New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-07

A NATURALIZATION MILL.
GRAND JURY ARRAIGNs THE METHODS
EMPLOYED IN BROoKLYN-INDICT-
NENTs AND ARRESTS


A presentment was handed up 10 Judge Thomas
- The United States Circuit Court yesterday by the
United States Grand Jury FOR January regarding
naturalization methods in the Borough OF Brook
kn
II was also announced yesterday that forty-nine
indictments had been found by the United States
Grand jury against persons alleged 10 have been
Instrumental in securing the Illegal naturalization
af foreigners in Brooklyn
sdolph Hoffman. OF No. p Ewen-st.. who was
mentioned in the presentment. was arrested yes
,A-ssv Later Jacob Marcus. OF No. as Grand-st
as placed under arrest having gone 10 the Fed
e-sI Building under the suppostion that he was
vrsn-ea as q witness Both released
,r5er s. 800 BAN. Other arrests are expected
7,e presentnent set forth that the Jurors had
s,,,-d that naturalization papers had been issued
ron the United States District Court which, with
,u any bic explanation, appeared excessive
- number curious and remarkab bic TO residence
~ s-7rlf-aurs and unaccountable 10 methods pur-
eras in accepting the applicants citizens. The
Investigation covered chiefly the year 1929.
wrTN EssEs APPARENTLY COACHED.
The presentsnent continues:
W. have examined many who were then nat
urszed ans mo that an with hardly an exception.
we're residents OF me Borough q Manhattan living
h The large majority Of cases the applicant Is IN
se 6nj- 10 write his name in English land
zer hat vas not considered a requisite, the
ss1f tae<e Gould tel the date OF their birth or
wen = sp5eaT in most instances on their sppii-
lars or file IL the clerks office, while the appli
eanfs under oath declared they did not know these
We NJ ma hat many Of these applicants did not
Know he name OF their witness or his residence
= mace OF business anything which would show
e. p9eGIain-ance OF any ordinary particular about
I'm gintf after our Investigation had been con-
s5Sers DIV advanced when succeeding witnesses who
r6ss had beer taught showing Us that in some
Esy or manner unaccountabLe to US the object of
su- invesrigatiou had been announced and the
2ifnesses before US had been prepared beforehand
rsss its q our Investigation.
HOW CLERKS OBTAINED FEES
Feeling nat xe had to contend with some
Known quantity. called before Us several per-
SIl16a-+an and The courts OF this district
er5 W. found that in 1855 law was passed making
ne clerk OF this court responsible 10 the Govern
I-sizafion fses which previously had been
srquisfte o. he clerk for which he had not before
bean aceounIa bic During this same year lese We
found the clerk OF this court and also the deputy
i5ove-e6 70 take testimony in naturalization
acts previously performed by the clerk or deputy
missioners they collected fees amounting TO 81 %
2 ne CSs q eV er5 LOT 6n 1 FOR th fees
q The clerk which in naturalization cases amount
e1b s5pcani Of & 60 '0z foGnd that the deputy
cierk did not retain fees as COMMISSIONS AND We
Deputy clerk as to the disposition OF such fees.
BUSINESS DRUNMED UP.
And this Grand Jury has been embarrassed In
-ioTz in ne I5fstrict Court by the refusal
az the clerk and deputy clerk Of the court 10 answer
estlons propounoeo 10 them -,
Their action naturally created IL The minds OF the
g.g sus2 o0 herman ana Me e rs' h e eordors
Adjoining the Ofices OF the clerk OF the District
court and also that his man used table In the
Jerks once and sPt Papss , or d9 o9a fro n Ii
Z 6Ie he wrote and sent postal cards and letters
inviting people 70 come here for turalize zion, and
hzrs al the men they could get for that purpose;
We find that this man acted as Interpreter be
Capacity able to tell the clerk anything he chose
cie-E Gould not understand unless he understood
German or Jewish CYiddish); This same man, We
rud sent letters postal cards or circulars 70 asso
s clubs or o requesting re- esog t thf 70
in sacI. urging them all 70 do So
TN MEX voUcH FOR EIGHT HUNDRED.
Further. we find that for over eight hundred
s1nIl-snts only about ten men were the witnesses,
and nat partnerships existed among some OF the
witnesses for division OF whatever they secured
Il t6eTefore. from all the testimony, we obtained
became apparent TO this jury that there must be
Further reason why such state OF afairs c9uId
re5scted in Nex-Yor could obtain their citizenship
papers here. and why man. rejected here after
49, ~ r 2esh 80 1890 TIe mater IF ices
taken and retained by the clerk as special com
missioner may be an explanation OF this
charge il 10 ineompeteney or Tecklessness Of the
clerk Morle. and his deputy Gilkes IN omission
as officials charged with the supervision OF matters
"a
The fact that the troubles about money matters
arising between the man Hoffman in the hall and
zsto1 sre 'i Iei3 before the eek MorIe for settle
ment. and the fact that letter was presented be-
fore the jury written by Morie January t. 1900,
during our Investigations to witness Of many APP
o. whom have been ttertifled by the jury tend TO
slon q 80 many aliens from the East Side OF Man
hs-tan Borough cannot be charged 70 incompetence
king money in which were concerned the clerks
2aee TIE witnesses for the applicants twhere they
NO become professional witnesses) and the man
i5oe1 man who was always in the corridor or the
BUSINESS II matters or these naturaEzations as we
NEW METHODS DEMANDED
L5s recoEnr9endstion this Grand Jury makes in
.e55.s. : lhaL ne curt ADOPT the method OF
rceoTe now obtaining in the courts Of this State.
s5onld Be the method OF the United States courts
ne ,~5r a. nay De and appoint as officials Of
a,e lnnartially supervise of naturalization
snd humiliation OF such practices In the future as
~ es5oefce produced before US has shown to have
iseFsiee = The past
And II the Court has not power to promptly and
-. -lst.-ee,e sii OF these practices and re-
e1 ae matter should forthwith be brought 10 the
I-rffe,7 Sa3es 70 +sesloent ana Congress Of ihe
- - = ~ tlIelI actior The necessity for
-, -.lloh We recommend is also shown 10 be most
rrsIored - these persons were naturaJized In the
N's'ract court IN Twelve days in August last
= eisrnissi7g the Grand Jury Judge Thomas said
= aad Fever before considered il necessary 10
z their fellow ctrize1e rl M 70 the graittuoe
'4thfl work would De their reward.
COMMISSIONER MoRLE's REPLY.
enited States Commissioner Richard P. Morte
' : spoken OF IN the presentment. when seen
= : Tribune reporter last night made the fol-
wing statement:
Thoss