The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11
NATURALIZATION OF ALIENS.

PREsENTMENT BIZ THE GRAND JURY OF THE
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT CoURT-IMPoRTANT
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE
LAW.
The Grand Jury of the United States Circuit Court
made the following presentment respecting the
naturalization certificates Of 1863 and submitted 1t to
Judge Benedict yesterday
That it has been made apparent to the Grand Jurors
aforesaid, from evidence taken by Them that in the
year 1868 there purpors to have been issued from the
Supreme and Superior courts in the city of New
York mainly upon pretended proceedings had before
a single judge of each of said courts 2S525 socalled
certificates Of citizenship in the month of October
alone, of which number l0.079 were granted to
that number Of aliens. who. it is claimed
days in said month bya single judge, who also trans
acted his usual and customary court business 1t has
also appeared to s that III addition to such certificates
of citizenship issued, thousands of similar ceftf
Gates signed and sealed in blank, broadcast
throughout this and the neghboring States That of
the 2 525 certificates herein before referred to- MANY
thousands were wrongfully and fraudulently issued
without the appearance or examination in court of
either witnesses applicant without any application
to tine Court by the persons in whose names they
were issued upon false aidavits; by tho wilful aud
wrongful personation of applicants and witnesses; by
the appearance Of standing and professional Witnesses
who accepted by the Court witnesses for
aliens in single day in one instance to the
jurors here made known. single individual appear
ing one and the same day, in the same court, az
witness for III persons and finally by the issue Of
certificates in the of fictitious persons. That
these frauds the result of gross neglect OF duty
and total disregard OF the requirements of law upon
the part OF officers of said courts, whose conduct
merits the severe censure all awabiding citizens
and in the judgment of the jurors aforesaid calls for
the exercise of the most stringent measures upon the
part Of the Legislative executive and judicial depart
ments of the national government, to the end that
possession may be obtained by the proper officers Of
such illegal fraudulent and void certificates that the
same may be cancelled by the proper tribunal. and
that such may be put in operation shall
prevent the future issuing OF duplicates OF such cer
tifcates.
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE NATURALIZATION LAWS
The jurors aforesaid, after examination Of and
due consideration OF the different laws relating to the
naturalization of Aliens do further present that the
same appear to be loosely drawn, and dangerously
incongruous; that in many respects they appar
entity unjust and in others need material and radical
amendment to prevent serious consequences here
after to arrive by reason Of latent and patent
defects which exist and the action which has already
been taken Hereunder.
That among other amendments and changes in the
said laws which the jurors aforesaid would here pre-
sent are the following
Ftrst-The enactment of provision extending to
those who have received or may receive honorable
discharge from service in the naval force Of the
United States the same privileges as to citizenship
enjoyed by the holders of honorable army discharges
Sec0nd-The passing OF an act legalizing the natu-
ralzaton made by the respective courts authorized
to make citizens. and which said courts did in fact
grant admission to citizenship to white aliens be-
tween the adoption of the Revised Statutes Of the
United States in 1873 and the date of the amendment
to section 269 Of said statutes 1875 between which
dates no white alien entitled to be made a citizen.
Th,vd-The adoption OF such an amendment to the
naturalization laws will forever prevent court
entertaining the application OF more than person
to be admitted citizen at one and the same time
to receive evidence in support of any application other
than the Immediately before the court at that
time.
Fourth-The enactment OF some provision whereby
in of the departments Of government at Washing
ton there shall be established national bureau Of
record of naturalzed citizens to which bureau each
and every Court authorized to admit aliens citizen
ship shall required, at the close of each and every
term at which it shall have admitted any alien to be-
citizen to certify under its seal and under the
taa1ar fha anfh irt lanf
arrival in the United States and the port place
of arrival. together with the several places
actual place Of abode Of each person whom
it shall at any such term have admitted to citizen
ship and that at any time thereafter it, by reason OF
fire. food war; pestilence other the records
of any court which shall so have admitted aliens to
become citizens destroyed. such court or its
shall, upon the certificate Of the chief OF
said bureau of record of naturaized citizens. issue
certificate given under his hand and seal of Office to
the effect that the records Of his office give the
aforesaid particulars respecting the naturalization Of
any named person at specified term OF the said
court and upon satisfactory proof to such court Of
the identity OF the person who may apply for copy
of his certificate Of naturalization with the ndivid
ual named in the said certificate OF citizenship.
FIflh-The enactment OF some provision by which
certificates Of citizenship shall be uniform in their
wording and terms throughout the United States and
shall be engraved or printed upon paper OF such
character and containing such water other lines
marks will best prevent the counterfeiting forg
ing altering thereof by means Of erasure acids or
other chemicals.
.Siz0--The passage Of explicit provisions to the
form and character Of the court records which shall
be made and kept by every court exercising the right
of admitting aliens to citizenship.
And the Grand Jurors aforesaid, in making this
their presentment to this honorable court desire to
request that the may be spread at length Upon
the minutes OF this court, and that certified copies
thereof be forwarded to the President of the United
States. the Attorney General and the presiding of-
of the national Senate and House Represents
tves with the request that careful consideration be
given, not much to the specific changes
proposed-although such changes deemed by
us both wise and practical-as to the
whole subject Of the present condition Of
the laws relating to the naturalization of aliens, to
the end that past frauds may be exposed the holders
of false, fraudulent and void certificates may be
quired to surrender the ana obtain citizenship
properly and lawfully. and finally that such remedies
and safeguards may be adopted will hereafter
cure justice ana honesty in administration and uni
fory and regularity in practice and method in tho
matter of comforting upon aliens the rights powers.
duties. obligations and high privileges Of American
citizenship ut home and abroad All Of which il
spectfuny submitted.
WOULD NOT GO BACK.