Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-17
NATURALIZATION LAWS

NATURALIZATION LAWS.
The inadequacy Of existing legislation touch
ing citizenship and naturalization demands your
consideration. While recognizing the right of
repatriation, no statutory provision exists pro-
viding means for renouucing citizenship by an
American citizen native born or naturalized nor
for terminating and vacatinS an improper acqui-
OF naturalization cannot be cancelled.
The privilege and franchise of American cti-
zenship should be granted with care and extended
to those Ouly who intend in good faith to assume
its duties and responsibilities when attaining lis
privileges and benefits. 1t should be withheld
from those who merely go through the forms of
naturalization with the intent OF. escaping the
duties OF their original allegiance without taking
upon themselves those OF their new status or who
may acquire the rights Of American citizenship
for no Other than hostile purpose towards their
original government. These evils have had many
t1agrant illustrations. | regard with favor the
suggestion put forth By one of my predecessors
that provision may be made for a central bureau
Of record of DEGREES of naturalization granted by
the various courts throughout the United States
now invested with that power. The rights which
spring from the doInicile in the United States
especially when coupled with declaration of in
tention TO become citizen, are worthy Of defni-
ton by statute. The stranger coming hther
with intent to remain, establishing his residence
in our midst, contributing to the general welfare
assume the responsibilities of citizenship thereby
gains inchOate status which legislation may
properly define.
The laws of certain states and territories admit
q allen TO the treaty rranCn1SS. confer
ring on htrD the rights of citizenship TO degree
which places him in the anomalous position of
being citizen of a state and yet not Of the
! United States within the provisions of federal
and international law. It is important within
the scope of national legislation to define this
| right of alien domicn as distinguished from fed
| eral naturalization.
COMMERCIAL TREATIES.
The commercial relations of the United States
with their immediate neighbors and with inpor-
tant areas of traffic near our own shores suggest
especially liberal intercourse between them and
the United States. Following the treaty Of 1888
with Mexico, which rested on the basis Of a
reciprocal exemption from customs duties, other
similar treaties initiated Ey my predecessor
Recognizing the need of less obstruction to traffic
with Cuba and Porto Rico, and met by the desire
of Spain TO succor the anguishing interests in the
Antilles steps were taken to obtain these ends by
q treaty of commerce.
similar treaty was afterwards signed by the
made by Her Brittanic Majestys government for
a like neutral extension OF commercial intercourse
with the British West India and South American
dependencies, but without results. On taking
Office withdrew for re-exaRination the treaties
signed with Spain and Santo Domingo, then pend
ing before the senate. The result has been to
satisfy me of the ineXpediency of entering into
engagements OF the character not covering the
entire traffic. These treaties contemplated the
surrender by the United States of large revenues
for Inadequate consideration. Upon sugar alone
duties were surrendered to an amount far exceed
ing all the advantages offered in exchange, even
Were 1t intended to re- 1eve our consumers. ltwaS
evident thatso long as the exemption but partially
covered our Importat1ons sucn rener wou1r oe
Ilusionary. To relinquiSh a revenue so essential
seemed highly improvident as q time when new
and large drains upon the treasury were contem-
plated. Moreover embarrassing questions would
have arisen under the favored nation clauses Of
treaties with other nations.
AS further objection it is evident that traffic
regulation by treaty diminished that independent
control over its revenues which is essential
for the safety and welfare of any government
The emergency calling for an increase of taxa
|
with foreign power should exist co hamper the
action of the government.
FINANCES
The report of the secretary of the treasury full
| ~ exhibits the condition Of the public finances
and of the several branches of the government
connected with his department. The suggestions
OF the secretary relating to practical operations
OF these important departments and his recon-
mendationS in direction OF Simplifcation and
economy, particularly of the work of collecting
! the custom duties, are especially urged upon the
! attention of congress,
THE ORDINARY RECEIPTS
from all sources for the fiscal year ended June
! 30 1885, were 1922 800 1868, of this sum $751;
| AL ,939 "a was received from customs and S1I2,-
! 498, 725 "a from internal revenue The total
receipts as given as above were S248 I63 81 less
than those for the year ending June so. 1884.
This elimination embraces falling OF OF s13
! 595, $50 ~ in the receipts from customs, and
So 1856 81 i'll the receipts from internal revenue
The total ordinary
EXPENDITURES
! of the government for the fiscal year was $780,
226 935 co. leaving surplus in the treasury at the
close OF the year OF S63,463 771.27. This is o.
! 929,oJ4 % less than the surplus reported at the
close of the previous year. The expenditures
are classified follows: For civil exp~nSes, S23 =
S26, 932 II for foreign intercourse, s. 439 500 II ;
! for Indians S5,652 494,67; for pensions, S56 1922
267.49; for the military including harbor in,-
provements and arsenals, $42 $40, 578 II; for the
navy, inciu1ing vessels, machinery and improve
ments at navy yards, S16,021 07S SO; for intere.t
on the public debt, ISL 1856 25627; for the District
of Columbia, 3499, $50 95; for miscellaneous ex-
penGitureS, including public buildings, light
houses and collecting the revenues $45 28 054 81.
PUBLIC DEBT.
/ The amount paid on the public debt during the
fiscal year ended June 3d. 1885, 49, $685. 235. AZ
| and there has been paid since that day and up to
/ Nov. 1, 1885. the sum of $3.50. S28, leaving the
amount Of the debt at the last named date
81, 514, 475, $50 AZ. There was, however, at that
time in the treasury, applicable to the general
purposes of the government the sum OF S66,S1S, =
291 49, The total receipts for the current fiscal
year ending June 80, 1886, ascertained to Oct 1,
1885, and eStirn ated for the remainder of the year
are S315, 900, 900. The expenditures, aseertained
and estimated for the same are $3.50, 000 000 leav-
ing surplus at the close of.the year, estimated
S25, 900 900.
THE VALUE OF EXPORTS
from the United States to foreign countries dur
Tag the last fsacal year was as follows:
Domestic merchandise. ......... S726, SS2 946 90
Foreign merchandise. 10, 5O6, 800. 90
GOD o. rs 4oa' e sSs w W
Total. 1874, 421, 2SO. 90
Some of the principal exports with their val
ues. and the percentages they respectfully bear
TO the total expectation, are given as follows:
ARTICLES Value. Per cent.