The Washington times., 1902-06-23
Senor Ycaza Wants to
Become an Anneri-
can Citizen.
CANNOT COMPLY WITH LAW
Appealed to District Supreme Court So
That He Might Know Just What His
Rights Are in the Premises-Other
Important Cases.

of the court commenced more than a
week ago. Then the juries serving in
the circuit and criminal branches Of the
court were discharged and the regular
assignment of cases was discontinued.
In the case of the jury serving in Crimi-
nal Court No. 2, it was, however, only
excused until tomorrow, when it will
report for duty to pass upon the issue
framed in a contested will case. After
reporting in this matter the jury will be
finally discharged
Notwithstanding the fact that the va
cation season has practically already be-
gun. it is likely that during the current
week some matters of public and special
interest will come up for consideration.
The most important of these is the an
swer OF the Government to the applica-
tion of Senor Antonio Opisse de Ycaza,
a Filipino. asking for American citizen
ship. District Attorney Gould will to-
day make answer for the Government.
The circumstances which bring the
matter up before the Supreme Court OF
the District for consideration are in
brief as follows: Some time ago Senor
Ycaza, who came to this city to study
law made application to Mr.. John r.
Young, Clerk of the Supreme Court of
the District, for a certificate of citizen
ship. The certificate was refused him
because Congress has passed no law de-
fning the status of the Filipinos in re-
lation to American citizenship.
Law on the Subject.
The law. as laid down for the guild
ance of the Clerk of Court in reference
to such matters. is simply that the ap-
plicant must renounce his allegiance to
the sovereignty which he proposes to
renouncc and swear allegiance to Amer
lea and the Stars and Stripes Unfor-
tunately for senor Ycaza, he is appar
emily man without a country, and,
owing allegiance to no ruler or poten-
tate whom he wished to renounce Mr..
Young. in accordance with the law. re-
fused to issue to him a certificate Of citi-
zenship.
Not being satisfied TO wait until Con-
gress may determine the status of the
Philippines. Senior Ycaza decided to ap-
peal TO the law TO decide at once his
rights as subject of the American Gov.
ernment. He therefore employed coun-
sci and filed a petition for writ OF
mandamus asking the clerk of the Su-
preme Court of the District be compelled
TO issue to him the certificate he de-
sired.
Even had not Senior Ycaza not applied
for writ of mandamus the question CO
his right to citizenship would have beel
made matter for consideration by the
District court. except for an unfortunate
Circumstance. AS stated, Senior Ycaza
is law student in this city He has
completed his studies and was an appIi-
cant for admission TO practice. The ex-
animation held semi-annually by the
Washington Bar Association took place
on Friday last He. however, was i'll.
being confined to his bed by an attack
OF typhoid fever and consequently unable
to appear before the board of examiners
In the event he appeared and success
fully passed the examination, not being
an American citizen, it would have been
the duty of Mr.. Hugh T. Taggart, as
chairman of the board of examiners. to
have reported the fact to the Chief Jus
tice of the Supreme Court of the District,
so that the matter might be considered
when Senior Ycaza was presented for ad-
mission to practice before the District
courts.
Very Important Question.
The question of the right of Senior |
Ycaza to American citizenship is consid- |
cred one OF the most important which |
has come before the local court in a long |
time. For this reason. Mr.. Gould has |
prepared his answer to the petition for |
mandamus with great care, after very |
close study of the matter. The answer |
was completed last week, but. owing to |
the Importance of the matter. Mr.. Gould |
submitted his paper 10 the Attorney |
General before placing il On file. After |
being carefully read by the Attorney |
General 1t was returned to Mr.. Gould |
without any additions or suggestions as
being completely satisfactory to the De- |
partment of Justice.
When the answer is filed today il is !
probable that some time will be def |
nitely fixed by agreement between coun-
sci on either side TO argue the question |
before Chief Justice Bingham.
Another interesting matter which will |
come up for adjudication before Justice |
hagner is the question of the care and |
custody Of the Douglas twins. children Of /
Mrs. Minnie Bibb. who on wednesday |
last left her home and, ii is alleged,
have gone to reside with their aunt,
Mrs. Jessie II. Olerich. The Douglas
girls, Virginia Lee and Grace Kimball,
are thirteen years old and until March
last resided with Mrs. Oierich. Abou;
eighteen months ago, when their mother
remarked, she wanted them TO go and
live with her. but the children re-
belled and. ii is said. in every way
eyaded their mother. Their aunt Mrs
Clerich, with whom they had resided
for many years, was very fond of the
children and was loath to part with
them. She claimed that, as she had
practically reared them at her own ox-
pensc, she was properly their guardian,
particularly as the girls desired to re-
main with her. Their mother thought
differently and sought To gain possession
of them by means Of habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. In this she succeeded. after
long litigation. and on March 2s last,
The late Justice Bradley. in accord with
The decision of the Court OF Appeals