Mr. Uhl to Mr.
Muruaga.
Department of State,
Washington, May 10,
1894.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 2d instant relative to the alleged
unwarranted arrest at New York, in pursuance of a special order from the
Treasury Department, of two Spaniards, named Victor Ordieres and
Valentin Alvarez, on a charge of violating the alien labor contract law.
You therein request that, in view of the statements which you inclose
from two New York firms, the order for their arrest may be revoked.
I hastened to bring your representations and request to the attention of
the Secretary of the Treasury, and have the honor to make known to you
the substance of his reply, as follows:
Upon the arrival of these two immigrants their affidavits were taken by
an immigrant inspector, and after being interpreted were duly sworn to
by them. From these affidavits (copies of which are inclosed herewith)
it appears that they came to the United States under contract to work,
Victor Ordieres Amado for the firm of Selgas, Nistal & Co., 146
Reade street, New York City, and Alvarez for the firm of Garcia &
Bros., residing in the same city, at No. 80 Warren street.
The Secretary of the Treasury further states that after a careful
consideration of the papers submitted, including the letter of complaint
to you (which, it should be borne in mind, is from the defendants in the
proposed suits), he can see no sufficient reason for recalling the
warrants issued by his Department for the arrest and deportation of the
said Amado and Alvarez.
Accept, etc.,
Edwin F. Uhl,
Acting Secretary.
[Page 616]
[Inclosure 1.]
Affidavit of Victor Ordieres Amado.
State of New York, County of New York, 88:
Victor Ordieres Amado, 28, tobacco examiner, being duly sworn,
deposes and says that he is a native of Spain; has never been in the
United States before, and arrived at the port of New York on the
20th day of December, 1893, per the steamship Yucatan, from Havana; and that be, Victor Ordieres Amado,
has applied for admission into the United States as an alien
immigrant.
Deponent also says that about two weeks ago Alfredo Selgas, of the
firm of Selgas, Nistal & Co., 146 Reade street, New York City,
was in Havana, Cuba, and while there saw deponent and told deponent
to come to America; that, though times were hard, he (Selgas) would
give deponent work in his (Selgas’s) cigar manufactory as examiner
of leaf tobacco, at the same wages as examiners get in the United
States. Deponent also says that an agreement or contract was made
between or by them for deponent to come to America and work, and
that he (deponent) came to America as a result of that agreement or
contract. Deponent also says that he is employed to work for said
Selgas, Nistal & Co., and that he was employed by said firm
while he was in Havana, Cuba; and deponent further states that he
would not have come to the United States but for said contract, made
prior to his sailing. Deponent states further that no one told him
to make this statement, but that it is the truth.
I, Victor Ordieres Amado, being the deponent in the foregoing
affidavit, do swear that the within affidavit has been
interpreted to me in the Spanish language, and that it is made
by me voluntarily and for the purpose of the application for
admission into the United States, as aforesaid.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 20th day of December,
1893.
Charles G. Eichler,
Notary Public, New
York.
I, Jules Aviles, do hereby swear that I interpreted the within
affidavit to deponent in the Spanish language, and that he fully
understood the same before voluntarily singing his name
thereto.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of December,
1893.
Charles G.
Eichler,
Notary Public, New
York.
[Inclosure 2.]
Affidavit of Valentine Alvarez.
State of New York, County of New York, 88:
Valentine Alvares, 33, laborer by occupation, being duly sworn,
deposes and says that he is a native of Spain, has never been in the
United States, and arrived at the port of New York on the 20th day
of December, 1893, per the steamship Yucatan,
from Havana, Cuba, and that he, Valentine Alvares, has applied for
admission, into the United States as an alien immigrant.
Deponent also says that in July, 1893, Jose Garcia, of the firm of F.
Garcia & Bros., 80 Warren street, New York City, was in Spain,
and while there saw deponent and told deponent to come to America;
that his firm, F. Garcia & Co., needed help, and would give
deponent work in their manufactory at the wages of $8.50 per week
and board. Deponent also says that he is employed by said F. Garcia
& Bros.; that he was employed by them prior to his sailing for
the United States; that he can go to work as soon as he reaches his
destination, and that he would not have come to the United States
except for the assurance and promise of work given him by said Jose
Garcia. Deponent further says that no one told him to make this
statement, but that it is the truth, and that said Jose Garcia paid
deponent’s passage to the United States from Spain, and that he,
deponent, gave up his work at home in order to come to America and
accept the work offered him by said Jose Garcia.
[Page 617]
I, Valentine Alvares, being the deponent in the within affidavit,
do swear that the within affidavit has been interpreted to me in
the Spanish language, and that it is made by me voluntarily and
for the purpose of the application for admission into the United
States, as aforesaid.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of December,
1893.
| [seal.] |
Charles G.
Eichler,
Notary Public,
New York. |
I, Jules M. Aviles, do hereby swear that I interpreted the within
affidavit to deponent in the Spanish language, and that he fully
understood the same before voluntarily signing his name
thereto.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of December,
1893.
[
seal.]
Charles G. Eichler,
Notary Public, New York
City.
