New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-01
TO STOP "CITIZEN MILLS"
PROVISIONS OF THE OATES BILL NOW
BEFORE CONGRESS.
HOW 1T WILL. AFFECT ALIENS WHO WISH TO
ACQUIRE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THIS

v,iqb IN continue their present loose methods of
conferring the right of voting upon lh''r n'napit-
ants This is argument aga ns' the o'' now
ever In fact. il is good reason WHY u shouiu
be passed If Il had been part Of the thted states
Statutes within the last thirty days no such as
graceful sights would haze been witnessed III the
County Courthouse since October as nave peeh
seen there. The bill. If passed, VIII not OILY r'No
lutcniZe the whole procedure Of making ciuAehS
but Indirectly il will do away with the possibility
Of alien who has only few months before ue
clared his intention of becoming citizen voting
for Federal officers That Is. 1t VIII remove 'hls
possibility until the States where 1t Is Tolerated
have amended their laws AMI constitutions
The bill does away entirely with the process
which has heretofore been known as uecIai'
ton of intentions" In the system at present III
operation. this declaration of intention 10 necoine
n citizen must be made AT least two year, before
the alien is admitted to citizenship. provided ne
came here after he eighteen years Old inc
declaration might be made soon as he arrived
in the country. This was done in many cases. ana
from this process resulted the abuse oi IN" eectNe
franchise which has been seen in some OF the
Western and Southern States. An amen VINO
knows no more about this country than he does
about the other side OF the moon can come mere
declare his intentions Of becoming citizen In the
New-York courts on the day OF his arrival In
port. go West. vote six months later. and return
to the land OF his birth two or three years after
wards. having never had any Intention Of b"com-
ing a citizen. and moving nothing about the pro-
cess through which he has gone
ONLY ONE PAPER TO BE TAKEN OUT.
Under the new law II the bill should be passed.
there is only paper. which is the last one
This will only be granted after the man has been
a resident OF the United States for five years
Consequently. there will De no record Of his having
been in the country until his final papers. admit
ting him 10 citizenship. have been granted
Although the pr vision mentioned Is an impor-
tant one it Is not the most important OF those
contained in the bill II acts an obstruction.
merely. to the present system. which can be re-
moved by future action on the part OF the States
The condition Of supr .me moment is the provision
that the United States trict-Attorney. the
local District-Attorney OF the county where the
man applies for his papers. must acguiesce IN his
being admitted. after having received written mo-
tice of the application for citizenship. The bill
says:
no allen who has ever been convicted Of felony
other Infamous crime. nl-icmeanor involving moral
turpude. or who IL All Anarchist or poyeamist or wso
immgrated 10 United States in Violation of any OF
the laws thereof. who read the Constitution Of
the United States shall be narura5ed addsed by
any court 10 De ct1ea OF the United States Of any
state; shall any allen De- naturaled who has not
continuously for 1--WE next preceding hi appca-
ton resided within the United States and for te last
preceding twelve minths within the State. District OF
Territory IN winch The atlon i y" '''r,
OF aliens who Ineligible To naturalization by existing
law shall be rendered eligible by this act except a.
herein provided Any Indian born In the United states
who has adopted the manner, aid customs OF cviiifrl
life. become citizen Of the United States by con
forming the requirements Of t act. far the same
nav applicable him but such naturalization shall
not forfeit any interest he NAV have In any macy OF
land BY vlr'uc OF any treaty or his former tribal relation
These are the qualifications disclosed In the
part quoted which are prerequisites to any allen
becoming citizen.
STRICT REQUISITES OF THE BILL.
They are somewhat more strict than the present
law requires But the chief feature Of the bill Is
the method Of making citizen In the first place.
the applicant must file In court regular petition.
duly verified before notary or other person who
is empowered 10 take the verifcaton. This verified
petition must set forth that the applicant IL more
than q years old. and has been bona hde resi-
dent OF the United States for more than i've years
II show when and where h" was born and
where he lives that he has never been convicted
before any court other legal tribunal Of felony.
Infamous crime. or misdemeanor. involving moral
urpitude: that he Is not Anarchist or poygsmist.
and that he did not mmigrate to the United states
in violation OF any Of the laws thereof Stii
further. the must swear that he can read the
Constitution Of the United States II he cannot read
the Constitution after he has declared In his petit
ton that he can.he is subject TO fine and inn
prisonment for five years.
DUTIES OF THE COURT CLERK.
After The verified petition has been nled the bill
provides that the clerk Of the court shall enter 1t
upon a docket. to be kept for the purpose. Then
he shall give notice In writing. 10 the district
attorney, solicitor. or public prosecutor whose duty
II Is to represent the United States state. District
or Territory. In the court In which the petition Is
filed The petition must then be- heard and tried
by the court In preference to other II shall
be the duty OF district-attorney other officer
mentioned. the bin says. ITO defend the Government
against such petition and TO see that the all"ga-
tions thereof fully proven II upon such hear
ing the court Is satisfied from all the evidence that
all the allegations OF the petition are true and that
the petitioner Is OF good moral character and
III and proper person. according 10 law. To become
a citizen OF the United States such court shall
render judgment accordingly: but IL the court is
not satisfied from the evidence that the petitioner
Is entitled to the relief sought. the petition shall
be Dismissed; all Of which shall be entered Of
record In said court
The fact that the dismissal OF the petition is put
on record is of considerable importance. Hereto
fore there has been no record whatever Of the few
applications Of those to whom admission to citi-
zenship refused. one Judge may refuse to
naturalize a man and he can go before another a
few days Later fnd PsS al rs H. barG the
know OF the refusal once. and that would undoubt-
ss be bar to the hs sosaerns m Wis %
MED in the first instance through some technical
flaw IN MS papers ana tne evidence or his puHIlH-
cations for citizenship This provision would thus
do away with number OF existing evils. some
directly and others Indirectly.
EVIDENCE 10 BIZ ADMITTED
About the evidence which shall be admitted the
bill is specific. "A legal evidence" 1t says. "oral
written. shall be received and considered by
the Court. but the petitioner shall I'm case be-
admitted to citizenship upon his own uncorrobor-
ated evidence; but the confederation shall not be
required TO extend to any period OF time or acts
and facts anterior 10 the residence OF such petit
toner within the United States. The petitioner
snail pay the cost Of the proceeding. and there
upon shall be- entitled TO copy OF the judgment,
decree Of the Court, properly certified with the
seal Of the Court attached. which shall be VI
dence Of the contents thereof In any court or
tribunal. State or Federal throughout the United
States.
All these provisions remove the proceeding from
the realm of perfnnctory duties ON the part OF The
Judges, ana require proper judicial consideration
and action. II the Disrict-Attorney makes any
pretence Of doing his duty tile densey ignorant
and vicious classes viii not be admitted 10 the
rights of citizenship should the bill De passed
the penalties for false swearing either on the
part of the petitioner his witnesses made