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. F. GARCIA & BROS., 80 Warren Street. SELGAS, NISTAL & Co., 146 Reade Street. Mr. Uhl to Mr. Muruaga. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 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. [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 he, 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, 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. [Inclosure 2.] CHARLES G. EICHLER, 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. 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. CHARLES G. EICHLER, Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of December, 1893. [SEAL.] 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. ATTACK UPON SPANISH CIGAR-MAKERS AT KEY WEST. Mr. Muruaga to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF SPAIN, Washington, March 25, 1894. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: A cablegram from the governor-general of Cuba informs me of the fact that a mob composed of several hundred roughs, armed with clubs and revolvers, attacked lately the Spanish cigar-makers of the tobacco manufactory "Rosa Española" in Key West, obliging them under fear of personal violence to stop work. The interference of the police could barely avoid bloodshed. It is intimated that should work be resumed to-morrow the same lawbreakers threaten wholesale murder. Would it be too much asking of your kindness to have matter recommended at once to the governor of the State of Florida, on whom devolves the authority to guarantee protection and security to foreign residents? Very sincerely, yours, E. DE MURUAGA. Mr. Adee to Mr. Muruaga. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, MY DEAR MR. MINISTER: Upon the receipt of your note of yesterday's date, informing him of an attack by an armed mob on the Spanish cigar makers at Key West, the Secretary at once brought the matter to the attention of the governor of Florida by telegraph for proper action by him. The governor's reply has just reached us, stating that he has instructed the captain of the company of State troops at Key West to aid the civil authorities in preserving peace. I am, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE, Acting Secretary. No. 223.] TERMINATION OF RECIPROCITY ARRANGEMENT. Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, August 20, 1894. (Received August 30.) SIR: I have the honor to report that on Saturday, the 18th instant, I received an invitation from the minister of state, requesting a conference for that evening at half past 6 o'clock. I met the minister at the time indicated, and, after the usual preliminaries, he gave me to understand that he desired to discuss the contents of the pending tariff bill, so far as the same will affect the commercial arrangement now existing between Spain and the United States. From his conversa. tion it clearly appeared that he was informed in a general way as to the contents of the pending bill, and he expressed the belief that its practical effect will be to wipe out the provisions of law upon which the reciprocity arrangement is based, and thus bring that arrangement abruptly to an end, provided no saving clauses are contained in the bill which will produce that result in a more gradual way. Not having seen the text of the bill in its final form, and having no exact information as to its contents except the very imperfect statements contained in the European press, I made it a point to indulge in no positive statements either as to the contents of the bill or as to its effects. The interview concluded with a request from the minister that I should submit to you as soon as possible the following questions: (1) When will the pending bill take effect? (2) Will the provisions of law, by virtue of which the present commercial arrangement was executed upon the part of the United States, come at once to an end without notice or warning to Spain? (3) What will then be the condition of the commercial relations between the two countries, so far as Cuba and Puerto Rico are concerned, and what action had best be taken by both countries with a view of preserving harmony in those relations? The minister expressed himself in a most conservative and amicable spirit, saying that Spain had every desire to cooperate with the United States in an effort to make the commercial relations between the two countries harmonious, stating at the same time that Spain had no desire to impose additional burdens upon the commerce of the United States with Cuba and Puerto Rico if such a course could be avoided, and my cooperation was asked to that end. The minister requested me to ask that you would send him at least general answers to his questions by cable as soon as my letter is received, as it is very necessary for him to know what will be the general effect of the bill upon Spanish interests. I am, etc., HANNIS TAYLOR. No. 226.] Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, August 23, 1894. (Received September 5.) SIR: I have the honor to inclose, with translation, an extract from El Liberal of the 22d instant, indicating the course to be taken by the custom-house authorities of Cuba and Porto Rico as to imposition of tariff dues upon merchandise from the United States the moment that the new tariff bill takes effect. I am, etc., HANNIS TAYLOR. [Inclosure in No. 226.-Translation.-From El Liberal of August 22, 1894.] As regards the new bill voted by the chambers of the United States reimposing the duties on sugar, Señor Becerra, in accord with Señor Moret, telegraphed yesterday to Gen. Calleja ordering him to communicate with the representative of Spain at Washington and with the captain-general of Porto Rico, so that on the same day and at the same hour in which the bill of the United States is put in force the old tariffs for North American products may be reestablished in both Antilles. Mr. Gresham to Mr. Taylor. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Secretary of the Treasury holds, no doubt correctly, that our new tariff law went into effect on the 27th instant at midnight, and that the commercial arrangement under act of 1890 then terminated. GRESHAM. No. 228.] Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, August 30, 1894. (Received September 10.) SIR; I have the honor to inclose herein, with translation, a copy of a note just received from the minister of state, announcing the fact that His Majesty's Government has decided to annul the decree of June 28, 1891, putting into execution the reciprocity arrangement in the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. I am, etc., HANNIS TAYLOR. [Inclosure in No. 228.-Translation.] Mr. Moret to Mr. Taylor. MINISTRY OF STATE, Palace, August 28, 1894. EXCELLENCY: The Government at Washington having yesterday put into force the new tariff regulations, according to the official advices received from the Spanish minister, the reciprocity agreement which has governed the commercial relations between the two countries comes to an end. In view of these facts the Government of His Majesty the King has decided in its turn to annul the decree of June 28, 1891, which was published to put into execution the reciprocity arrangement in the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. In making this communication to your excellency I again call your attention to the unfairness and prejudice which would come of apply. ing the new tariff to the products of the Philippine Islands, which, having been shipped previous to this date, would find themselves in a peculiarly disadvantageous position on their arrival in the United States if they were expected to pay the imposts of the new tariff. I avail, etc., S. MORET. |