The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-17
JURISPRUDENCE THE TOPIC
Papers Read Before the Social
Science Association.
The Subject of Prehistoric Law Ably
Treated by w. {. Ro5inson-Oscnr
straus Discusses "NaturBlization;
Its Abuse and the Remedy"

The work of the American Social
Science Association, now holding its
meetings in Columbian University, was
yesterday under the Department of Juris-
prudence. Two papers Of special inter-
est were read in the evening, one by w.
c. Robinson on "Glimpses of Prehistoric
Law" and one by oscar Straus, on
Naturalization: The Abuse and the
Remedy
Mr. Robinson treated in an interesting
manner the social systems of the Ameri-
can aborigines. comparing them with the
present social system. He said:
Every glimpse of the condition of pre-
historic man that we obtain serves to
strengthen the conviction that in charac-
ter, achievement, and possessions there
was no essential difference between him
and ourselves The economic welfare of
the nations compared is the test. and ma
teriaI progress in mechanics is not of in
trinsic Importance
The speaker then took up the currency
system of American aborigines. showing
that 1t represented a certain natural mon
etary method, based in greater degree
than ours upon the labor involved in max
ing the medium of exchange He declar-
ed that the comparison between the
wampum system and our present cur
rency system did not reflect much credit
upon the latter, and that in the thing
most essential to social welfare the Az
tees and kindred tribes were in advance
of the nations of today
He then turned to ancient Peru and
explained the constitution of the Govern
ment and the social system then in
vogue, with its high development along
agricultural lines. He stated that pauper-
ism in the country was unknown and the
tramp an impossibility because there was
work for every hand to do. and, in fact,
an almost ideal condition of things exist
ed, as the result of mode of life which
gave no chance for aVarice, lust, or laZ-
mess. He advocated a greater applica-
tton of the principle Of paternaliSm of
those days. drawing his arguments from
the success achieved through the appli-
cation of the principle by the prehistoric
races. especially Peru.
Naturalization; Its Abuse. and the
Remedy was the title of the paper read
by Oscar Straus, LII. D., of New York
city. Mr.. Straus prefaced his remarks
by some amusing incidents of diplomacy
at the Porte.
Taking Up his subject he said that the
United States was the first nation to al
low freely the right of expatriation to all
citizens. thus antagoniZing the generally
accepted principle of perpetual citizenship.
The stand taken by our nation on tins
subject. he said, had frequently been the
cause of trouble and international COM
plications. He cited number of cases
where foreigners convicted OF felony had
attempted to gain the protection of the
United States by naturaiiza ton, and had
precipitated trouble. The result of these
difficulties. he said, was the passage of
law, July q. 1868, giving TO naturaliZed
citizens the same protection as home-born
citizens.
When the foreign-born citizens return
to their own country the matter became
involved he said. and finally II was nee
essary to restrict the protection offered
by the law in these cases to period ex-
piring after two. years of residence
abroad
The programme today is under the de-
Dartment of health. w. II. Daily. NJ. D..
Chairman. and Elmer Lee. Secretary. AT
the morning session there will be an adj
dress by the chairman at $3.50; at 9:i5,
Experiments in Nutrition. Horace
Fletcher. of Venice, Italy: 1910. Factory
Hygiene J. II. Patterson. Dayton, Ohio;
1890 Health Fad of Today" Grace
Peckham Murray. New York; 11:O0,
Social Evils Resulting from Unsanitary
Dwellings" c. w. Chancellor. Washing
ton, D. c.; address, Irving e. Rosse,
Washington. ID. c.
Evening session-s:3O, Transmission of
Yellow Fever by the Mosquito. John NJ
Sternberg, Washington. d. c.: 400 Food
as the Principal Factor in the Cause of
Disease, Elmer Lee, New York.