The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
Spain, has the honor to inform the honorable Secretary of State that,
according to a communication which he has just received from the
consul-general of Spain at New York, two Spaniards, named Victor
Ordieras and Valentin Alvarez, have been arrested in that city in
pursuance of a special order of the Treasury Department, it being
thought that they had come to the United States as emigrants under
contract to perform labor.
The statements contained in the inclosed document, which is signed by two
reputable firms doing business in the city of New York, will convince
the honorable Secretary of State that the aforesaid Spaniards have been
regarded as emigrants under contract through a misapprehension, and the
undersigned therefore begs him to lay said statements before the
honorable Secretary of the Treasury, and to request that officer to
revoke the order for their arrest and to direct that they be
released.
[Inclosure.]
Messrs. Garcia
Bros, et al. to the Spanish
consul-general at New York.
New
York, April 30,
1894.
Sir: We, Selgas Neidel (sic) & Co., residing in this city, at No. 146 Reade
street, and F. Garcia & Bros., residing at No. 80 Warren street,
respectfully lay before you the following facts:
On Friday, the 28th instant, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Victor
Ordieras, a native of Oviedo, Spain, and Valentin Alvarez, a native
of Lugo, likewise in Spain, were arrested in pursuance of a special
order of the Treasury Department at Washington, for violating the
law in force on the subject of contract labor, it doubtless being
believed that those gentlemen had come as emigrants under contract
to perform labor. The reason of this belief probably was that when
they arrived in this city, on the 21st of December, 1893, they were
taken to Ellis Island, where they were made to sign a paper in the
English language, in which, as they thought (they having no
knowledge whatever of English), they stated that Mr. Alvarez was
going to reside at No. 80 Warren street, and Mr. Ordieras at No. 146
Reade street, but, as it now appears, they declared in that paper
that they came under contract to work. Nothing could be more untrue,
for Mr. Alvarez is a brother-in-law of Messrs. F. Garcia &
Bros., and as such he came, his family being abundantly able
[Page 615]
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.
Your obedient servants,
- F. Garcia &
Bros.,
80 Warren
Street. - Selgas, Nistal &
Co.,
146 Reade
Street.
