New-York tribune., 1902-03-04
TO HELP IMMIGRANTS.
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF ITALIAN
SoCIETY-TRIALS OF THE NEW
COAIERS.

Some OF the trials OF Italian immigrants were
related yesterday at the first annual meeting of
the Society for the Protection of Italian Immi-
grants by Antonio Giorgio the society's agent at
Ellis Island
Last week a woman was unable to find her hus-
hand who have met her and had TO re-
main on the island for four days. Meanwhile Mr..
Gjorgfo searched for him and finally found him.
Such cases are not rare" he said. "as people often
have moved from the address known to the immi-
grants without advising them of the change. Then,
OF course there is difficulty It IS a husband or
brother or father who is sought. and il is not hard
70 see how much trouble person wholly ignorant
Of English have, unless assisted
The practice Of boarding house keepers Of taking
possession of the arrivals at the dock as soon
as they cross from Ellis Island and conveying them
70 their houses on pnetence of taking them to the
persons whose addresses they have. was severely
condemned by Mr.. Giorgio. He spoke Of one such
case when a boy practically lost for three
weeks. while his father was locking distractediy
for him. and urged the society to provide a suit
able person TO meet the immigrants the dock
70 protect them from this evil The boarding
house keeps them until their friends have discov-
cred them. and exacts nigh rate Of board.
The society is Just a year old and the president.
Eliot Norton. reported highly satisfactory year.
In addition 10 the help afforded Ellis Island. a
labor bureau has been established for the purpose
Of correcting abuses Of the padrone system
BY this system said Mr.. Norton, the la
5,
and the system must be broken up 1t is one OF the
most potent factors for evil in the whole country.
and the labor bureau that we have started may
be a great force in destroying It. This is the
most important work that the society pos
sibly do"
Mr.. Branch the italian Consul General at New
York has given 10 the society. free of charge.
ample Office at No. Il State-st and the as
sistance Of his clerks that the work will de-
velop rapidly, it is expected. Mr. Branchi was at
government for the help given by the society. He
ian Government will contribute a certain proper
ton. not yet wholly decided upon. of the expense
Of the work The promise was made through the
Ambassador few days ago, Mr.. Branchi said
that the labor bureau was something that had been
needed for years. but could be attempted by his
government. He believes that 1t he Of i'm
value.
It Is intended to run the bureau on a business
basis so that il can eventually be made self-sup-
aid at present The bureau endeaVored to secure
contracts for large small bodies Of labOrers in
public OF private work. and seeks especially TO en-
courage the immigrants 10 go into the country as
farm laborerS.
The officers elected were as follows: Eliot Nor
ton, president: William B. Rowland. treasurer:
Miss s W. Moore, recording secretary, and GinO
c. SperanZa, corresponding secretary.
The board Of directors elected is composed Of:
Mrs Loriard Spencer Joseph T Kelley.
Miss Emma Brace. Mrs. Evelyn Iovejoy,
y. Franklin Brush, Charles e Merrill.
Ernest Il. Crosby, Miss Sarah ". Moore,
George O. Duy. Eliot Norton.
Henry ? Gregory James X PauldIng
William B. Howland. Dr. Jane F. Robbins.
9 Branchi. Miss Virginia Potter. William D.
EOWeIs. J. q. Phelps Stokes and Lawrence Alb
bott are among those on the Advisory Council OF