The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-29
THE OOFFEE.POT.

An Effort 10 Get an Insight into the
Naturalization Business-Cnten susLIce
ing.
The manner In which the process Of naturali-
zation 10 carried on In this city mas recenJy
been the occasion Of frequent remark, In NO"
York the daily papers publish regularly the list
of those persons OF foreign birth who are In this
manner clothed with all the rights, privileges,
and i'm munities of native-born citizens. In
Philadelphia no such list has ever been pub
lished, although several attempts have been
made by different parties to obtain the names
and vouchers, for the purpose OF placing both
before the public.
Yesterday afternoon, two OF the attaches OF
TIE EVENING TELEGRAPH called upon j. Ross
Snowdep, the Prothonotary OF the Supreme
Court, to make formal demand for permission
to inspect the records of the Court. Mr.. Snow
den paused in his fatlguing work of signing the
magical documents long enough to hear their
request-and to deny It. Tney then proceeded
to the office of Alderman Beitler, and subscribed
to the following affidavit setting forth the facts
In the case:-
To the Honorable George Sharswood, Justice OF
the Supreme Court of fPennsylvania:--
Watson Ambruster humbly showeth:-That
they are citizens of the State OF Pennsylvania,
elections OF officers That by the provisions of
the act of Congress approved April IA, A. ID.
1902 IN relation TO the decentralization OF foreign
ers, IL was provided that "any alien, being
white free person, may be admitted to become
a citizen OF them Ohe United States), or any of
them, on the following conditions, and not
otherwise" among which conditions are
certain oaths which he must take "be-
Circuit Court OF some one of the States That
by the second section of the said act IL is pro-
recorded by the Clerk Of the Court" And
further, by the same act, the power to admin
lister said oaths and perform the requisites OF
naturalization is given to the "Prothonotary or
clerk of said Court"
That in accordance with the provisions of said
onf linn Gnn nxuIn Drnf hnr1 ntarxy of ,,
Supreme Court for tho Eastern District of Penn
sylvania. has administered and qualified within
the past few weeks a large number of persons
as citizens. That Two of your petitioners have
applied TO the said j. Ross Snowden for leave to
the Aforesaid are m reoured p 70 iI be
recorded, and that the said j. Ross Snowden has
refused to allow the petitioners the privilege OF
this refusal the object for which the said records
are kept was set at naught and defeated. and
that the said records cease to be public and be-
come OF no avail In the prevention OF fraudu-
lent naturalization.
Your petitioners therefore pray that man
damus may be issued 10 the said j. Ross
Snowden, commanding him to allow your
petitioners to have access to said public records.
be granted to show cause why q mandamus
should not be issued for the purposes aforesaid.
And your petitioners will ever pray, etc.
Chas e. Warburton, Watson Ambruster,
Alex. j. Harper, A, j. McCleary
Personally appeared before me the subscri-
bers above named, and being duly sworn, de-
pose and say that the f7cts set forth in tue
above petition are true to the best OF their
knowledge and belief
WATSON AMBRUsTER,
A. j. MCCLEARY.
Sworn and subscribed before me, this 2Sth
day OF September, A. ID. 1868.
DAVID BEITLER, Alderman.
This morning William McMichael and Lewis
VAIN Smiths, Esqs., representing the gentlemen
whose names are subscribed TO the above affida-
Wit, appeared in the Court, and presented it to
Chief Justice Thompson, who stated verbally
that the prayer for mandamus would be con-
sidered by the Court, and au argument granted
at an early day. 1t is probable that the question
will come up tomorrow morning before Judge
SharsWood.
Just previous to the presentation of the above
affidavit, other persons interested in a similar
movement appeared in Court and one Of them,
as well, was authorized by Mr.. Snowdeu, the
Prothonotary, to take copy of the names and
residences of those who were being naturaiZed,
whiiS thus occupied, Chief Justice Thompson
entered the room, forbid any further copying,
and took from the gentleman the list he had
already prepared, saying that he would not per-
NIT these matters to go before the public, eX-
cept by authority of a judicial proceeding.
Since the formal application made by us yes
terday .tor permission to inspect the records of
paturalizo.,,, n. one salutary reform has been
jnanouroiad TIE residences of the newly natu-
RAIL- c;tigeus are now required to be inserted
:. ,heir Doetitions, course which had not before