New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-21
ELLIS ISLAND CONTRACTS.
SrrpEr.Ry SHAW UPHOLDs COMMITS
S1ONER WILLIAMS A PROTEST
FROM NEW-YORkERS.

u-osbington June 2o-Secretary Shaw to-day ap-
nroved of the recommendations OF "lllidhi
Williams Immigration Commissioner dt -
York and awarded privilege contracts at the hliiS
island immigrant station for three years as Io'-
lows: Transportation of baggage, the "estco'
Express Company; feeding immigrants ana Aep
ing restaurant. Hudgins Dumas: eNchahs'is
Immigrants foreign money. Post & Flasg, all Oh
New-York City. ~
President Roosevelt to-day granted special neaF-
ing to a number of New-York men who professor
against the recommendations of Commissioner W III
Jams Those composing the delegation Were W"
gressmen Lesser and Littauer, Judge jacob -'e"'
Henry B. Ketchum and Emil Schwab SecretdlS
Shaw and Mr. Williams were also present Inc III
terview with the President was sought IN oiue'
that the facts in connection with the recent ie''7
of contracts for feeding immigrants. changing their
money and their TRANSFORMATION might he kho""'
After the conference. which lasted an hour, ~ was
announced that Secretary Shaw renamed min II.
his position of accepting the recommendations VI
Mr. Williams
II developed at the hearing that Commissioner
Williams had given the contract for feeding the i'm
migrants to two reporters on Newborn news
paper and was reprgsented that 1des s, was
frther reported that they received the contract at
figure higher than ether baq tbs P1esi5ent WITH
drew from the conference. leaving secretary cid"
70 on Gp leaving the White House Judge Neu and NJ
Ketchum said they would file a vigorous wrlt tt
pr onmfsoner Williams and Secretary shaw he
overruled. Commissioner Williams SaIT ne[T With
direction of the President and took breakfast WIN
him this morning
The recommendations of Commissioner Williams
of the Bureau of immigration Ellis island, IN
regard the awarding of the contracts LOT 'ii7
concessions for feeding the immigrants, moving
their baggage and exchanging their money anu
the adoption of his recommendations by the au-
thorites at Washington, throw an interesting hgh'
on the policy of the officials at this port
Not one of the old concessonaires. all OF wnon
submitted bids below those on which they ootdIiieh
their contracts was successful Hudslh7
Dumas of No. 1862 and 36i West Broadway, got the
restaurant privilege; Post & Flagg. OF NO 10
Rroad-st bankers obtained the money exchange
business and the Westcott Express Company was
given the business of moving the immigrants Dag
gage Those whom these new concessionatres sue
coed have been holders of the privileges Wnlch
they now lose for long periods. Emil Schwao
who is said to have represented syndicate Oh poll
tcians. has been managing the Testau piII
lege for nine years. bernard bsm nas I'm 10 mi
the baggage OF the Immigrants since t4le earlS
years of Castle Garden Frank Scul!y as the repre-
three years has exchanged foreign money into the
currency of this country for more than thirty
attitude of the administration toward imrni-
grants. , -
missioner Williams issued when calling for bids
rSf t the rst consderation in AWARDING the CON
tracts, and the bids submitted showed thaL tn!S
ing the contracts for feeding the immigrants 10
the person who bid the most for the concession.
Mr.. williams fixed the rental at $50 and asked
the specify what they expected to charge
the immigrants for different articles of food II
was noteworthy that the present conCesSionatre
offered feed detained immigrants for 20 cents a
day whereas he is now receiving 50 cents. be re-
ceved from this source last year 5000 This
amount was paid by the steamship companies
As the detained immigrants d small proportion
of the total number who come to this country, the
value OF this concession may be ina gined-
The conceSsionaire has offered to feed the
detained immigrants for 50 cents day OF tina
fourteen bidders for this privilege many OF them.
1t is said, offered 10 supply articles at less than
their wholesale price. This Commissioner Will
Jams took into considera ton and the award was
made of the highest bidders the ground
that the price was high enough to guarantee the
IS said that the interest that two holders of
public office had in the bids eliminated them from
considera ton.
Hudgins & Dumas. who newspaper men. in
serted a para graph in their bid saying that they
would endeavor TO conduct their business in such
a way cooperate with the Commissioner in
his efforts make the bureau model of its kind.
and that no effort would be spared to aid
making the first Impressions of immigrants land
ing at Ellis Island pleasant and in keeping with
the ideals which directed their steps toward these
shores" One of the reforms which they say they
will introduce will be the publication. by means
Of signs cons icuousy placed and printed in the
languages of the immigrants. OF the prices of food
and the privileges TO which they are entitled.
that advantage may be taken Of their lack OF
knowledge OF the prices fixed officially.
Post & Flagg well known bankers.