New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-23
SOME Diamond CUTTERS DISCHdEGED.
UNABLE TO PROVE THAT siXTY-FlVE OF THEM
CAME OVER UNDER CONTRACT-T1E TREAS
TRY REVERSED THE COURTS DECISION

Unable TO PROVE THAT SIXTYFlVE OF THEM
CAME OVER UNDER CONTRACT-T1iE TREAS
Try REVERSED THE COURTS DECISION.
NJ tho 40 diamond cutters from Antwerp held
for examination at Ellis Island. g. have been dis
charged as It could not be proved that they came
over under contract. OF those deharred some were
ordered sent back because they were contract LABOR
ers and some because they were likely to become
a public charge The Majestic brought ~ OF these
diamond cutters. and the Westernand brought l3
II is thought that many Of the newly arrived dlA-
mond cutters will find employment with IN" urn
OF Krycr Wandert & CO.. In Elghth-st' brooklyn,
over under contract with that firm however
Washington. March q CSpeciaD.--Whoa Congress
In 1884, passed an act imposing a duty or u per
cent on uncut diamonds against . per cent du'E
on cut diamonds. several large firms in Amsterdam
concluded that the time was ripe 10 transfer the
diamond cutting industry. FOR which that city had
been celebrated for nearly 900 years, to New-fo rH'
Several large houses sent representatives, 10 inc
United States to see what could be done IN locauhS
the industry and after favorable report arrange
ments were made with some Of their diamond-cut-
ters 10 come TO the United States. Up TO January
last there arrived little over 100 OF these cutters
who were permitted temporarily to land. pending
Investigation by the Bureau Of immigration
whether d!amOnd-cutting was new Industry or
not 1t will be remembered that the Contract
Labor act provides that any contract 20 labor maze
prior coming to this country shall be null ana
void. and the coming shall be depoftcd
TO the country whence they came at the expense
Of the transportation company which brought them.
and a penalty OF 5000 for each and every offence
shall be imposed upon the person making the con-
tract and bringing such people into this country.
The question before the department turned there
fore upon the simple fact whether diamond-cutting
was a industry or not. About two years ana
a half ago a case Of this nature came before the
United States courts. where II was held that dn-
mond-cutting was new industry: and that there
fore a contract under the terms of which workmen
were brought this country valid NOtWith-
standing this decision and after keeping the case
In allowance for several months. the Commissioner
of Immigration fit to decide that diamond
cutting not a new industry. and the arrest
and deportation OF the people who came here un-
der the impression that the contract would be
legal are ordered While this matter under con-
sideraton and long before the decision which would
debar them from this country was promulgated ut
was only made on Saturday LAST l21 more diamond
cutters had left their homes They on the
high seas Saturday last when the Secretary
saw fit TO reverse the decision Of the courts and
decide that diamond-cutting not a indus
try This will leave most OF these people in
embarrassing condition, since they left their old
homes severed all their old associations and sold
almost everything they bad in order to come to the
United States