Speech #450080555

I have had a little experience in regard to the expenditure of the money raised from immigrants coming into ihe port of New York. There was a law in the State of New York requiring the payment of what is called head money by persons entering the port as immigrants. That money. sir. was in charge of the commissioners of immigration. They provided a landing place for the immigrants. They were allowed to come in at that place and if they had means of supporting themselves they did it. but if immigrants were landed there who had neither money nor friends the commissioners of immigration took charge of them. fed them. and lodged them until they could find places for them. and this head money. in some instances. fell very far short of paying the expenses the State had to incur. That balance the.State of New York had to make good. and therefore instead of making money out of the immigrants who landed there it was a matter of expense to the State over and above the head money that was collected there. Not one dollar of that money went into the treasury of the State. but it all went for the benefit of the immigrants who had landed there and had no means to support themselves.