Mr. Uhl to Mr. Muruaga.

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.

Victor Ordieres Amado.

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.

Victor Ordieres Amado.

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.

Jules M. Aviles.

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.

Valentine Alvares.
[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.

Valentine Alvares.

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.