New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-31
TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS
Civic League Succeeds in Pass
ina Legislative Programme.
HOT AFTER FAKE BANKERS
Governor Expected to Sign Bills
Creating Bureau and Dealing
with Notaries Public.

The North American Civic League for
Immigrants has succeeded ia having the
LEGISLATURE pass feur bills comprising the
legislative programme prepared by the
State Commission OF immigration which
reported to the Governor a year ago Two
OF these bills, one regulating private bank
ers and the other licensing unauthorized
steamship ticket agents. have been signed
10y the Governor. as published in The Trfo-
une on Tuesday morning The other two.
establishing bureau of immigration and
industries in the State Department OF
Labor and limiting the activities of nota-
Ties public, the league has been assured
the Governor viii sign as soon as he can
give them ms attention.
The public demand for state regulation
of bankers for immigrants and steamship
ticket agents arose from the series of aru-
cles printed in The Tribune airing the gross
abuses which the state commission found
in existence as a result of the irresponsi-
hflity of these men. AS rule, the bank
ers. most of whom deal in steamship tick
cts. keep no reserves against the savings
Of the immigrants which they accept and
are not held accountable in any way for
the investments they make with these saw
ings. From lack of proper regulation and
supervision. also, they cannot be held re-
sponsible for the loss of money transmitted
through them by immigrant depostors TO
relatives on the other side
The banking bill provides that each bank
er must be licensed before he is permitted
10 take the savings of immigrants Before
he can obtain sach license he must make
a satisfactory showing to the state Con-
troller of his assets and Liabilities. Of the
place where he intends to do business ana
of the character ano standing of those who
ir rf0
addition he must deposit with the Con-
rroller $4,000 in money or securities, which
latter shall consist of United States, mu-
nicipal OF other bonds approved by the
Controller. He must also file with the Con-
troller a bond of from $4,000 TO $4,000 All
this-ls 10 guarantee the payment OF the de-
positor in case of failure or in case the
banker absconds. as many of them did fol-
lowing the panic of 1897.
irresponsibies Ran Banks.
Under the prevailing welles law the COM
mission found that many foreigners with
out any assets whatever opened banks COL
lected all the money possible, either as de-
posts or through the sale OF steamship
tickets. and then either sailed with the pro-
oeeds back TO their native lands or changed
their names and started business over again
in other parts Of the city or in other COM
munities.
From September, 1907, TO September, 1sS
the commission was able to figure up losses
TO immigrants through these bankers or
sl.5eO.ee0. This amount does not include the
losses involved in the failure of a number
Of banks of this kind during the period,
the figures not being available.
The bill provides, too. that all money ac-
oepted for transmission shall be sent with
in five days and il places the burden Of
r,roving that the money has been sent by
him and actually received upon the banker.
Many cases have been found where the
banker kept the money and specuiated
with it while the relatives Of the depositor
Oh. the other side suffered. Other instances
were discovered where the money was
never received, the banker being immune
from prosecution because the material wit
nCsses to the transaction were out Of reach
in Europe or Asia.
An appropriation of $1,000 has been made
for the enforcement Of the new banking and
steamship ticket laws and license bureau
IS to he established In the Controllers Of
flee for the purpose.
The steamship ticket law is aimed pri-
rnarilv at the practices of pedlers. 1t was
drafted on the assumption that duly au-
fhorized ticket agents were responsible to
the steamship companies with whom they
were bonded for the honest conduct of their
business. But the commission found that
for every duly authorized agent there were
about eight pedlers or runners who sold
tickets in tenement houses on the curb and
in labor camps.
They obtain these tickets from the au-
thorized agents and then sell them at an
advance Of from g TO $40. frequently on the
tnstalment plan. and If a man cannot pay
all the instruments they often refuse TO re-
fund any of the money already paid by
him. II was also discovered that instead
O. selling bona fde tickets many of them
printed and sold their own orders. which
were not binding on the steamship com
panies.
To Regulate Notaries,
The weinstein bin prohibits any person
from posing as a notary public who has not
been duly appointed as such, and It makes
# a misdemeanor for any notary public in
the exercise Of his powers or duties 10 prac-
1ise any fraud or deceit. The Bureau of
Immigration bill contains a provision re-
quiring investigators to examine into the
acts Of public officials dealing with innmi-
grants. including notaries public, and to re-
port to the Governor.
The bureau of immigration bill VIII be
concerned largely. however. with the ques-
ton of distribution and with safeguarding
Of immigrants after they have found en-
ployment- This means that the bureau TO
be created viii charge itself with examin-
ing the location of industries with looking
Up the available supply of labor requiring
reports OF all employment agencies includ-
ing those which take fees and those which
do not. and with the supervision of the con-
ditions in labor camps. The appropriation
for the first year has been placed at sal 900
Miss Frances A Kellor, who was score
tary and treasurer Of the Immigration Com
mission and is secretary OF the North
American Civic League for Immigrants.
said yesterday with regard TO these re-
forms:
in proposing this legislation the com
mission established a precedent and sought
10 make an experiment for the benefit of