New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-01
THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE.
PROVISIONS OF ELL WHICH WILL REFORM
SOME OF THE EXISTING ABUSES.

PROVISIONS OF ELL. WHICH WILL REFORM
SOME OF THE EXISTING ABUSES.
tDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrxE.l
Washington. Oct. 3l.-The House of Representa-
tives Yesterday began the consideration of
the bill to amend the naturalization laws Of the
United States, and Colonel Oates of Alabama who
Is member OF the judiciary Committee delivered
n strong speech in support of the measure The
subject is one to which he has devoted great
deal Of attention and his exposition Of the evils
and abuses Of the existing system was clear ana
forcble He referred to the recent operations or
the naturalization milf in New-York City, and
declared that such practices vicious and dam
gerous and ought to be abolished no matter what
political party they might benefit In the List
Congress Colonel Oates was member of SUD-
committee of the judiciary Committee which In
vestgated certain alleged Illegal practices or
United States courts and court officials. The IN
vestgation resulted in the exposure Of methods of
naturalization in Massachusetts which did not re-
quire or permit the judges Of the court to pass
upon applications at all. the business being done
by subordinate clerks when the courts were not
sitting and no judge was in attendance Inc IN
vestgation made by House committee in the
XTLXth Congress, Colonel Oates said showed that
in Brooklyn OF the courts was used for nat
uraZation purposes by combination or lawiess
men who would make full-fiedged citizen out OF
any alien within three days after he landed in the
United States, upon payment of s25 Colonel oates
said that the pending bill did not go so far as II
ought to. but 1t was a step in the right direction
Section 1 Of the bill provides that no alien VINO
has been convicted of d felony or other in
famous crime misdemcanor involving moral
turpitude, who Is Anarchist or polygamist, or
who immgrated to the United States in violation OF
any of It's laws. who cannot read the Constitu-
ton Of the United States either in his own or the
English language, shall be naturalized by any
court. nor unless he has resided continuously Tor
five years next preceding his application WITHIN me
trict or Territory in which the application is made.
No class of persons Is made eligible TO natura@i In
OF civilized life and severed their tribal reiatlon..
and hearing of such petitions and that me h n
trict-Attorney public prosecutor. who snall deny
its allegations and REQUIRE proof thereof 70 'n ne
practicable the measure and credibility OF the
proof II also provides that there shall be allowed
OF 5, to the United states or his
the STATES , a1,oSy or such
SECTION prescribes penalty for swearing falsely
OF the hsarns Section provides ma tns onJ
ret and SG Da s SoS OF courts mf Of the
and the State courts of the highest original com
mon law being the ar neS' Of said states
Shall have exclusive 1urisdction the naturaza
ton S of s ,s,s Of res tn
Court is the next highest court OF record 10 the
Court OF Appeals. which corresponds TO the SUI
preme Court I'm other States.
Ssction & proyides that aliens who have declared
their intention to become citizens before the APP
proyal OF this act shall not be affected by It's pro-
vsions Section provides that any alien who IL
eligible to naturalization except as to the require
mant OF Ave years residence may take honestead
on the public lands BY setting forth his alien condi-
ZION and Intention become citizen In his applica,
ton FOR the entry thereof but that no patent snail
issue 10 him until he IL legally naturaiZed me
Of Intention. the fruitful source or the
aior part Of the evils and frauds practised on the
law IL abolished