New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-25
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
WILL GOV. FLOWER OBEY THE LAW?
1T COMMANDS HIN TO APPOINT \ COMMISSIONER
OF IMMIGRATION.

1T COMMANDS HIN TO APPOINT \ COMMlS>IONEN
OF IMMIGRATION.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
sir: During the regular session Of the Legislature
Governor Flower did not obey the excellent law Oh
april II. 1879. entitled act 10 secure an i'hproVei
administration OF alien Immigration when co"'la'd'
;dm 10 nominate 10 the senate. for cohirhA'o', i
Commissioner OF immigration at salary OF F''C'o
per annum. VIII His EXceency not obey thl' ID"
at the extra session that opens on Monday
1t is extraordIlidry how the Democrats themselves
have treated this law OF their making which Is
10 60 into effect aud turn ont the present Board nv
days after the Commissioner OF Immigratlon aploh'e"
by and with the advice Of the senate, shail uuH
qualify. Immediately after lis passage In 1883 u''
Tsmmany Senator'S at John kely' dlc'atloh' ici'N-n
10 confirm Governor ClcScIand's appointment to this
Office Of the late w. II. Murha. Of Brooklyn. who,
though personally unobjectonable was regarded a.
pcss McInuchlIn's man Alter 1osJ the maI0rltcS
I'm the senate were Republican and they naturally
refused TO confirm the appointment oil any one I'll ''e
Democrats subsequently nominated by 'foNcFhoiS
Cleveland and HI. This year the Democrats Tor inc
first time since 1883. have sufficient votes I'd cot
the Governors appointment, If he made one Iho
Governor himself bolts. ard not at anyb"iys dic
| talon. but from mistaken notion of economy
Obedience 70 Law. Is II Governor first duty. After
nominating a Commissioner acceptable 10 the och1c'
Governor Flower can, II he likes according TO "'Sc
provision Of the law suspend the Office oil C'hnl''
soner or that Of any officer appointed under the act
and stop their salaries time. But no sta'c III
the Union is so Interested and involved in immigration
n Ncw.York Where most Immigrants land 1t I'M
peril, our public health, burdens Our public chailtfS'
distuibs on labor market. IL also maintains an oel
Terry the port OF New York. ana supplies our ran
ways with traffic. II has dTawbncka as we'll rs al
vanages The Inspection and landing Of lmml-
grants have recently passed under Federal control.
| m
rnIcss a state Commissioner i appointed, the law
directs to project ana promote the special lntei-
csts Of this state ard its dtizen' IN
| all these matters The want Of such an
officer was shown this winter at Albany when the
senate passed. without opposition bill to abolish
the state immigrant service altogether and dispose
of its property to this city in manner 80 unjust to
every other part Of the state that. If understood
the bin would not have received 4 single vote from
the senator, of any county outside OF this city.
The proposed sale of the Immigrant property on
Wards Island to the city Of Ncw-lork for $1,000
| 600 would have been breach If trust. Governor
Tildcn in 1879 pledged this property to secure Ger
tain advances made by the state 70 carry on the STATE
immigrant service. He said in his communication
Of Apul IL. 1876. T. the legislature; The state
holding the property OF which IL has the title. VII
,rkn1vlcdce II - a tulst, and may properly look u
IL for n reimbursement Of such advances rs are r.
qurcd by the present extraordinary emergency
|
I'm fhe aggregate over si.1OooOO Therefore. To sci
the property for less than these advances Is plainly
breach Of trust. And to sell II for SloOO,O00 Is
greater breach than appears II first sight, mas
! much rs there Is a mortgage of 100000 IN th'
property besides other obligations amounting I" flo''
900 leaving the state to realize less than t1OJuuo io
A reimhut-cm Of advances exceeding Sllo'""o'
Thl, property which the state In, held for imml
grafton purpose for forty five years, was a'Imr8'
. - l.ainW D.
chased and improved ont % the proceeds of the hau
| tax on Immigrants collected for their benefit IRON
| l-47 until l-7G when the United states supr'm
Court declared II Ia be unconstitutional for stau
| 10 impose such tax. The city did not even III
tend and was bound by the bill. 10 care for Sic
Immigrants In rtum for getting this property a
| one tulld ~ H. value.
In thus dsposns Of IT, the Democrats would have be
led their own record. In ir~: when they coitFJl"
lo Lfdsliturc. the senate Committee oh Ilh"V'' ~
investigating Immigration affair, rc'ohlhrHu'u wa ~
lu case OF ANY lr-i>launh .! TIE ,"hs'N79 ~ :"
mtcd ~tntc,. provision shNlu DC go "4'i "i''N','
! iLc nrgui.inun los the General Gotcinncnt OF o.
property Of TINS ernc devo.cd To puip1a-' ~ ln's
ion at Ward, Island ana td,tic '1'H'n' ~ Nu P,
vision to IT, made. It l. pYb0bi' that Il N oHl
c for the state, benefit t. transfer th' entire matte
Ia TIE carr ~ Tie F"lclii '"Nriul''''' -. g.
which they then passed empower tAc hc" b"'ii o.
Immigration " IA contract WIN ui'V'' q" "e't'', - "
utN states Of America, III r'p' "i U'' P"p't 49,
mis- state devoted t. the G,c, ana pulp 80, Of INN
ration by reason OF Federal legislation concerning tn
tonerc,.. II 50 requested. would undoubtedly ,appr
prlato ~. jOo.O1D 10 pur haze tn property IoI ~
migration purposes thu, enabling tc state - id 81
Governor rdcn's pledge, preserve the properly u
the use 0l Immigrants, AID 'airy out the P'l'f III.
clulmcd by the Democrats tuol>'lNce IN Lob "l
,iuL.dcd In the state immigration law 70. lEa ar,
| II the Commissioner Of lainI-faloh nc-9tl",
| I'm. Ale Of the Warts Island llUpcrN 90 ,he i'
state. for Fl 5ID.VIU Getting llf "A million more IN
| nm, CITY Offered. h. would Wei can n, salary u
could also cash, udIcc tOngre,- 10 relieve the ''Fr'
Ate, from the burton OF supporting Immigrants ,''
! heroine A public charge within five year, alter mdil
and thus save To this state and it, counties FOR ser
, ! ~ wears twenty times his salary Annually
II f. II remarkable coincidence That TINS property 81
| Wards Island which first accumIl1t"d when u
irish famine Of Is47 sending y phus fever 10 o'
| .horc, was to be carccs,ly thrown away nj the yer
moment when the Russian famine is sending H. 81 pm
foyer nealn The ,hOlt sighted measure WIS fortuna -
, | drained in the Assembly. without coming 10 VOC
| Inc LIN was also designed 10 lcgi>la tho pF',cl
p,ord nj Immigration out Of Oilcc III thfty DAY, u
| H. ua.sagc IT, failure leaves III" ncmorlnt, IN u
| ridiculous position 81 perpctraiHg this boarl Wh'
| they have been trying 70 Dust since l00'i lonl'
| ncccssity wouh seem 10 demand TIC apppIlll
| - commissioner TO succeed the Did board If TOR D
c | n,her nuruosc governor Flower can easily ma
! | supcr6r democrat to appOlni-as Aphons' IL, hlh
| pnbcrt l. Incet, William LummiS or Henry j. Jut
SON nil Of foreign birth parcntagc. ana me la>t V"
twenty wears experience rs sc'rc nIy OF tlc prNc
board. |NNb7 - H.'''''N ~ 49, N