New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-28
4 HEARTLENS SPINDLE.

An old fine steamship Swindlc has been re-
yjyed al heavy cost to impoverished immi-
grants. There are numerous Offices in the
town whero tickets from hamburg to New
York are sold either at a slight discount from
regular rates or on the iustalmcn' plan. Horc
Of these offices are authorized agencies OF the
steamship companies, but others are irfcsp"h-
sblc having no direct connection Win th"ih'
Soliciting agents are sent ont 10y the latter
class among Russian and Polish Immigrants
who hayc recently arrived At Castle Garden,
and ARRANGEMENTS are made for tdc slle OF
tickets for fetching their relatives - America
Tire discounts are so slight that 1t i Amazing
that any class Of immigrants. however iSho-
rant. should be 50 foolish ~ To purchase orders
for tickets on q Hamburg house IN preference
10 tho regular passage coupons of the com
uanics: but the chance Of saving 80 OF 80
,ont> has an irresistible charm for Polish Ilo-
hrcws Not infrcqucntiy thcS" orders for tick
cts when presented 1t Hamburg 10y relatives
q the purchasers are pronounced worthless
The money has been collected by th" New
York Swindcrs. bat no IcmitlnC'~ have been
made to Hamburg. In other instance agents
who begin their trade with honest intentions
end by meeting with gambling losses and dis
aupca,ing from their usual harnt>; auI after
fcw We, k, poor immigrants who have pad
their first savings in America to them Tor the
purchase OF passage tickets for relatives ana
friend, are informed by letter that they have
been Swindlcd. These petty frauds cause
great distress. since the ticket holders in Ham
burg often have come from long distances and
Ia. .,VfpflC /. ~
covered 4 ticket agent who's" orders had
been rcpudiatcd a, Hamburg narrowly escaped
n lynching by mob Of PoiSh-llch,rWN III
Canal-,t a tcW day, ago; and tins method 0i
syindlng is Of such constant occurrence - To
require The immediate attention OF organized
emgrlnt societies.
About thirty years ago similar ticket frauds
were plac,i~cd so successfully that the steam
shin lines were compelled 10 seek the co-opcra-
ZION of cmigIant organizations, influential Tor
ciru residents and the press IN obtaining the
passage of an act by ia" Legislature for mating
tbc evil. rs soon aS tho law Was on the statute
books dozen OF these hcarllc-s swndlcrS were
cent 70 sing sing and business OF fraudulent
ticlct-sclling was completely broken up A.
time went on il was revived. and an unlortu-
unte technical rudng repeated III me lower
,.,i,n,nal courts screened The criminals against
prosecution. Tic iaW has never been rpcaicH'
and IT provides to-day an adequate ana cl'n-
fable basis for the prosecution ol ms class Oh
offenders. If the criminal courts Will bar ON
,1viul tnchntcalities and Use the weapon, which
are at their command they will Doe able 10 put
these swinders in prison and 10 protect the
trbnse frsIUlffN .
po.cd npon. The law provides that tickets
shall! DC sold only by the agents or conslgnce.
If the steamship lines and that 10 person shall
be considered an agent unless he can produce
proper authority in writing from the com
uarc. II requires agents Z" III" TINS permit
1T the Police Department, and u exhibit prom
incn,,y in their Offices a printed copy OF 1t.
The sale o! tickets without such authority Is
an offence punishable by a term al impiIson-
mont ranging from six months ~ two years.
Tho law provides adcquate facilities for break
jng W the ncfarlous trade oi rubbing poor aud
frjcnGless immigrants. Ii the criminal courts
will enforce lis provisions this result will be
quickly accomplished.
The steamship companies ought - take con
ccrted action in this .uaticr, and T. assume full
and ClrcCt responsibility ioI lh' IVTi'I"'"'' '"'
If tickets. The same hearty corporation
which secured the passage and enforcement OF
the law thirty years ago will bc equally Ell
fcctivc now Thereby they will promote their
own business interests and protect the swarm1
of immigrants which are now mad" tine prey
of mean and hcartlcss llnavcs. The irrespon-
sible sale of stccragc passage tickets ought To
| be Immediately rcprcsScd. II can be, and often
is, honestly conducted, but the system offers
| temptations to r;lscality which involve the ne
| ceSsity for its suppression
| VITISECTTON AND MEDICINE.