23110 BOSTON BOARD OF TRADE, SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT, PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, ON THE 16th OF JANUARY, 1856. BOSTON: MOORE & CROSBY, PRINTERS, No. 1 Water Street. 1856. SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. Gentlemen of the Board of Trade: The Government of the Board will at once proceed to give you an account of their doings during the past year. Short abstracts have been already published of their action upon various important subjects which have engaged their attention, but it is deemed eminently proper upon this occasion of our annual meeting, to pass all these in review, and to submit them to your approval. 1. Capitation Tax on Immigrants arriving at Boston. A bill was introduced into the last legislature, and referred to a committee, proposing to increase the present capitation tax on immigrants arriving at this port. The tax is now equivalent to two dollars per head. It is of course impossible to say what the full effect of such a measure would be, if carried out, but it is clear that its tendency would be to destroy the commerce of Boston, and deprive us not only of the profit derived from the transport of passengers, but from that gained in the carrying of goods also, which is so intimately connected with, and dependent upon, the passenger business. It would tend, moreover, to drive away the noble lines of steamers and packets now established, from our own ports to those of our rivals in other States, and would not, in any event, increase our receipts for head money, nor guard us from the evils of the immigration of foreign paupers in any great degree. Few paupers would be prevented thereby from coming here. They would find their way from New York or Portland, or other cities near |