New-York tribune., 1907-05-19
RALLY TO AID OF POOR.
Priest Blesses Work Against Szcin-
dIers of Ignorant Aliens.

The Wells bills 70 regulate East Side private
bankers and ticket agents merely the hrst steps
IN the direction Of assuring the safety Of the newly
landed immigrants savings. according TO Marcus
" Marks chairman Of the committee of the immi-
grafton department If the National Civic Fedora
ton which has worked with the Women's Munich
pal League for the passage Of these bills ne
Tribune's exposure of these abuses first prousHt
them 10 public attention Mr.. Marks expressed
HIS qualification that the bill regulating bankers 5
who do a ticket business had been signed oy 'he
Governor and will become law after septefnper ;!
He felt certain. he said, that the secono p'
permits only duly authorized agents OF the s'o'i
ship companies do business, viii be passeo "Ne"
IL comes UP for vote next week -
Mr Marks was surprised at tho criticism or MAX
Rosett Of the banking house Of Moritz Rosett' VINO
said that the only way 10 regulate bankers was 10
place them under the jurisdiction OF the State
Banking Department Mr.. Rosett had also said
that be believed the specification that only bankers
doing a foreign railroad or steamship ticket busi-
ness should under the law would make 1t
unconstitutional. This. he said, infringe
r7ent on the prerogative Of the federal government
n regulate commerce with foreign countries. Re
rlving 10 these criticisms. Mr.. Marks said:
AS 10 the Constituuonality Of the law II
passed upon by many lawyers Of exceptional abIl-
itv Why the late Dean Huffcut examined tho
wells bills and decided they in all likelihood
constitutional In regard to the advisability of
placing private bankers under the State Banking
Department. I realize the ell-round blanket safe
guard such a move would make. but at present our
Banking Department has all it handle. To
provide that all the little private he
watched by it would mean too much work We
discussed this phase Of the situation. and to
the conclusion that this could be done later, at
such time as It seemed likely the Banking De
pe-tment could cope with the greatly increased
duties such law would entail upon It.
Just at present it seems that the best way to
regulate the bankers is by the bill which has
signed by the Governor" Mr. Marks continued
I'VE discussed the amount OF the bond. and finally
hit upon $4,000 about right have heard of the
criticisms Of persons who think the bond should
be $500 or $1,000 but decided that such large
amounts would infict a penalty upon the small
banker who was honest but who did not have a
large business We cid not wish 10 Cypress any
body. no matter how small his dealings so we
settled upon $1,000.
1t has been said by Frank Zotti. I believe,
that the second Wells bill. TO regulate the ticket
sellers. would place them In the grasp Of the
steamship companies. This may be one view of IT,
but the main point is the protection of the newly
landed immigrant AS for discrimination by the
steamship companies IN regard to persons TO
whom they will issue certificates OF agency it
seens 20 me that they WILL matter OF business
give their countenence to any who is honest
and can sell tickets
viii become laws this fall and that tbey vii vii
achieve. as far as human provision may, the ends
express my aDpreratsoT Of The Ia aiso 80
by The Tribune in behalf OF these measures
As an example Of the need of these laws advo-
Gated by The Tribune, Mr.. Marks said that he
made house TO house canvass through the Rus
sian and Yiddsh quarters OF the East Side. An
Interpreter who was with him made inquiries and
found that on every floor OF every house they
visited there was at least person who had
been swindled by such a private banker or a
Father BernaSdino Polizzo. OF the Church OF the
Ny. Maggie 1T is sad he said TO hear the
tales Of persons who have been swtndled It is so
often. and always the loss is comparatively so
great 70 the poor persons. My blessing is on all
those who seek TO restrict the ways Of the swim
ders who prey upon the newly landed immigrants" :"