New-York tribune., 1903-03-03
THE "RUNNERS" OUSTED.
Society to Protect Italian Immigrants
Has Cleaned the Leeches OHt.

some interesting facts were brought out in the
report OF President Eliot Norton Of the Society for
he Protection OF italian Immigrants, at the asSo-
ciation's second annual meeting, yesterday AFTER
Loon, The soc5ety's escort service has already
practically nut the ''rlnuers'' out Of business.
Until lately. it has been the custom for unprinci-
pied Americans, and sometimes Italians, TO meet
Immigrants at the Barge Office. enlarge upon the
dangers Of getting lost into the hands OF sharp
cts in q strange city, and offer to escort them TO
their destination for dollar or SO. Then they
would be taken ID a lodging house, where some
Eoup or macaroni would be se-ved them for another
dollar or two, if the victim seemed easy" The
''rnrnisrafion tax would also be levied another
dollar which the escorts declared all foreigners
required by the government to pay Then. for
perhaps another dollar. the poor, bewfdered man
would be allowed to find his original destination
As most Immigrants come here with only a few
dollars this extorfion Of from IS s. apiece pro
duced actual want. well as reflected on the city
authorities The Society for the Protection Of Itai-
ian Immigrants has a man on Ellis Island and
other men the Barge Office, most OF them Ital-
fans who for an average cost of 81 cents inni-
grant. this including carfare for the guide also.
take the poor. frightened newcomers directly To
the addresses that have been given them on the
other side During January and February eleven
hundred received the beneh- Of this The great
majority who have relatives here
Of the two thousand Italians who landed on Sun
DAY, two hundred and fifty only were without near
friends in the city. One main object Of the society
Is 70 get positions out Of the city for the immi-
grants But. despite its assiduous Efforts, from S5
90 per cent settle here The society Is greatly
hsnpered this line Of work for want OF funds
Much Of The grape culture in Southern California
IS already in the hands of Italians and the grow
CTS there are anxious for more laborers of this
nationality The cost of transportation. however.
IS rs head and the society has hardly enough
run IL is It receives q subsidy Of 5000
yearly from the Italian Government, and small
occasional contributions from few interested
persons on this side With this amount it main
tains salarfed employees. runners" etc: an
employment bureau. information bureau. where
personal advice and assistance given any immi-
grant applying, and a money bureau. To this lat
ter distant friends and relatives send money for
newcomers landing here. and the society so far
has made charge for holding and distributing
this
Circulars, also. giving the address Of the so
cetys headquarters No Il Pearl-st-. with its OBJ
3ect. and warnings as 70 iu1postors constantly
fan steamship lines. A letter from MISS virginia
1,oo1 ssgesting that auxiliary societies be formed
in Naples, Florence and Rome with some resi-
grants on that side. and also raise money by
spreading Information as to the socletys Work
the two hundred and fifty members OF the society
in New-York TO secure at least nve new @ r.
Up the societys annual deficiency IT IS earnestly
ST be ne4oomert 20 - are eTcilessY eeced An Ita-
tan colony las been planted In NeW-Jersey: ana
lion II Of Italian immigrants to found others
shortly. IL the means are forthcoming. and thus
relieve the pressure Of the enormous incoming pop
Iiiation on the city. Similar societies have been
organised In Boeton and Montreal
Among those prominent in the NeE-Yofk society
KtTIIsr Trrncs A904 RsfSGin jr Miss Sarah " Moore
Miss Emma Brace Eliot Norton.
W. Franklin Brush. James h. Faqioing
Iysrrv 2 Gregory. Mrs. LorflIard Spencer.
V-jjItau 3 H0wIand. Gno c. speranza-
Joseph T. Kelley