Speech #510039728

Mr. Chairman. having been one of the members of the Committee on Immigration who visited New York at the period stated by my friend from Alabama. I desire to state the conclusions that we arrived at and the reasons for such conclusions. The joint committee of the Senate and House visited New York for the purpose of examining into and inspecting a proper location for a site for the landing of immigrants. As stated by the gentleman who preceded me. they have been landing at Castle Garden for many years. A conflict arising between the commissioners of immigration and the representatives of the Government of the United States made it necessary. as the Secretary of the Treasury deemed. to cancel the contract. which he did by giving the requisite notice of sixty days. Hence. this contract will terminate by expiration on the 18th of the present month. This makes it absolutely necessary that the Government should take some steps to provide another location for the landing of immigrants at the city of Y"ew York. Castle Garden belongs to the State of New York. In the arrangement which has been made by theGeneral Government and the commissioners of the State of New York the commissioners are to carry out the operation of landing the immigrants. and look after them after they have landed. and they are to receive pay or compensation from the General Government for the expense they incur. The General Government receives a per capita or head tax of 50 cents on each immigrant who lands there. which goes into the Treasury of United States. and the expense of landing these immigrants is paid to the commissioners from the Treasury of the United States out of this fund. When my friend from New York says that the Government pays nothing for the use of Castle Garden at the present time. I desire to state that it pays $8.000 per year. and that it is paid directly from the Treasury of the United States.