New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-07
IT is THE LAST CHANCE.
ALIENS MUST BECOME CITIZENS TO-DAY
TO VOTE THIS FALL.
CoNTRAsTED-MANY APPLICANTS REJECTED
A


According to the reckoning of the Common Pleas
Judges yesterday the last day for naturalizing
aliens to enable them to vote at the approaching
election. The Constitution requires that
voter shall have been a citizen for ninety days at
the time when he votes. The United States Dis
trict Court. adopting the method Of reckoning
which has commonly been used. holds that to-day
is the last day on which aliens who desire to vote
at the election next November can become citizens.
That court will accordingly be open for naturaza-
tion to-day, but further applications will be con-
sidered In the Court of Common Pleas until a
later date. Applications for naturaZations are
passed upon in the Common Pleas only on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays The last naturalza-
tions took place Monday Of the present week
The manner In which naturalization was con-
Quoted yesterday in the United States District
Court. and the previous days within the last
month In the Court OF Common Pleas is In re-
freshing contrast with the old system in force be-
fore the last Legislature passed the bill regulating
the whole subject. The new law requires that
before application for citizenship Is acted upon
by the Court petition must be presented by the
applicant The petition forth certain facts con-
nected with the applicants residence and personal
history. that he can be readily identified After
this paper is Ailed. the County Clerk prepares a
statement. setting forth the age. residence and
other facts with the name OF the applicant. A list
Of the applicants names with the facts concerning
tnem Wnlcn the law requires 10 De poSted
In public place for a week One OF these
lists appears upon the wall in the lower corridor of
the Courthouse. The Judges designate the day, at
least fourteen days after the application Is fled in
which II will be acted upon by the Court These
provisions necesstate great care upon the part OF
the applicants and of the officials and. together
with the clause in the Constitution requiring ninety
days citizenship for voter. they entirely change
the system under which persons are admitted TO
citizenship In this city.
HOW THE OLD METHOD WORKED.
Two or three years ago the second and third
weeks Of October the busiest days in the
year for the clerks and Judges Of the Court OF
Common Pleas and the Superior Court Foreign
ers of them OF little apparent intelligence. ac-
companied by witnesses OF like order with them
selves. crowded the corridors OF the Courthouse
and pushed their way by the overworked clerks.
who endeavored to ascertain concerning their
occupation and residence, and to test in some slight
degree their intelligence. The examinations were
often OF the most cursory kind, and few applicants
rejected by some of the Judges. The Judges
themselves scarcely made any examination of the
applicants and their witnesses and hundreds OF
them were daily allowed 10 become citizens with
out any thorough examination as to their ca
pacty and their understanding OF the proceedings
over twenty thousand persons were naturalized In
1SsS-a Presidential year-the largest number since
the year 1858, OF Infamous memory, when over
forty-two thousand certificates were recorded. and
thousands OF others were scattered broadcast by
political heeers and sold In of downtown
liquor stores. The naturalizations in other years
have varied from 5000 TO 1900 the larger numbers
being recorded in Presidential years
The Court Of Common Pleas Is the only State
court in this city which has conducted naturalza-
tion proceedings since the new law went into effect
two months ago. Only about one hundred and fifty
persons have been naturalized in that court within
a period Of two months No naturaizations took
place in the latter part OF June and the early part
of July. Later the number became about ten or
fifteen a week and on July "a eleven persons were
naturalized; July Is. ten; July %, eight; July 81
eighteen; August q twenty-eight. and last Monday.
forty. In each petition had beer hed at
least two weeks before the applicant became a
citizen A deputy clerk carefully examined each
person who presented himself especially testing
his knowledge OF the Constitution and his general
understanding. Many applicants were turned away
AS only few cases were to be passed upon Judges
BschoT, Bookstaver and Giegerich could exanine
the applicants and witnesses carefully and the pro-
ceedngs were conducted with dignity and delibera
ton. There was rush of applicants at any time
although the Superior Court. which has always
heretofore conducted naturalization proceedings
can no longer do so under the new statute, and the
Supreme Court will not begin to naturaize aliens
until after January /.
PLANS USED IN UNITED STATES COURTS.
The United States courts in this district have al
ways used greater care in admitting citizens than
have the courts of the State There has been con-
siderable Increase in the number OF applications In
the United States District Court this year, because
the law requiring fourteen days notice does not
apply that court. A system has been adopted
which worked well yesterday. and had shown useful
results on the previous days when Judge Addison
Brown conducted naturalization proceedings Each
applicant with his witnesses went first before Com
missioner Alexander, in room on the west side OF
the corridor. Mr. Alexander asked the necessary
questions to age. occupation and length of resi-
dence and then made further inquiries. to ascertain
in a general way, whether the case was one In
which a naturalization certificate could legally be
issued. Many applicants who could not prove the
facts necessary to citizenship were turned away.
Those applicants and witnesses who could prove
the necessary facts as 10 residence and age. and
who showed fair degree Of intelligence, were
then taken before United States Commissioner Ly-
man, who sat In a room the eastern side OF the
corridor Here both applicants and witnesses were
subjected to a searching examination. The ques-
tions put to the witnesses were such as these:
How long have you known the applicant?
How do you know he Is so old?
How many times have you seen him each year
for the last five years?
Has ne ever been arrested?
DO you know his character to be good?
Are you related to him in any way?
II the witness showed any hesitation to dates
he was cross-examined carefully on those points
The applicant was then carefully examined
to dates, and. in addition. questions were put to
him designed to test his intelligence. The United
States law requires that the applicant shall be de-
voted TO the principles Of the Constitution and 1t is
necessary to ascertain whether he has any under
standing as to what those principles are. Mr. Ly-
man asked each applicant whether he had read the
Constitution OF the United States; and tested his
knowledge OF the laws generally by asking as to
who made the laws for the State Of New York and
Tor the United States. the names OF the Presidents
recently the for which they were elected and
similar questions. Occasionally peculiar answers
were received.
SOME AMUSING ANSWERS GIVEN.
one applicant. in answer to the inquiry. who
was President before benjamin Harrison?' said.
George Washington" Commissioner Lyman then
asked, WHO was President before George Wash
ington" The applicant was confused. and finally
gave NJ trying to answer.
one OF the witnesses. i'm answer TO the Commits
sioners questions concerning the residence of the
applicant, gave q long list OF places in which he