Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-20
Had Better Prepare to Become Full
Pledged Citizens Of the
United States.
THE OATES BILL LIKELY TO PASS.
1t is Particularly Aimed, so States the Re-
port, at the Great Schenley
and ScuIly Estates.
A TILT BETWEEN SHERMAN AND QUAY.
Harrison and Blaine Are in Favor Of Reciprocal Tariff
Legislation.
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, June 19.-The bill re-
Gently reported by the Committee on Judic.
iary prohibiting aliens from acquiring title
to or owning lands within the United States
will probably soon be considered, as that
committee expects to secure a day in the
House before long. In brief, the bill de-
clares all foreign-born persons who have
not been naturslized incapable of taking
the title to lands anywhere in this country,
except leasehold tor not exceeding five
years, and it has no retroactive, but pro-
spective operation.
1t places all persons alien to our Govern
ment under the disability to take real estate
or immovable which the civil law imposed
by the law. Deeds of conveyance of i'm
movable property are void, on account of
the ineapacity of the grantee, if an alien,
to take or hold the land.
A CHANCE FOR THE HEIRS.
An amendment reported by the committee
allows aliens who came to this country with
the intention of becoming citizens to buy
land at once and to acquire an inchoate title
thereto, which cannot become perfect title
until naturalization is acquired. In case of
his or her death, his heirs, being citizens,
may inherit the land. Another pro-
vision of the bill is that all lands now
owned or hereafter acquired by aliens who
fail to become citizens for ten years, shall
be subject to be denounced and forfeited to
the United States, according to the rules of
common law. This will compel alien land
owners TO cease to be such, or become citi-
Gems of the United States, within ten years.
The report of the committee SAYS:
The bill does not stop at State lines Int nm
der authority Of that clause of the Constitu-
tlon which cOnfers upon Congress the sole and
exclusive right ITO establish uniform rule of
naturalization through the United States
overleaps them. and would, if enacted into a
law, prevent any more such abuses as that of
Mr. Scully, who resides in England, and is a
subject Of the Queen, but owns 10000 acres in
the State of Illinois, occupied by
HUNDREDS OF TENANTS,
mostly ignorant foreigners, from whom he re-
ceives as rent 500 900 per annum, and expends
il in Europe. The Schenley estate, consisting
of about 1000 acres within the city limits of
Pittsburg and Allegheny, from the rents of
which the Schenleys, who are subjects of the
British Queen, draw annually not less than
$4,000, is another instance of alien landlordism
IN America. Numerous others could 3 cited.
NO other nation in the world allows the sub.
1ects of other governments to acquire such pos
sessions within its jurisdiction"
Mr.. Oates, who is the author of the bill.
said to-day he had no doubt OF the passage
of the bill at this session, and that the
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee had
promised when day was secured for the
consideration of its business, that this bill
should be taken up. AS similar measure
has been favorably reported in three differ
ent Congresses it would seem the probabil-
1ties are strong for its passage at this session.
LIGHTNER.