New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-02
THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN OWEN ON THE
RECENT INVESTIGATION At CASTLE GARDEN.

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN ONl+N ON INF
RECENT INVESTIGATION At CASTLE GARDEN
Washington, May IA joint meeting of the House
and senate Committees immigration ana NatuIilNa
ton was held today to hear Timothy +. Lee Spcoii
Agent of The Treasury partment, upon the subject
of violations of the Contract Labor law III the SOUTH
Before Mr.. Lee was heard. Representative owen
chairman Of the House committee. who. WIN kcpc-
sentaves Lehlbach and stump investigated the SUD
ject of immigration at New York, made statement
70 the committees Of the result OF the laors OF the
Subcommittee. lie said the Workings al 'aNe "aiu'h
had been thoroughly examined. The Inspection Oh
immigrants averaged two minute by cach Inspector
1t was farce: the only wonder was that any OF ulen
were turned back The immigrants are nccccd by
boarding house harpieS, who keep them III inc cIN
day or two longer than they should he kept. some
complaints were made TO the committee about baggage,
lut none about the restaurant or the railroads.
Money changers in the Garden gave the mSrant. inc
same rates as obtained in Wall street, or better
On The whole, Mr.. owen said, the management Of
Castle Garden not t. be criticised several com
plants had been investigated by the committee. but
did not develop anything substantial The result "i
the oservat ON of immigrant officials is that the IN
desirable element is increasing Italians are coming
in hordes without money. without clothing, except
what they carry in bags. Each l. PROVIDED
with a passport. and all bound for Mulberry II.
Mr. added that italian bankers IN TINS couhtr,
sent agents 10 Italy 10 SOllil N' l't'''' va ''n'
country to come TO America. Those agents SWindc
the Italians charging them a. high 500 for ticket
from Naples 10 New York, the price OF which Is 80
Arriving at New York. the immigrants go To boarding
houses kept controlled by these Italian bankers ana
thence are sent ont 10 labor under contracts made by
the bankers padIoncs with employers. IL thcf
pay is fixed at II - day the padr0nc takes - cents
Of it, Resides he furnishes the shaniy In which tho
men live while at work and has man In charge Of
thaf he Italians fmid and UClOls mat
II is impossible for Americans get at them. within
the last eight years they have almost entirely sup
planted other in the ranks OF uiNklIlcd labor III
New ork City. In one square nile in Ne" YORK CITY
there are said Mr.. Owen, 10000 people, 5000 more
than in any other square nile in the world. Thc-o
people speak foreign language ltalahl, observe
foreign customs. and surrounded by Chinese WALL
over which they never come and over which no Amcr
can go.
The percentage Of Germans and Swcdcs is dccrcas
ing and that of Italians and IiGnearia> increasing
Not per cent Of the latter read write their own
language. 1t il the opinion of the sab committee
continued Mr.. owen. that the people engaged n pro
noting this class Of immigration -hUd enough 10
evadc the Contradiction law. The witnesses cN.
amined by the sub committee, representing organized
labor. gave them valuable suggestions a, TO the
manner in which the laws regulating immigration
could be amended 10 reach the causes Of com.
plant They said the immigration flowing 20 or
shores hurtful to civilization and degrading to
American labor. but offered nc remedy. The ,ubcom
mittee had secured vast amount OF valuable formi
ton. but for suggestion, 81 change n the law, were
dependent upon their own resource.
The present arrangement, at the Barge once for
landing and ranslcrrInS Immigrant uuG,r Tie ,ChtrYl
Of the National Inspector Mr.. owen thought were ia
sufficient. In answer 10 question by senator Ifaf-.
Mr. owen gave # a. his opinion that o1y mail per
centage OF Immigrants came 10 this country 81 direct
violation Of the COntract-I Labor law.
Mr.. Lchlbach observed that the law. In is present.
form. farce. and that enforced II worked to
keep out desirable INN grants ard tho
undesirable
Mr. Lee was then examined by the committee. lie
said his territory extended from Norfolk. Va. a.
Brunswick, Ca In that part 81 the country
hundred Canadians came and went every year. WoriI.
while there In loading cotton steamboats,. They dlc
not do any more work than the native aD0rcr nor DID
they work for c>, wages. They ucrs more plant
men, Mr.. Lee thought than the native abONT and for
that reason were desired Mr.. Lee spoke of he sup
planting Of native COlcrcd labor the pLo- pIatr
IF south Carolina The negroes formerly mad" high
a. - 80 a day. but the pddrouc> drove them with
Italians. who do not average than 80 cents day.
There are about 1000 Italians In the pho- phatc bed
ana they are kept at work by armed guards. The
Contract Labor law, Mr.. Lee says, j. imperative.