New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14
THE NATURALIZATION MILL.
ITS WHEELS ARE cLoGGED IN THE STATE
COURTS.
THE SUPERIOR COURT EAs STOPPED BUSINESS
ENTIRELY. But THE GRINDING WILL GO ON
MERELY IN THE UNITED STATES COURTS.

MERELY IN THE UNITED STATES COURTS
| Two weeks passed recently without any one be-
ing naturalized in any Of the courts in the County
! Courthouse Such a thing has not happened be-
fore In the history Of the building, and scarcely IN
| the history Of the Superior or Common Pleas
! courts. In the Superior Court Clerks once IS
! big placard announcing the fact that no citizens
| will be made in that court hereafter. The grind
Ing Of the citizen mill stopped by an act OF tho
recent Legislature. so far the Superior Court
| was concerned and In the Court Of Common Pleas
| such restrictions were thrown around the process
, OF making citizens that practically all OF the APP
plicants now go 70 the United states courts IN tho
Federal Building
| The Superior Court and the Court OF Common
| Pleas expire by virtue Of provision In the new
| Constitution January next. and after tnat all
| naturaizng which Is done in the State courts In
this county will have to be done by the Justices OK
the Supreme Court The new statute Is similar 10
| a bill which was introduced In Congress a year or
| two ago. but which became law. 1t con-
| tans many of the provisions which have repeatedly
| been urged In the Columns OF The tribune as
| enactments which might bring about the result OF
preventing naturalization frauds. 1t not only sup
presses the so-called naturalization bureaus"
which have heretofore been established by the
! political parties generally. and Tammany Hall In
particular with the view OF rushing through every
| thing in the nature Of a man which might present
| Itself for the purpose OF turning an ignorant for
| around the process In other respects
| The act is contained In Chapter M OF the Laws
| OF 1885, and signed by the Governor on June D.
II provides that the Supreme Court In the several
judicial districts and the county courts. In the dif-
ferent counties shall have Jurisdiction OF decara-
lions OF intention and OF applications OF aliens to
become citizens OF the United States. and that no
other court courts now or hereafter established
BY this State. shall entertain a primary or final
declaration application made by or on behalf OF
| tha
United States and that clerk OF any such court
or courts shall receive any such declaration
application.
PARTICULARS MUST BE GIVEN.
The provision as to declaration OF intention Is
practically as II has been heretofore. II Is pro-
vided however. that final applications shall be
made only stated days 10 be fixed by the rule
OF the respective courts, and every application
shall be entered on the docket OF the court on
| the day on which the application Is made. This
| application Is In the form OF aspetiton subscribed
and verified by the oath OF the applicant. and 1t
must be filed at least fourteen days before final
action be taken upon II by the court The
petition must state the place and country OF the
birth OF the petitioner and the time and the place
OF his arrival In the United States and the ground
on which he claims the right to be natura!ized 1t
must also set forth his full name. his age and
| occupation. the name and number OF the street
where he lives and the name OF the person or per-
at the final hearing upon his application. together
with tho street numbers and places Of residence OF
these witnesses
| At the same time ne must file AFFIDAVIT OF a
| person who must be a citizen OF the United States
who must swear that he II personally well ac-
qualnted with the petitioner that he knows him
To have lived within the United States five years
and year within the State Of New-York i'm
medatcly preceding the return day OF the petition
and that during that time the petitioner has be-
| haved man OF good moral character. that he
H. attached to the principles OF the Constitution
OF the United States and well disposed 10 the good
order and happiness OF the same. The person who
makes this affidavit must also give his full name
his residence and occupation.
| Besides this the applicant for citizenship II
| obliged TO give notice In writing OF his application
TO the clerk OF the city. town, village or other
place whore he resides: or. II there be clerk
then 10 the oflcer person performing similar
duties In such place OF his residence. at least four
teen days before the rnal hearing upon his app
cation. and this notice must contain his full name
age. occupation. residence. and the OF the
court In which the petition has been filed and Is
/ pending The clerk must thereupon issue TO such
| person certificate to the effect that the notice
has been filed with him. and this certificate must
| be filed with the applicants papers before he
| be admitted. The county clerk Is obliged 10 make
list OF all such notices. In convenient form. so
they may be inspected at all reasonable times. and
| post a copy OF such notices list OF them in
| two public places In such city town.
than seven days after the notice has been given
| TO him. The county clerk Is entitled to a fee OF
fifty cents for each OF these certificates This
tice must also give the OF the witnesses
whom the applicant has summoned 10 appear in his
behalf on the return day OF the petition.
THE HEARING IN COURT
After the petition has been filed the applicant
must wait fourteen days before any action can
| be taken upon II by the court. Then he must ap-
pear before the court for examination. as hereto
fore. and must furnish the certificate OF the county
| clerk clerk OF the town. city. together with
| the other papers already enumerated. before the
| court viii act upon his application.
| The law also provides that any clerk other
person who records or hes any declaration or ap-
| plicaton In any case OF naturalization. or issues
any certificate In any case OF naturalization In
violation OF the provisions OF this act. OF any
OF them. shall be punished by fine OF 500.
| Probably the most important part OF the whole
is section g. which suppresses the naturalization
bureaus II reads follows:
| mo political committee or committee OF any
political party. and person who has received or
accepted nomination for any political Office shall
make any payment or promise OF payment OF money
| to behalf OF any person for fees for the
| primary final declaration application for
naturalization. or for services as attorney coun
sell a agent or otherwise In assisting or ena-
bling any person or persons make such declaration
| or application; whoever violates any OF the pro-
visions OF this section Of this act shall be punished
upon conviction thereof. by fine OF not less than
| 500 nor than 81 1000"
II Is also provided In the act that the Clerks OF the
various courts must make returns every year
before February OF the full name and residence
| OF each and every person naturallzed In the year
| prior the first day OF the preceding January.
| The practical Importance OF this law Is that Il
requires specific information concerning applicants
and their witnesses TO be made matters OF record
! long enough before the application IN acted upon
| TO allow a thorough investigation OF each by
the proper authorities, so that fraudulent natural
ization, under proper supervision, becomes pract-
caily impossible except In rare instances The only
| trouble with the law Is that, OF course. IL has
| effect whatever the United States courts.
Naturally they act entirely upon the authority OF
| the United States statutes and AS there Is nothing
| N the Federal laws putting such restrictions on