10 New Jrrs ey." |
The COMMITTEES seemed inclined to smile at
Gov. Ahbetts earnestnoss. and he added:
am eSf1E ns% @f ~ m"ter Ssly S2ny from
doesn't want to be foolish IN this matter; 1t
wants the United states 20 have the island for
nny good and beneicent purpose. but We beg
Of you not 10 put an Immigrant station ut the
feet OF the Statue Of Liberty So long us she
stands in our territory
Senator Squire inquired il New. Jersey had
any objection except a purely sentimental one.
No" said the Governor "our objection s
purely sentimental; patriotism Is sentimental.
and 80 is the love 0f the beautiful; without SEN
timant life wouldn't be worth living. have
great regard for sentiment myself; perhaps 1t
Is because live IN Jersey"
senator Chandler invited Coy. Albeit to go
along with the committee TO-DAY on tug 10
inspect the various proposed Landing places.
and added slyly:.
aground on some OF that submergcd land OF
,oars,o ,GGSso 4Pd 1t would bo handy to have you
II have only teen speaking OF this matter
rom legal point oI view" protested the Gov
,e the interest OF the State which represent
We understand that" SAID senator Chan
ilCr, and We al ear witness that You have
aid nothing not In tho interests Of New Jersey"