Mr. Adee to Count Vinci.
Washington, August 14, 1899.
Sir: Your letter of June 20 last relative to the Italian bureau of immigration at the Barge Office in New York was, as you were advised by the Department’s note of June 23, referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr. Gage states in reply that the files of that Department show that the institution referred to was established in 1894, at the request of the Italian ambassador at this capital, coupled with the assurance that “what is proposed is only an experiment” for the avowed purpose of suppressing “the pernicious padrone system, which the Italian Government is very anxious to break up.” In compliance with this request, the Secretary of the Treasury, under date of June 13, 1894, after directing that a room be set aside on the ground floor of Ellis Island station for the display of advertising matter, etc., gave permission to station there “one or two persons who can interview and advise with Italian immigrants who have been allowed to land. It is, however, understood that persons selected by you shall give information to the United States officials of any violation of the immigration or alien contract labor laws which may come under their notice.”
He adds that the experiment has now been in operation for five years, and it would seem that the principal object of its establishment—the suppression of the padrone system—having been found impracticable, [Page 415] has long since been abandoned. It has been found that not once during said period has the said bureau furnished the immigration officials with information regarding violations of the above-mentioned laws by Italian immigrants, although such violations are alleged to have repeatedly occurred, as, for example, the landing of Italian convicts.
It is further reported that the said bureau had undertaken to act as an agent of the immigrants from Italy, appearing before the boards of special inquiry as counsel in their behalf; that it has frequently interviewed such immigrants, in disregard of the condition upon which it was permitted accommodation at the station, before they were allowed to land, and, finally, it is said that through its means information of the methods of inspection and examination at the said station was disseminated among Italians intending to come to the United States, whereby they were enabled to deceive the immigration officials and secure admission when not lawfully qualified therefor.
Accept, etc.,