St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-02
OUR NATURALIZATION LAWS
The Oates Bill to Be Favorably Re-
ported.
ALIENS MUST KNOW ENGLISH
Polyganlists, Anarchists, Socialists and
Communists Must Stay
Away.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The COM
mittee on commerce of the House has
been having a hard time this winter in
reaching an agreement upon any one Of
the various bills which propose to
''amend the naturalization laws of the
United States" Nearly every bill pro-
posed to do something unpolitic and I'M
wise. Many members seemed inclined
to treat aliens as so many cattle, with
no rights present or prospective. They
were to be excluded from homestead
and presumption privileges and denied
the right to purchase land from indi-
viduals. In all these questions the
northwestern states and territories are
interested, and the influence of the
members and delegates has largely con-
tributed to producing fairness i'll the
action of the committee. 1t has been
decided to favorably report the bill
which was introduced last September
by Mr.. Oates, of Alabama. This bill
seems to be the embodiment of the best
ideas upon the subject. 1t provides
that mo alien who has ever been le-
gally convicted of any infamous crime
or miSdemeanour involving
MORAL TURP1TUDE,
or who mas immigrated to the United
States in violation of the laws thereof,
or who cannot speak the English Ian
guage and read it, OF VINO is p0lvgamist,
anarchist, socialist, or communist, or
belongs to any society or association of
such, shall be naturaliZed or adjudged
by any court to be a citizen of the
United States or of any state: nor shall
any alien be naturaliZed who has not
continuously for six years next preced-
ing such adjudication resided within
the United States. If the proper courts
shall be satisfied that the applicant is a
person of good moral character and fit
and proper person, according to law. to
become a citizen of the United States,
he shall render judgment accordingly,
which shall be entered of record; but if
the court is not satisfied from the EVIL
dence that the petitioner is entitled to
the relief he seeks. his petition shall be
jected. All legal evidence, whether
petent, but the petitioner shall in no
case be admitted to citizenship upon his
own
UNCORRoBORATEDE EVIDENCE.
The clerk of the court shall be enti-
tied for filing the petition and entering
judgment to fee of 81. The petitioner
shall in every case pay all the costs of
the proceeding, and thereupon he shall
be entitled to a copy of the Judgment Or
decree Of the court, properly certified,
with the seal of the court attached,
which shall be evidence of the contents
thereof in any court or tribunal, state
or federal, throughout the United
States. That any petitioner for certifi-
cate on declaration of intention OF for
full naturalization under the provisions
of this act. who shall knowingly swear
falsely in respect to any material mat
ter OF thing alleged In either of his petit
lions, and any person who shall know
ingly swear falsely as to any material
matter or thing in any of tie proceed
ings authorized by this act, shall be
deemed guilty of perjury, and upon
having Jurisdiction under this act, shall
be
IMPRISONED AT HARD LABOR
not exceeding five years and may
be fined not exceeding $1,000, or both,
in the discretion of the court
trying the same. That every alien who
legally declares his intention to become
a citizen of the United States shall,
within seven years next thereafter,
make application as provided III this
act. to be finally adjudged to be such
citizen, and failing therein in his said
declaration of intention and certificate
thereof shall be nuFl and void, and he
shall thereby stand remanded to his
former alien status; but all aliens,
after they are admitted to full citizen
ship as provided in this act, shall re-
ceive from the United States the same
measure of protection throughout the
world as is extended to native citizens;
and this act shall apply to females as
well as males" The committee will
propose to
AMEND THE OATES BILL
but adding that 'alienS may, for the
purpose of homestead and pre-emption
rights, under the land laws, make dec
laration of intention, and be entitled to
the same benefits and privileges granted
to them under existing laws for that
purpose and no other" Aliens resid-
ing in or about to move into the terrific
rieS will thus be enabled to make homes
for themselves without hindrance. The
failure to- insert that amendment
would have worked incalculable hard
lip and suffering upon many thou
nds of honest, ambitious yeomanry
WHO have come to our shores to rear
their familiesj to become bulwarks of
the republic.