Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-17
Is THE PADRONE A MYTH?
DIR. Verdi Says He Never Found an
Italian LabOring Under One.

The House committee on immigration today
heard statement by DR.. Verdi OF this city,
himself a native Of Italy, upon the subject Of
the padrone system. His statement was mainly
in refutation Of those made by preceding wit
nesses respecting the existence Of q system of
italian slave labor in this country.
He said that he had lived for forty years in
the United States and had ne yer yet found an
italian lsborer who worked un der padrone
The Italians were not fools and were not to be
gulled SO easily into surrendering themselves
voluntarily into slavery.
THE LAWS OF ITALY.
In 1887 the italian government had appointed
commission to examine the emigration sys-
tenn, and, as . result, law had been passed
guarded against unres tricted emigration as
sisted by unworthy pers ons for personal gain.
The steamship agents were placed under
BOND, provisions were made for the safety
and comfort of emigrants and a prohibi.
ton was placed upon the emigration
forbidden by the laws of the country to which
they sought to 20. Italy needed all Of her citi-
zens. and was doing all she could to keep them.
Ii there were evils existing under the padrone
system the law could reach them.
VOLUNTARY CONTRACTS AND SLAVERY.
II Italians Or any other people made volun-
tary contracts to render service they could moi
be called slaves. As a matter of fact there
was good deal of jealousy felt toward the
Italian iaborers because of their sobriety, in
telligence and skill New York was hardly
the best place to secure an accurate
estimate of the character of the Italian immi.
grant, They were new to the country, very
poor and we're compelled to huddle together az
best they could. After a time. however, they
found work, paid their debts and became cred
table citizens.
WHAT WAS SEEN ON MULBERRY STREET.
Repr resentative Oates, who had been men,
Der Of the Ford committee of the last Congress,
described succinctly the results of the investi-
cation Of the committee in Mulberry street,
New York, into the padrone system, and said
that he had little doubt but that the Italian
law restrictive cited by DR.. Verdi which had
not been in operation before this year, would
be OF great benefit in preventing the immigra-
tion Of an undesirable element.
WHY THE VICE CONSUL WAS REMOVED.
Chairman Owen asked DIR. Verdi if he had
any knowledge Of the removal of the italian
vice consul at New York as a result Of charges
OF completely in the padrone system.
DR.. Verdi replied in the affirmative.
He said that the Italian colony in New York
had divided into factions as result of cliques
in the formation of . beneficial society. In
this the officer had been involved, but the
statement that he had been connected with the
padrone system was absolutely without foun-
dation.
THE WASHINGTON COLONY.
In Washington there was an italian colony of
800 or 600 people. All were working, all lived
in comfort, all educated their children and made
good citizens. Not an Italian was to be found
In hospital. They were not arrested for vio-
lations of the law. He had taken his wife, an
American lady,t to the balls given by the Italian
peanut Sellers the tailors and BARRIERS. Every
man wore his dress suit and all the women were
we'll dressed OF course, that was not true OF
New York, where the immigrants were freshly
landed.