Mr. Muruaga to Mr. Gresham.

The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Spain, has the honor to inform the honorable Secretary of State that, according to a communication which he has just received from the consul-general of Spain at New York, two Spaniards, named Victor Ordieras and Valentin Alvarez, have been arrested in that city in pursuance of a special order of the Treasury Department, it being thought that they had come to the United States as emigrants under contract to perform labor.

The statements contained in the inclosed document, which is signed by two reputable firms doing business in the city of New York, will convince the honorable Secretary of State that the aforesaid Spaniards have been regarded as emigrants under contract through a misapprehension, and the undersigned therefore begs him to lay said statements before the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, and to request that officer to revoke the order for their arrest and to direct that they be released.

The undersigned minister avails, etc.,

E. de Muruaga.
[Inclosure.]

Messrs. Garcia Bros, et al. to the Spanish consul-general at New York.

Sir: We, Selgas Neidel (sic) & Co., residing in this city, at No. 146 Reade street, and F. Garcia & Bros., residing at No. 80 Warren street, respectfully lay before you the following facts:

On Friday, the 28th instant, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Victor Ordieras, a native of Oviedo, Spain, and Valentin Alvarez, a native of Lugo, likewise in Spain, were arrested in pursuance of a special order of the Treasury Department at Washington, for violating the law in force on the subject of contract labor, it doubtless being believed that those gentlemen had come as emigrants under contract to perform labor. The reason of this belief probably was that when they arrived in this city, on the 21st of December, 1893, they were taken to Ellis Island, where they were made to sign a paper in the English language, in which, as they thought (they having no knowledge whatever of English), they stated that Mr. Alvarez was going to reside at No. 80 Warren street, and Mr. Ordieras at No. 146 Reade street, but, as it now appears, they declared in that paper that they came under contract to work. Nothing could be more untrue, for Mr. Alvarez is a brother-in-law of Messrs. F. Garcia & Bros., and as such he came, his family being abundantly able [Page 615] to supply his wants, and there is not the slightest danger of his ever becoming a charge upon the public.

As to Mr. Ordieras, the fact that he was without work for a week is more than sufficient proof that he had not come under contract; but besides, as your excellency is aware, there is no emigration from Spain to this country, and it is also proper for us to state that Mr. Ordieras is by occupation a rezagador of cigar wrappers, and that he now earns $20 a week; an amount that is never paid to emigrants or persons under contract.

In view of the foregoing statements, which clearly show the injustice of this arrest, we beg your excellency to take suitable steps to secure the release of Messrs. Ordieras and Alvarez, who are still held on Ellis Island. We hope that you will take action in the matter with as little delay as possible, so that these gentlemen may not be returned to Spain, which would work serious detriment to them. All of which we, the undersigned, do not doubt that we shall obtain from your excellency’s well-known justice.

May God preserve your excellency’s life for many years.

Your obedient servants,

  • F. Garcia & Bros.,
    80 Warren Street.
  • Selgas, Nistal & Co.,
    146 Reade Street.