Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/94

80 " 'The O. P. line ' meant, 'Rob the passengers all you can, and divide the money with me.' The proceeds of the robbery were not divided among the members of the firm generally, but simply among those who personally participate in it.

"The ' stool ' above referred to was an individual who had influence with the passengers, and had procured their patronage for Smethurst's line, in consideration of a promise of his own passage and $100. The passage he had for himself and three members of his family, but the $100 he did not get. ' Stooling ' of a similar character is an everyday occurrence, but the ' stools ' seldom get off as well as this one. They are generally charged more than other passengers. They submit to it rather than be exposed to their companions as traitors to their interests.

"The ' stools ' are not paid what they are promised one time in twenty. When they demand their pay, they are threatened with exposure to their companions, whose interests and rights they have so grossly violated, which is generally sufficient to silence them. The case of the watch is in point. The English ' stool ' in that case thought he was arrested by an officer of justice, and not only gave up the watch, but paid a handsome sum besides. The officer was in fact another runner, in the interest of the one who gave him the watch."

All these nefarious operations were openly committed by the runners, but the shipping-houses, steamboats, and railroads shared the profits with them in a greater or lesser degree. Everybody was aware for what purpose these runners were kept; every newspaper reported almost daily their villainous transactions, but neither the public authorities nor the people dared to interfere with them. Now and then a complaint was made by one of the victims, but for a person unacquainted with the law and the language of the country it was difficult to obtain redress. In cases where it was probable that an exposure would be made, the matter was hushed up, the emigrant received his money back, and was by the quickest route sent West. Thus these runners for years infested the lower parts of the city, and by their means, recklessness, prodigality, and political influence, controlled the elections, and had a powerful voice in the State capital. Had it not been for their objections, the law creating the Commissioners