The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-16

mill, and taking them like driven cat
tie to the polls and voting them is
something which ought not to be toll
Grated in this great American repub-
lie of ours.
Il noticed not long ago that in an
examinati ton in one of the New York
courts an applicant for citizenship
stated that George Washington was
now the president of the United
States. My bill provides that one of
the qualifications of citizenship shall be
that the applicant must be able to read
the constitution of the United States
in some language, either English or
his own native tongue. That Is about
as low standard as we can fix"
Need of Immigration Sitting.
Mr.. Oates then went on to say that
he hoped an immigration bill would
become a law before congress adjourn
ed. Speaking on this subject he SAID:
Il am in favor, and always have been
in favor, of laws regulating immigra-
tion So as TO exclude unworthy persons
landing in the United States. The
evils of our loose system of naturallza
ton, as well as of our Inefficient inn
migration laws are shown by the last
census returns. Taking the penitenti-
airy convicts of the United States and
excluding colored persons, and there
are more convicts foreign born than
native born. In the charitable inStl-
tutions there are nearly as many for
eign born inmates as native born.
In almshouses and poor houses, Al
per cent. of the inmates are of for
eign birth. These figures do not
prove that immigration to this coun-
try is undesirable, but they do prove
that great many immigrants have
been coming here in recent years who
ought to have been kept out.
'"rhe testimony taken by the Ford
investigating committee some years
ago shows that 70 per cent. of all the
inmates of the lunatic asylums and
poor houses of the states which that
committee examined were of foreign
birth The name American citizen
should be esteemed as thatof Roman
when Rome was the mistress of the
world. Such pride can never be felt
by our foreign-born citizens, with few
exceptions. until the process of confer
ring this great boon upon an alien is
attended with more solemnity and scru-
tini2ed more closely than at present.
I'm New York, according to the Ia
test census there were 63,1G9 foreign
born citizens over q years of age who
could not speak the English language,
and who had not then become citizens,
but who have probably reached that
stage by this time"
Congress Slow to Act.
There is small probability that the
naturalization bill, pending an i'm
portant election, will receive any con-
sideration from the house. The COM
p1ittnA ON SpffIn nf tha Naw York
constitutional convention recently
agreed upon provision requiring a
residence of sixty days after natural
iZation before a new citizen can be en-
titled to vote. That committee also had
before it proposition that represen-
tative of the state should be detailed
from the district attorneys Office to
look after persons who present them
selves in state court and apply for
naturalization papers. This latter pro-
vision is similar to the one in the
Oates bill. That requiring a residence
Of sixty days after naturalization be-
fore a new citizen can be entitled to
vote. will be offered as an amendment
to the bill when it comes up in the
house, if it ever does again.
The Situation in Lackawanna.
Commenting upon the local aspect
of this question not long ago the Oily
phant Gazette said: Statistics show
a wonderful increase in citizenship in
| the coal regions within a few years.
| The increase in Lackawanna county,
since 1892. is said to be $1,000 due to
| the rapid increase in population of
| nom n-English-speaking foreigners. Close
| observers say that our courts could
assist in purifying the ballot box If
| they guarded against issuing citizens
papers to none but competent persons.
| There Is a growing disposition among
several judges throughout the state,
| to exercise the discretion allowed them
| by the naturalization laws. Judges
Schuyler, of Northampton, Yerkes, OF
| Bucks, and Craig, of Carbon, have
taken a positive stand on this ques-
ton and decline to issue papers to ap-
plcants who do not possess the ne
| cessary requirements. Besides the resi-
dence qualification, the statutes pro-
vide that applicants must be men OF
| good moral character who are attached
| to the constitution of the United States
"A certain class of aliens, who do not
understand the language and who never
| saw the constitution of the United
| States, are naturaliZed in our courts
every year. How can these men be at
| tached to the constitution when they
can neither read nor understand IT.
The majority of them know absolutely
nothing of the principles upon which
this government is formed, and do moi
care to learn. They are simply driver
to the courts in charge of ward poll
| ticians and interpreters, secure papers
which give them the right to vote as the
| q TT, nnN n
men as these should not be granted the
privilege to vote and perhaps decide
elections until they understand wha'
they are doing. They should first learr
the language of the country and i'm
bbe some little knowledge of our insti
| tutions before acquiring the right OF
citizenship No doubt the majority Of
them will in time become good citizens
| But at present the courts should eX
erclse the greatest care in passing upor
the applications of men who don't know