The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-16
], OF NATURALIZATION
What the Federal and State Law Is
on This Subject.
CONGRESS- WILL HAVE TO ACT
Goyernor.elect Oates, of Alabama, Ex.
plains Why His Bill to Secure Uniform
ity Should Pass The Record i'll
Lnckawanna County Up 10 Date.

The abuses which have caring the
past few days characterized the oper-
atons Of naturalization court in this
county and in Luzerne--abuses equally
distributed, We should guess between
the two political parties, although dis
graceful to both-haVe renewed atten-
tion TO the law upon this important sub
Ject OF naturalization. The laws alike
Of state and nation are plain and eX-
plicit. and no Judge of ordinary COM
prehension could possibly err as to his
duty. The following is the text of the
law of the nation defining who may be
naturalized and how it may he done:
HE shall, at the time of his appli-
cation to be admitted, declare on oath,
before some one of the courts above
specified, that he will support the con-
stitution of the United States. and
that he absolutely and entirely re-
nounces and abjures all allegiance and
fidelity To every foreign prince. po-
tentate, state or sovereignty, and par
1lcularly by name to the prince, po-
tentate, state or sovereignty of which
he was before a citizen or subject,
which proceeding shall be recorded by
the court 1t shall appear to the sat
islaction of the court admitting such
alien that he has resided within the
United States five years at least and
within the state or territory, where
such court is at the time held, one year
at least, and that during that time he
has behaved as IA man of good moral
character, attached to the principles
of the Constitution of the United States
and well disposed to the good order
and happiness Of the same: but the
oath of the applicant shall in no case
be allowed 10 prove his residence"
The national law is thus emphatic
that the court must satisfy itself not
only as to the residence Of the,>alien,
but as to the character of the man who
proposes to acquire the priceless boom
Of American citizenship. The judge is
required by the law TO fully satisfy
himself that the applicant for citizen
ship has behaved as a man of good
moral character, attached to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution of the United
States, and well disposed to the good
order and happiness of the same"
The State Law.
on the same subject the law of our
state, enacted Jan. 80. 1874, Is even
more emphatic in requiring the careful
scrutiny Of applicants for naturaliza-
ion. The following is the text of the
law:
IF any prothonotary, clerk or the
deputy of either, or any other person
shall afliN the seal of any court to
any naturalization paper, or permit the
same to be affixed. or give out, or
cause or permit such naturalization
paper 10 be given out in blank,
whereby it may be fraudently used,
or furnish a naturalization certificate
10 any person, who shall not have been
in the presence of some of the judges
thereof, according to the act of con-
gress. or shall aid in, connive at or in
any way permit the issue of any frau
dulent naturalization certificate, he
shall be guilty of misdemeanor."
Congress Failed to Act.
An effort was made at the last ses-
sion of congress to strengthen the fed
eral provisions touching this subject
Covernor-elect Oates, of Alabama
VINO. as a particular champion of this
reform, in the last three congresses
thoroughly mastered the details of
the subject, framed a bill which the
house judiciary committe favorably re-
ported, but in the furry and crush in
cident to adjournment the Oates meas
IRE went over until more favorable
opportunity. Speaking of the matter,
Mr.. Oates said: "Our naturalization
laws are exceedingly loose and uncer-
tain, especially in the matter of neg
ligence on the part of a great many of
the courts, which now have the right
TO naturaliZe aliens. An investigation
by the judiciary committee brought
many glaring abuses on the subject to
light. If it is worth anything to be
an American citizen then the law should
he amended so that citizenship shall be
restricted to persons worthy of the
honor
"The greatest abuses have grown out
of the fact that under our present
law an alien may readily declare his
intention TO become a citizen, and in
most of the states he Is readily endowed
with all or very nearly all the privi-
leges of citizen. And in many cases
persons who have thus declared their
intention TO become voters neglect TO
lake out final papers of naturalization.
The bill before the house reported
from the judiciary committee restrict
ed naturalization to the federal courts
OF the United States and to IA sufficient
number of state courts of record,
courts which have clerk and q seal.
Judges Not Thought Necessary.
I'm some of the state courts that
have been entrusted with the jurisdlc-
ton under the present law, subordinate
officers have gone forward with the
process of naturalization without even
The presence of Il judge. In one of
the inVeStigat tiOnS we conducted on
this subject, we found that in one of
the courts of the city of Brooolyn there
existed without the knowledge of the
"a nj n az "A
engaged In the business Of making
citizens for pay.
These court subordinates had con-
trOl of the seal of the court and the
forms of certificates, and would for
S25 make any man full fiedged cit
i2en three days after he arrived in this
country. These abuses grow out of the
provision of the law which allows
This declaration Of intention on the
part of the alien. The bill before the
house would have had no retroactive
effort but it provides on its passage
that five years residence and good be.
havior in this country should be nee
essary to entitle anyone to naturaliZa-
tlon.
"The bill provided that man after
he had resided five years and should
have filed petition in proper form set
ting forth his claim under the provls-
ions of the bill, in court having jur-
isdiction, giving particulars as to age
nativity, residence, etc, that he is not
an Anarchist or polygamist, and
has never been convicted of a fel.
onious offense, or any crime involving
moral turpitude, and when that is done
the United States district attorney
shall be notified by the clerk and shall
deny the allegations so as to make II
incumbent on the applicant to produce
proofIf the proof is sufficient and salts
1ies the judge he makes an order OF
decree admitting persons to natural
i2ation, and there is an end of it.
To Prevent Fraud.
THE bill is so drawn as to prevent
fraud and imposition, and at the same
time to allow every worthy alien TO b'
admitted to American citizenship.
would like to see the bill amended 81
as to require each court when 1t admit
ted man to naturalization to sen(
a certificate of. the fact to the stat,