The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-06
TO CHALLENGE FIVE HUNDRED
The Question of Naturalization In
the Riddeford Election.

BIDDEFoRD, March 5.-This afternoon an
order was introduced in the Board Of Alder
men to have stricken from the voting list
800 names of voters whose naturalization pa
pers wereiprocured In the Biddeford or Saco
municipal courts. This action was brought
about because of the recent ruling of Judge
Webb, in the United States District Court,
declaring that the Biddeford municipal court
has no right to naturalize aliens. Some of
those whose names are included In the list
are candidates for ward offices In the city
election. The Republican aldermen voted In
favor of the order, and the Democratic ma
jority defeated the passage OF it. The votes
Of these 500 will be challenged at the cleo
ti0n Monday next, and an appeal made to
the United States Supreme Court. The mat
ter Is creating much excitement here. The
balance of power lies In the list of
voters whose names were submitted to the
Board of Aldermen today. The order fol-
lows:
CITY OF BIDDEFoRD.
In the Board Of aldermen, sitting to revise the
voting lists, March 5, 1890:
Whereas, it appears Of record that the names Of
the persons hereafter mentioned are entered upon
the voting lists OF the several wards Of this city
as hereinafter specified, aud that their right to
have their names so entered and to vote at the
regular elections held in this city depends and Is
based upon certificates OF naturalization issued
from the municipal courts of the city Of Bdde
t0ru OF tne city OF SdcO; anQ whereas IL mas Deen
distinctly held by the federal cou { In Maine that
the municipal court OF the city Of Bddeford Is not
a court OF record having common law jurisdic-
tion. and seal and clerk, within the meaning #
the statute o. the United States conierring power
upon certain courts to naturaliZe aliens; and
whereas, 1t has been before distinctly decided by
the Circuit Court of the United States for the Dis
trict OF Massachusetts, that a court of record
without clerk or other recording officer, distinct
from the Judge OF such court, is not competent to
act In the naluraliz lion Of aliens; and, whereas,
the municipal court of Sac0 has substantially the
same organization as the municipal court of Bid
deford, and Is alike incompetent 10 DaturaZe
aliens, and it appears that many persons claiming
citizenship by virtue OF void certificates issued by
said municipal courss may be led 10 Illegally vote
al the next election, If this board permits their
names to be entered or remain upon the voting
lists of Is city; and. ahereas, 1t Is the duly of
this board not to permit TO be entered or TO remain
upon the voting lists of this cit, the names of
persons claiming the rights Of citzensh p by vir-
tue of alleged naturalization In said municipal
courts and that this duty Is one owed to tho city
and the persons otherwise innocent who may. II
we omit this duty, be induced to violate the laws
Of the land aud incur srievous penalties;
1t Is Ordered, that the following named persons,
residing in Biddeford, In the several wards, and
who appear to have been Baturalized In the said
municipal courts as hereinafter specified be noti-
fed TO appear forthwith and show cause TO this
board why their names should not be ST. icken
from the voting lists of this city, and In default
thereof, that their names be stricken from said
lists.
The list of the names follows as a part Of
the order.