The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-05
GOSSIP OF ADAY.
Developments in License
Investigation.
German Citizen Who Wanted
His Son Naturalized.
Wasn't Necessary, However, Under
Uncle Sans Liberal Laws.


morning was sturdy German of middle
age, who wanted TO see about getting his
son, who will arrive at mans estate be-
fore many months have passed, natural
ized. The German is a citizen, having
been naturalized as soon as the law per-
mitted him TO do so after his arrival in
this country some III years ago. He has
been thirty also and is now the owner
OF two substantial houses, which he said
he would never have teen able TO own in
the old country if he had lived to be
century old and worked 18 hours day.
lie is thorough American in sentiment
and Ii Yves for the purpose OF finding out
what steps ii was necessary TO take in
order to have his son, who was minor
nine years old when he came to this coun-
try,admitted to the rights of citizenship.
not among the business transacted at the
city hall, hut the German learned what
he wanted to ascertain although the in
ormation was something in the nature
OF pleasing disappointment. That Is,
heascertained that his son and another one
sliii younger Will not have to be ma
turalized, as, on reaching the age OF 21
they will become citizens and entitled to
all the rights and privileges of citizen
ship. The mistake made by the German
is very common one, Tor many OF those
who come TO this country do not reco2-
nize how liberal Uncle Sam is in this mat
ter of citizenship. The fact is that the
minor sons OF a citizen OF foreign birth
are naturalized by the naturalization OF
q father and can vote on coming of age.
The only condition required Is that of
residence in the United states. for IL a
ID - l. - IA 10
tive country after naturalization his
sons do not become citizens on attaining
their majority
A friend called the attention OF the Cos
siper to the mutations in government
which Florida underwent prior to its be-
coming a part of these United States.
This matter is not without a certain in
terest at this time when the fiery don is
venting his vengeance on piece ~ bunt-.
ing the safe distance OF thosands OF miles
away from the country that bunting rep
resents- There isn't any doubt that Flor
ida has passed through more vicissitudes
OF gov rnmept than any other OF the
states which COMPOSE the Union. Ponce
de Leon claimed the peninsular OF Spain
In 1913 and for hundred years afterward
1t was the battle ground for French,
Spanish and English. In 1863 IL was ceded
to England by Spain as quid pro quo
the British. Twenty years later II passed
to Spanish control again in payment for
the Bahama islands which were ceded to
England. Subsequently the expeditions
of Jackson raised a row between the
United States and Spain, which wss
finally settled by the ceding of Florida to
this country by the Spanish king in 1921.
Those reputedly astute gentlemen who
set the license commission investigation
on foct, ostensibly to promote the public
good, but, as tho matter has developed,
really 10 further their own political pros
poets, ought TO be well tired Of their bar
gain. Certainly they have accomplished
nothing beyond washing the dirty linen
Of factional neighborhood in the public
view and at the expense of the taxpayers.
The alleged pur osc for which the in
quiry was started has teen lost sight OF
entirely ana the whole matter has shrunk
to its proper disgraceful proportions. Be
fore a single witness had been called for
the commissioners the allegations against
them were dispfoved by the testimony OF
those called on the part of the complain
ants. They were charged with having
granted transfer of license against the
protest of persons o.'ning or occupying a
majority of the land within radius of 200
feet OF the corner of Plain and Bishop
streets. The facts brought out that not
only was this claim OF a representation
of a majority of the land an utterly false
one but thar the total represented by the
remopstrance was less than one-third OF
the required quantity. Proof such as
this settled OF course the outrageous and
unfounded charge against the commits
sioners, but there was other aud equally
importsnt evidence deduced.