The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-26
THE PADRONE SYSTEM
IMMIGRANTS PASSAGE Is PREPAID
BY NEW YORK BANKERS.
1t In Learned that % Per Cent. of the
Mormon Immigrants Are De-
mure-Looking women.

NEW YORK, July 25.-The hearing OF the
subcommittee of the United States Indus
trial Commission. which is inquiring into
the working of the immigration at this port.
was resumed to-day. The examination OF
Assistant Commissioner of Immigration Ed
ward F. McSweeney was resumed. Chair
man Ellison A. Smythe questioned the wit
ness regarding the padrone system in this
country.
IT, by the padrone system" said Mr.. Nc
Sweeney, SIS meant that immigrants are
controlled by certain bankers after they
come here; that the ccmmissariat Is regu-
lated by these men; that the money OF the
Immigrant Is sent back TO Italy by these
bankers-if that is what we consider the
padrone system-it still exists. The system
reputed TO have obtained years ago, whereby
the bankers induced these men to come here
do not think any longer exists, because
there is no need for II. They now come OF
their own accord. Before they come, they
know that by going to a certain banker they
will find employment. My impression Is that
the Italian immigrants prefer to be under
the control OF the padrone."
What other races besides the Italians and
Orientals are held in industrial bondage?"
asked the chairman.
There was a species Of labor selling prev
alent In New .S5rk for long time. but
believe 1t was suppressed under Commission
ers Senner and Fftchie. There were Aus
trian girls. who were taken into families
and kept there at nominal wages for years"
Mr.. McSweeney said that while the girls
were not brought here for immoral purposes.
many of them became outcasts owing to
their harsh treatment He said that many
such girls were living in New York. accord
ing to the police. The assistant commits
sioner said that during the Spanish-Amer-
scan war the Italian Cabinet had issued a
circular saying that business here was sus-
pended and instructed the projects of police
90 curtail as much as possible the granting
OF passports to prospective immigrants.
Mr.. McSweeney was questioned at length
In regard to Mormon immigration He said
that probably IS per cent. of the new arri-
walls were women. They all come over in
charge of an elder. They all claim to be
Latter-day Saints and declare, with a great
deal of force. that they intend to obey the
laws of the United States.
Regarding the exclusion of immigrants.
he said that of the Is per cent of the new
arrivals. or 5000 persons examined by the
special board of inquiry. 10 per cent. were
excluded. Mr.. McSweeney made a long
statement regarding a complaint that He
brews were not properly classified. He said
the great thing was to classify the immi-
grants industrially. and that asking their
religion was a means to that end. Mr.. Nc
Sweeney said that probably 60 per cent. Of
all the new arrivals had their passages pre-
paid by friends or relatives in this country.
Gustave Schwab. an agent of the North
German Lloyd Steamship Company, said he
believed the immigration laws were intelli-
gently and carefully executed. He said that
the companies had issued orders to investi-
gate all persons applying for passage and
his company held such agents personally re-
sponsibIe IL the immigrant be returned. He
believed such rigid investigations OF the
antecedents OF such persons was more re-
liable than the proposed consular investiga-
ton. The agents in many cases were per-
sonally acquainted with the applicants,
while there were not enough consuls 10 ex-
anime all the applicants. Mr.. Schwab spoke
Of the educational test and said he thought
1t unwise to keep out the Drawn and muscle
which is needed for the development OF the
country. He thought the present laws ample
TO protect the country
Robert Floyd, representing the Cunard
line. agreed with everything which Mr.
pany would not be a party TO any attempt
TO eva6e the immigration law In reply to
the question as 10 booking OF passengers on
the other side. he said that an agent who
books passenger who has returned at once
was disciplined. Mr.. Floyd believed the
present laws adequate
j. Ter-Kuile. the agent OF the Fabre line
which plies between this port and Naples
was the next witness. He said his COM
pany brought in about 1900 immigrants last
year. nearly all OF whom were Italians.
From one-third TO two-ffths OF these had
their fares prepaid in this country. Mr..
Kuile said that 10 his knowledge the evils
q the padrone system had been wiped out
Arthur Lederer. passenger manager Of the
American Red Star line. said his company
last year brought 25.0o0 passengers in the
steerage. OF these 40 per cent. were prepaid
Mr. Schwab denied emphatically the
statements made before the subcommittee
In Washington that the steamship COM
panies maintained powerful lobby at the
national capital Since the death OF DR..