Count Vinci to Mr. Hay.
Washington, June 20, 1899.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to address your excellency, calling, your attention to some statements made on the 10th of January last by Mr. Powderly, Commissioner-General of Immigration for the Treasury Department, before the Industrial Commission, now in session in this city.
Mr. Powderly, being requested to speak of the Italian immigration bureau now established at the Barge Office in New York, said that he had at one time thought of suppressing that bureau because he had reason to think that the agents sent out by it were accustomed to come into contact with the immigrants before the latter had been inspected by the Federal authorities, with a view to assisting them to avoid obeying the United States immigration laws.
The Commissioner-General added, moreover, that he had heard it said that the Italian bureau was in league with the padrone system, and by way of corroborating this statement he added that one Celso Cesare Moreno (who, as your excellency is aware, was prosecuted three years ago at the instance of the Federal Government and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for defaming His Excellency Baron Fava, His Majesty’s ambassador) had assured him that the Italian bureau was a mere agency of the padroni, and that many of the things told him by Moreno, a well-informed person, had proved to be true.
Mr. Powderly finally closed his statements before the Industrial Commission by expressing himself as follows:
I think that when our building is erected on Ellis Island we will be able to take care of all immigrants, and will be able to see that they are properly lodged and cared for without any need of help from any other institution. In fact, that will be done.
The Government of the King, to which I communicated Mr. Powderly’s words, now instructs me specially to call your excellency’s kind attention to them, and, without discussing them, to point out to you, in a friendly way, how beneficent and disinterested the action of the Italian bureau has ever been as regards immigration, and particularly to point out what care has been taken by the Royal Government to cause the action of the bureau always to be exerted in harmony with the Federal immigration laws.
It has further instructed me to state to you, on this occasion, that it feels confidence in the uprightness and impartiality of the United States Government, and believes that no obstacles will be placed in the way of the free action of a bureau which, by reason of its humanitarian objects, is deserving of unconditional support, both material and moral.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
Royal Chargé d’Affaires of Italy.