Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-01
A QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
Tbs Delay In Obtaining American Registra
ton for Inmau Steamers.


ton for Inmau Steamers.
Up to this time the Inman Steamship Com
pany has taken no direct steps to secure Ameri-
can registry Of the ocean greyhounds, the City
OF Paris and the City of New York. in accord
ance with the special legislation to that end
enacted at the last session Of Congress. This
10 matter of considerable surprise at the
Treasury Department, where il was expected
that the Formally of placing the two vessels
on the register Of American ships would have
been consummated long before the summer
was over.
While the officers of the company have fire.
quently conferred with the President and the
Secretary OF the Treasury on the subject they
have not Is yet avaiied themselves of their
privileges under the law to the extent Of Cling
an application for American registration for
either OF the steamships entitled to it. That
such 10 their intention. however, is clearly
evidenced by their formal notification to the
British authorities Of their withdrawal from
the service OF that government, action involv-
ing monetary forfeiture, and by their negotia-
tons with Cramp Sons for the construction
OF additional vessels in accordance with the
conditions imposed by the law authorizing the
enrolment OF the vessels.
Some Of the officials of the Treasury Depart
ment express the opinion that the delay on the
part of the steamship company il due solely to
desire on Its part to secure additional legis-
latlon at the coming session Of Congress W hich
will enable the foreign officers now in COM
mand OF the two ships to continue in that
capacity after the American flag shall have re-
placed the British ensign at the masthead These
onhcers have already declared their intention of
becoming American citizens and have received
their hrst naturalization papers but under the
law they cannot become fuil-hedged American
citizens with the privilege Of voting for five
years yet.
The question has therefore arisen as to
whether the officers of the City of Paris and
the City OF New York can be regarded as Amer
lean citizens within the meaning Of the statute
which prescribes that all United States ships
shall be ofhcered by citizens of the United
States. There is difference Of opinion on
this point While there has been no decision
BY the treasury in this particular case it is
learned that in other cases involving the same
question the precedent has been cleari- estab-
iished that declared intention of citizenship
does not meet the legal requirement that off,
GERS OF United States ships shall be citizens OF
the United States.
On the other hand it is contended that q
foreign-born person who has declared his inten-
ton OF becoming q citizen is to all intents
and purposes citizen Of the United States,
and in support of this view is cited the case Of
Martin kosta. in which Austria disputed the
right OF the United States to interfere in the
case of a subject of that country who had sim
ply declared his intention OF becomi ng a citi-
zen of the United States.
This country backed up its contention in that
case with the mau-of-war St. Louis in the har-
Dor of Trieste. 1t is therefore contended that
II the American doctrine on this point was good
enough to risk a war with Austria in the Kosta
case it is good enough to qualify the masters of
the City of Paris and City of New York to serve
under the American flag
An official of the Treasury Department said
today that the principal established in the
Kosta case was solely that foreigner who had
taken the initiatory steps toward citizenship in
the United States is entitled to the protection
OF this government and has no bearing on the
general question Of citizenship as involved III
the present case, for the simple reason that a
man might be entitled to the protection of the
government and still be debarred for many
reasons from commanding one Of its merchant
vessels
1t is not fair 10 assume, however, in case the
question is presented that the department would
rule that the present masters of the two steam
ships are ineligible for service IN the American
merchant marine, for the reason that Secretary
Charles Foster and Commissioner OBrien of
the navigation bureau are disposed to accede to
the wishes Of the company IN this particular
respect If it can possibly be done within the
law.
1t is said that they are both inclined to the view
that an exception might safely be made in this
case and that they would act accordingly unless
the Attorney General. who would naturally be
appealed to- should give ali opinion to the con-
trarv. The prevailing impression is that the
solution of the problem will be left to Congress