New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-08

Another cause has been in large measure re-
sponsible for the increasing number OF applicants
for citizenship this year. a law. which does not
seem to have received much attention until re-
Gently. passed by the last Legislature. having
an important effect the hiring Of alien laborers.
loyc3 directly by the GoyaTnment Or by any con-
tractor for public works This has caused good
dea! Of confusion and trouble in the various city
departments. All city contracts must have a pro-
vision for the employment Of citizens only and an
omission OF this clause has caused trouble In sev-
eral directions.
IN. effect OF this provision can be imagined in a
foreign laborers as have heretofore been employed
on public works here Il shuts out hundreds who
nave been at work for months and years in some
cases Consequently there was rush FOR the
naturalization bureaus as soon the provisions
Of the law became generally known.
done in the Tinted states courts this month
Judge Brown. OF the District Court. viii no; APP
pear IN the Fedora building until neXt Tuesday
and in ali probability he win not begin to make
citizens until Wednesday. There ia seldom rush
In the Federal courts Of this kind OF work. be
In the superior and Common Pleas courts.
Every year when there is discussion on the
listing evils. Those who have given The subject
careful consideration firmly believe that there are
people scarcely look for Il relief to be even pro-
ern and Western States have extremely lax avs
on the subject OF alien voters. In some OF them.
thirty days can vote FOR President, Members OF
C0ngrcss; and al state officers.
gress recently looking a correction of these
evils came from the South. however Congress
man Oates brought forward measure a little
more than year ago. which. If II had become a
law. would undoubtedly have put damper, at
least on the prevailing frauds. But II did not
meet approval and was not passed.
In the eyes Of others. one extremely short an, and
simple law would effectively stop the frauds. This
would be statute requiring aliens TO declare their
Intentions OF becoming citizens Immediately upon
tneir ARRIVAL IN TINS country. IN one class OF csf
this would insure the fact that the applicants had
been In the country the required length OF time.
AT present the applicant must swear that he has
been In the country five years. In the cases of
those who We're OF age upon their arrival. but they
can secure their last papers TWO years after they
they had declare their Intentions five years be
fore coming citizens, that is upon their arrival.
record. there could be no more frauds OF this
nature.
trick than this. however. The law provides that
4 person who comes here while minor can be-
come citizen AT any time after he becomes or age.
without having previously declared his intention
Of doing SO. The naturalization records show that
the immigrants who arrive here and have arrived
within the last decade have brought with them
close Observers are convinced that patriotism for
America plays extremely small part in tho action
Of large majority ~ those VINO become naiuraiz"d
citizens. II j. simply matter OF uIltE ana gam.
This j. far from being universal truth. but IL
holds good in more cases than IL ought To- 50 long.
however. as unsettled partially settled States
there docs not seem 10 be much hope Of thoroughly
supprcssng the abuses now existing. The great
other commonwealth. At any rate nothing what
ever seems TO have been done IN the last twenty
years stop the abuses. although they have been
brought to the attention OF the pubic time after
time. Some OF the clerks AMI judges exercise more
care than they did formerly 20 prevent densey *
nOrant aliens from becoming citizens. But Others
sure 10 find one OF the clerks or judges careless
enough to pass them sooner or later after repeated