New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-17
STEAMER LINES PROTEST.
A HEARING ON THE PROPOSED SUSPENSION
OF IMMIGRATION
REPRESENTATIVES, OF TIE COMPANIES ADDRESS

REPRESENT ,TIvES or THE COMPANIES ADDRESS
THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.
Washington. Dec. 16.--Ihe agents Of the pinipai
steamship lines appeared before the JOINT committee
ON immigration to day In connection with the propo-
si,ion OF senator Chandler TO suspend Immigration
Among those present :. 6. Neal counsel for the
International Navigation Company: J. A. Wright So
ond vice president OF the same line. ana W. e. A'hi''
son and II. G.. Iiillkcn OF the North German Lio!a'
The International Company cOntros the Inmah' hol
star and American l,ncs OF steamers Gustav H.
schwab repre-, nrng The va'iouS Transatlantic 81 am
ship companies. made general statement on ucn''i
of these companies. lie spoke in part n i0low':
The magnificent development Of the matcHH IT,
sources of country Is due to the enormous stream
OF immigiaon that has poured into the United s''e'
during the last halfcenury. 1t was one OF the gem
factors in saving the Union when disrdp'ioh lH'''
enod IT, and by It's aid large debt left by the war
has been reduced TO It's present propmliohN' ic
question mutually ocCuis. whether in the pitseh. '
OF our economic development we are in posiuo" u
dispense with the low labor forces tha' We nav
so far found ind pcnsblc in conducting our lhduSeH'
lie said that the time when can safely get aiohs
without the forcignlabor element Is still far nisc.
He thought that the adoption OF tMs meuiae'"'
measure 10 keep out immigration safeguard aG'i"S'
cholera is like erecting dam 10 prevent ihe ""eS
OF stream from reaching the ocean, Inc "''ci VII,
find a way around lie dam and finally VIII rc"'" ''o
Occn >
guarded IN such n way to prevent IKE entry VI
oners and this he believed TO be ply scai III
pos,ibty there is no doubt that the stream OF iIli
grafton will find its way in. sanitary anu "e"i
scsnce are amply capable OF preventing 'pc nv ,
duction and dissemination of the cholera "ours WY"
out LAYING an embargo on tiHhc' anu "i'"o"' '
living commerce and navigation. IL to the Gua""''
nro,cction nj the port OF ARRIVAL We're added Q""'
tine Of seenace passengers at the port OF departure
On. dlease would be much more effectively whrucu o
The steamship lines would most willingly carry -"
onv regulations wishes OF the United state "o''.
,nent as 70 such a quarantine in the port Oh oep'u'
uo believed that system OF Consular Inspection
n, ,ba mort of embarkatlon with the present WI
sular corps entirely lmpIacticaDc. y. ."
annie I'm the great and populous empire OIL @''''o
Hungary we have at present seven cohNu' anu "
suar agents. How can these ohcerN co"'''o''
examine and report upon the physio"' me-"
mental condition and the aniecedch'S ana q""
lions OF the emigant' departing fr'm ,he 'o"'''''
A property qualn, alton another moa" 'na' nv ~.
suggested would be- open 10 IN" fatal oo!ecuoh "''
II would exclude the worthy scandinavian s'o'vn "a
German as we'll the Latin ana SI''iO H""'"
Mr. schwab considered the plan proposed by Coiohci
Weber the Commissioner OF Immigration NJ Nv"
York q be the only feasible one. .o'o'ei w.
suggests and recommends that In addiuoh 10 Tue
insnection of arriving immigrants in the tmleu
STATES the sieanlslAp companies aud fheir agents
should be compelled - examine every "PP'0''' i
passage in Europe. applying the requirements 'O
lisbed by the United states Government l'r ai""N
sion 10 this country. 70? all Immigrants na'o'n ~
This country in violation Of these regulations 'ne
steamship companies and their agents SHOULD be hed
responsible under penalty not only oil returning oie
immigrants but II necessary, OF me- =
The Continental steamship lines have been iorced
10 give UP the transportation oil ste@ase P"sS'"
from Europe on January l. reducing Inc HUMMER vi
their sail,ncs and devotlng the space to cargo inns
"a
mot In any petty spirit OF resentment or Win desire
% hiring pressure to bear anywhere. Nor 40 the
companies far as he was aware contemplate any
new lines 10 Canada Mexico for The purpose VI
there landing their immigrants
Whom Mr. scbwab suggested that the examination
NJ enIcrants should b. left TO the European agents Oh
tbe steamship companies Senator Hill asked MIN
how the United States could enforce these penalties
nm this side OF the Atlantic when they we're operative
on the other side. The United States could have 10
jurisdiction over the European agents.
Mr. Schwab said that the steamship companies were
,u,r to be bed rspon stble for tlelr foreign agents
In discussing the question Of establishing the quar-
antine In this country instead OF Europe MT sch""p
said that the only means OF dong II Wouid "e vi
hoard the steamships All vessels carrying steeraSc
passengers should be detained not exceeding five days
He thought that under thi, system cabin passengers
would not take passage. but would remain at home
Detention at American ports would cause entire ,us-
pension OF travel except I'm the Steerage
Mr.. stump said be understood that the Canadian
Government l. opposed 10 immigration, ana should
the United suspend the admission OF Immigrants
the Canadian authorities would also enact similar
legislation.
At The close OF Mr.. -chwab's examination, James
A. Wright. jr, Of New-York second vice president OF
NJ the International Navigation Company, addressed
tho committee. He said that since the RESTRICTIONS
placed upon immigration the business OF the Red star
line had fallen of fully 30 Per cent. II consequently
became matter OF economy and business Judgment
70 discontinue the transporatoh oi ,te,Inse pa &
lie presumed this di>cCniinu1ncr would IiSI
throughout tlc danger period diIing the coming
summer. ,. II, , g.,
Vernon II. Brown, OF the Cunard Line. spoke IN
explanation OF the term "seeragc passenger, ana
said that a mistaken Idea prevailed tAat every person
securing passage in the steerage was an Immigrant
During last month 5000 Passengers had left New
InrL i'm the Storage They wcrr reputable. well
todo citizens. who expected to return to TIL, country
" William COverlv of the Anchor Line. spoke in be-
half of the British steamship companies