New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
HOME
What italian Immigrants Do 9th
Their Earnings.
Thomas Benton Connor.


The Italians residing in New York City ssnt
home IN small amounts in the last year more than
enough money to pay the bonded debt Of the state
OF New York Incredible as this statement may
appear, IT is the plain truth. The bonded debt OF
New York State is S11 155. 500. and the money or
der department of the New York City Postofics
shows that more than twelve millions went to
Italy in a single year in amounts varying from
81 to S1O0 and averaging only 500.
Money orders certified to Great Britain ran I'D a
total for the year Of nearly $1o00O00o in amounts
averaging only s11. The Germans living here sent
home 100000 in money orders averaging S12
each while Sweden received more than So 100000
in money orders averaging SI3.
Here lies q great field for sociological specula-
ton. Where does this money come from. and for
what reason is It poured back by aliens and new
comers into their home countries? What queer
phase OF New York's business system is response
BILE for allowing such q great and constantly fow-
ing stream OF money TO leave this city 70 enrich
the peasantry OF other lands? Or should the Ques-
ton be put differently: What queer phase OF hu-
man nature Is accountable for this diyOIcils OF
from ones money?
Sociological experts might stand by the foreign
ofice from now until dooInstay ana be no nearer
q solution OF this question when Gabriel blows
more one studies 1t the more perpIsxins does the
years has been superintendent Of the money or
der department at the general postofice, IS OF
down of ships with Yankee money for various
Britain. being such small amounts. must so from
Ireland and sootIand - tts - tLia ~ i IL So 1- s-1'' ~
most cases, intended as gifts from members oc
a family 10 those who are yet the other side oe
support OF father. mother and other kindred. IN
tne case or the Italian, Mr.. Elliott THINKS the
money IS forwarded from forerUnEers in this coun-
try 70 other members OF families for the purpose
SON T s raijs7 % S1,iT. ~ 4y @ e ~ 80 81 ,; i rtS
get work without delay, save nearly every penny
teTs to this cotIntrv MI FIlott Is also aut5orifv
FOR the statement that a great many Italians liv-
week TO some savings bank in Italy. He does not
understand why they do this since there are such
excellent facilities or savings banks right here
says it is nevertheless a favor,te habit OF young
send their money hack M their rat!vs cotntrv
and bank it there instead OF in New York IN
savings bank in Italy with seeming satisfaction
IN IN p@yinS me Zee ior SonyeylRs me oney tEFo1fA
italian on visit TO bring 500 10 the postofice
and buy q number OF money orders made payable
neSotiates the money orders with the postmasters
OF the Italian service wherever they are drawn
Elliott admits however that Ike the newcomers
from Great Britain there ara many Italians who
earnings or a mart of them home 10 z17g9ort the
are scarcely able 10 exc out a livelihood in thai
The month Of December is always the heavy sea-
son for these money orders To foreisn c2un-Fies
New York City are sending home their Christmas
presents, consisting almost invariably Of money
There was greater rush than ever last December
70 get these money orders home before ChrisLmas
the first week of December. 1896. for instance.
stream or Yankee monev went out in small suns
to foreign countries. To Great Britain during
certified by the New York PostofHce and they
aCgregated S2S6 Se - to t5ernaTy s219 money Or
orders, aSEregatinE S3o70S Sc: to Switzerland, Ill5
IIS money orders agSreEatine s5q3 5-5 n 70 Aus
tra. 6ssS money orders; aggregatins S67 2S 9S. %
iS7 Is: 10 Hungary 62S7 money orders aEgresatIa-
Si9o 422 2s and So forth on down the list. During
that week there was only one money order sent %
Bolivia and il was for the small sum Of s. oS and
Just TO Honduras. which was for only s. q
that week. and nearly every country ON the lace
OF the earth appeared on The list TOT more or
population of New York city, The total amount
In foregn money orders sent out or the New i9SA
5ay wrtin; the business IN the general postofice.
a branch money order office had 10 he dtted NJ
on the first floor and kept open untH Il @ elocA II
tie bits OF paper which meant Christmas presents
to members Of the families az N,4 New 1GsN '''i7i
The second week in December the 4.ne-nt .3 OF
money sent over the Atlantic was mgch srea'eI,,
and the largest shipment o. mo"yy gIJ IS,sG with
December - when the Celtic was ,,s- SiS q or
SSs5$ money orders assTy l55 IiIron dollars
practCalX i, @ sptthiNs, IN W. N-,rE Postodice-
Enormous as the totals may appT3rS "a ai =, willing
10 nsrt 80 Srttb s,cb q considerable sum or IyiCZ J,
out OF their earnings there 5 G phase wears
the proposition OF the eNtrao. li ~ many fOregn
and that is 10 consider how y-tS, s,;,,, II has
born people there I'm New ACr.i,s~s ACr that there
been estimated by the census 'N-C~l. and the
around O0O0O Italians in NtET 80 N incIud-
population OF Rome, Italv Is ON ~, srs ga5 OO0
inc those who are not Italians Thefe hefey,l,tiSn ot
irish In New York. and the toti! .-5 Sss Germans
Dublin is but 291c3S There are S,.t,eo5 - rrannen
in New York. twice the poput''1o" "
Q6s 2g0. v--- side os
Workers among the poor the last LAST Sre few
New York all pretty we'll agree tha9t tsref-Y born.
trampS and beggurs from aTlonE W. ,I,tb0rItv for
The head of the Bowerv Mission IS at. ~ F.slr1 in
the statement that nearly all these % rs III the
the bread line In the small lu- - Work
morning are young men who came % ~ hone ot
from the interior rural districts n u,f,ta st,c-
getting fabulous wages and earning I'M lrJ~ G,d n
cess without knowing single tra ade. ~, nroud
not easy - thCy expected. ana nei''F - ,5v,t
~ return TO their homes the tarn @.- -Hst ritv
their failure, thev hang around ,.e =. 1Fara-
content to hope on. hope ever.-Van Norde' ''
zine.