The evening world., 1894-03-31
OTHERS LIKE
De VITO FREE.

NND"HtiHt' rum ff@ Ihge)
they did not understand the language,
and therefore impcrfectly' understood
what they had sworn to in the first
boys, who swore they were twenty-five
and thirty years Did. Under cross-ex-
animation they got tangled up. and
their ages at all.
81 show you these said the Judge,
Just to demonstrate what we nave to
tions, 1t Is certain that a lot get through
who are frauds. Even those applicants
whom ! reject can go to another court
and obtain their papers. Occasionally a
man comes along who l believe has
been here before on the same errand. /
ask him II such is the case, and he de-
MES, Il; To prove he is a periurer, we
after his antecedents. That we cannot
do.
Yes, the law must be. amended, and
uniform rules must be laid down"
81 have in mind" continued Judge
Giegerich, "a certain form of application
that | think would be of great aid in re-
ducing the chances of fraud to a mini
num-.
This form would compel the applicant
to state where and the day and year of
birth, the date of sailing fer this country
and the name of the vessel on board
which he came here.
Further than that. l would have the
applicant state every place OF residence
since MS ARRIVAL In America.
Besides that, | would nave on the ap-
plication to be copied on the citizen pa
pers when issued an accurate and
minute description of the applicant, CIV
ing his exact height, color of eyes and
hair, complexion and any Identifying
marks about his person.
1T might also be well to require a
photograph of he applicant, to be at
cate to be filed with the court records.
4 a further ~precaution. 1t would be
well to have all applicat lions on file and
open for public inspection for at least
five days before any action has been
taken.
1T has been suggested that the Po-
lice Department investigate the state
ments of the different applicants. I
do not think this would be altogether
a good plan, because 1t might open the
way to charges of favorltism by the
cation.
I've have all sorts Of societies in this
city conducted by benevolent and patrl-
otto men, Why not a society for the
Such a society, could Investigate the diff
ferent claims during the days the appli-
cations are on file before, action.
while everything possible should be
done to prevent fraud, nothing should
be lone that would work a hardship
to the really loyal and patriotic aliens
who wish to become good and indus
trious citizens of this country"
United States District-Attorney Platt
said so far as his office was concerned
he was powerless to help catch the Of
tenders against the naturalization laws.
1.-The Evening World " he said, has
performed a great pubic service in
proving beyond a doubt that these frauds
are committed. Unfortunately we have
no detective attached to our Office who
could secure the necessary evidence.
We are anXiousiy awaiting tho outcome
of the De Vito case.
Your paper is right in saying that
| cha tpnftra 1izatinn In ylG TylVhf RI hn
amended. There is no doubt that under
the present system perjury Is made
easy. If applicants for citizenship were
required to give a reasonable notice 1t
would go a long way towards checking
the evil. Federal and State rules ought
to be the same. At present most of the
District.Attorney Fellows was not at
his office this morning. being laid up
with a heavy cold, but Acting District-
Attorney Mcintyre said that when his
chief got down he would put the matter
before him.
There is no doubt whatever" he said,
'Col. Fellows will put the machinery OF
the Office in motion to get at the root OF
not supposed to take action unless some
complaint is officially brought to his at
~tention. 1t seems to me the clerks Of the
naturalization courts or the judges
fraud was being committed when the
same set of men were constantly going
De1Ore tnern.
II understand from The Evening
World that the clerks Of these courts
refused to accept certain witnesses be-
cause they knew or SUSPECTED them to
be ,'repeaters.' 1t was the duty of the
clerks TO have at once notified the Dis
trict-Attorney's Office and sent over the
papers. Had that course been followed
in a few instances even 1t would have
had a deterrent effect upon others. No
such course was ever pursued, nor has
any complaint reached this Office from
any of the courts.
The law should be amended and the
proposed bill, compelling applicants to
fine a petition. and giving notice 10 the
pistrict-Attorney, would. It passed, do a
lot Of good. The law should also be
convict to act in that capacity
II think" said County Judge Moore,
or kings County, "a convention Of state
Judges would be a good thing, II is GER
tain the NATURALIZATION, laws are lax and
must be amneded. and any suggestions
that would lead to uniformity in the
practice Of courts In issuing them would
be Of decided value The Evening
ZION o fthe public in a striking manner
to the frauds which 1t is possible, espe-
cially towards election, to practice upon
oncials more v~igllant and to have q
good effect in discourag-ng conspirators.'
Il do not see how any modification OF
the naturalization laws will prevent per-
jurers from obtaining fraudulent papers
occasionally" said Bernard J. Yerke,
II think. the proposition of Judge Giege-
rich to hold a convention of Judges OF
the State and adopt uniform rules in re.
gard TO Issuing naturalization certih-
to be perfectly practical and feasible and
would be of ~undoubted benefit"