New-York tribune., 1892-10-18
FRAUD IN NATURALIZATION.
HOW REPUBLICAN APPLICANTS FOR PAPERS
ARE CHEATED
MEN WITH TAMMANY TICKETS RUSHED THROUGH
MONEY USED FREELY-DETAILS
OF THE SCHEME.


OF THE SCHEME
Tammany is working hard on a new scheme TO
disfranchisc intending Republican voters by max
ing it difficult possible for applicants TOT
naturalization. who do not come before its courts
stamped with the Tigers brand. to secure their
final papers, The game is a shrewd and double
one IL aims to grease the way for the droves Of
aliens who propose TO vote the Democratic ticket
and to throw as many obstacles possible In tho
path of those who apply under Republican auspt-
ces The scheme has been worked hard for four
weeks, and was in full operation yesterday on the
third story of the County Court House building
under the eyes of four policemen and large squad
Of runners.
The greater part of the naturalization Of aliens
takes place under the direction of the naturalza-
ton bureaus of the two political parties Inc
Tammany bureau for this purpose is at No. 27
Ccntre-st. The Republican bureau is at No. 40s
Pearst. Each bureau receives applications Tor
naturalization, which are vOuched for by the AS
sembly District leaders, and pays the cost OF scur-
ing final papers for prospective voters who intend
to vote the ticket of the political party through
which they apply Both bureaus were hard at
work at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. At No. 20
Centrest droves of Hungarians. Poles and ltalt
ans were passing at short intervals in charge OF
messengers over to Tic County Court House. Eacn
MESSENGER had from eight to ten men whom he
poted to the east side of the building. lhere
the line OF waiting applicants for naturalization eN-
tended down stairs and around corridors from 'he
third floor TO the basement. Up stairs the heao
of the line stopped the door of the Clerks Once
of the Superior Court, where officers 231 and oJS
held guard The corridors and sides OF the ro-
tunda were filed with groups Of men wearing the
Tammany button. A"few Republican messengers
from the naturalization Bureau at No. 466 PEARL
st. leaned against pillars waiting for the turn OF
the nsen they were plotting to come
At lO:15 o'clock there were $50 men strung
along the stairs and the line was steadily increas-
ing young man, dressed in a dngy derby hao
aud frayed Prince Albert coat, held whispered
conversation with Tsmmany heeler. They
walked around behind pillar and two - pliis
were quickly passed from the hand Of the man
who wore the Tammany button to the man who
wore the hat A second later, the young man
passed down the stairs, collected eight men from
the middle of the line and led them up 10 the
door of the Clerks Office. Officer 2,37l stepped
brisky aside and tie four applicants for naturall-
zation. accompanied by their four witnesses
uassed into the Clerks Office, much TO the enVi-
ous asonishment Of the first ten men who headed
the line and who mad been waiting patiently for
fifteen minutes for chance 10 pass the port also.
The operation repeated again and again untu
thirty-two instances were counted In twenty
minutes only three of the waiting 800 were per
mt,ed TO leave the head of TIE line and enter the
Clerks room. Within the Office the applications
of Democrats were being made ont with great ra-
pidty. 1t was noticed that the squads plloted
| from No 27 Centre-st, had an easy time. Inc
| questions asked were few and simple sus-
| pected Republican found it long and wearlsome
task to reach the august presence OF the Depu'y'
and when there put through riga queS-
tioninC before being passed out with his appnca-
/ tion across the corridor TO Judge Gildersleeves
room
But the chance for expedition in the naturallza-
tion machine of the Superior Court was large
when compared with that experienced In the Couf1
of Common Pleas. Here messengers, runners
clerks. police and everybody concerned, all>e
seemed TO have combined to delay the Republic
cans and TO railroad through those who cams
vouched for by Tammany. In the courtroom
JudOe Giegerich conducted an inquisition into
the affairs and history of all apparently Republl-
can applicants A Hebrew who came into ''e
court with messenger from the Repuolcan
bureau was put thrch2h a catechsm ol to
science of government which might nave puzzei
many college professor, while moment iao't
an Italian with the dirt of the Department oi
Public Works on his clothes was dismissed wlth
few injuries and pleasant SMILE Judge
Gecerich is a candidate for reelection. Al IL
o'clock a country visitor who was leaning upon
the railing OF the roturda was approached py
man who was wearing Tammany BUTTON ana
was asked whether he had friend IN the line.
He was answered in the affirmative.
What part of the line has he got? p
"Half-way down on the second floor, was
the answer
in -1a
Tammanv he~,ler unless he stands in with the
boys We have the dead cnch on rapid transit
here at 81 transit
Upon being asked TO explain how the naturailza-
ton of "a Democratic alien could he hastened'
ioined with the admission that there were TWO
men who would like to get through quickly, tne
runner poclleted 81, called over the young man
with the diney derby hat, pointed out the walt
ING applicants and their witnesses, saw them
passed into the clerks office, and then said It's
easy done See One dollar does ii, and half
goes to the clerk. The policeman at the door
crts his divvy and the runner gets the rest
Politics is business and this naturalization Is
potics. In the old days the clerk was allowed
70 sell naturalization certificates for framing.
That was a nudding. He charged 81, 81 80 and
~ according 10 the frills On the certificate, and
made big money Most everybody took certil-
cate Ii was good politics to do 50. But now
,he clerk only gets 50 cents for each final paper
and he has TO make it up somehow. 80 we have
the ran of raroading through applicants VINO
will vote the ticket and cough up 81 TO ne passed
in rioht undcr the canvas Man Hahn there, who
nut Your two men through gave up. 80 on Satur-
day to the policeman AS his share lie must nave
ru1 through at least eighteen that day. Inc
officer ,eeps tab n the runners and knows whether
they knock down. Where do the the Rspuihic.ns
know them We know the Tammany messengers
from Centre-st, and recognize the white tickets
which they give to the naturalizers to pay their
clerks fees with. white ticket es here every
time Lots of the Republicans get awful sick OF
waiting i'm line the stairs and leave without
Getting their papers. They are out of luck here.
: If Won want 10 see the fun go over to Judge
Giecerich's room The fellow who thinks he Is
.hrenah Tie mill when he leaves tie clerks Office