The sun., 1903-04-26
HUM0RS OF CITIZEN xAKING.
DAILY SCENES ~ THE FEDERAL
NATURALIZATION BUREAU. .
Tricks az Italians 10 Siip In--PatFsstsm
Fired by Pesidiins-W1Iiie Geese Sticks
20 Ills Name-An italian Mtke kepey
Triumph Of An er-Dtnncr OrafeFy.

Tricks al II aiians 10 SIP In-paSbesb bH
Fired BY Pessdlins Cesse Sticks
20 Ills Name-An italian Mtke keAey
Triumph Of Ar er-Dtnncr 0rasssy.
Visitors TO the Federal Building 800 long
lines OF foreiga-looking mca standing in
the corridor on tho third door every day
In the week except Sunday They are the
men who becom. American ciisons BY
adoption, and strange lot they are.
The majority nowadays are Italians who
desire 10 work for the city an a-s con-
pclled 10 exhibit their hrst otizens' papers
before thcy can be employed There arc
also many Gree;,s and Poles wao ds,lArc
their intention - become c!tizcns for tho
purpose Of obtaining LICENSES to peddlc or
deal in junk. The Greeks rarely take out
their second papea. Il Is doubtful u they
would take out tho first wero 1t not for tho
city ordinance under which liccnse1 are
refused 10 foreigners who will not become
citizens.
This ordinance has stirred the slunbsring
patriotism OF many a man since II went into
effect about two years ago. Only few
days ago a junk dealer who has been In
business in New York for more than twenty
years took out his first papers because II had
been discovered In the license ofiioe that he
was a subject OF the King Of Italy and . ro-
newal Of his license had bcca refused him.
j. Lewis Donovan, who has charge OF
the issuing Of citizens papers In the ONCE
OF United States Commissioner Shields.
tells soma queer stories OF his dealings
with men Of different nations who want
to become citizens. His patience is triel
by the Italians.
They are intensely eager for citizens
papers and resort to all sorts OF tricks 10
secure them. Smart Italians who speak
English apply for papers under the names
Of others Of their countrymen wao have
not been In the country long enough to
understand more than a word or two
Of English. These impostors are seldom
caught.
By anothe scheme applicants are schooled
for the examination by veterans In tho cit
izen-making line. Whom they take the
oath OF allegiance before United Statss
Commissioner Shields. all the formal quee-
tions require answers in the Affirmative.
This has simplired matters for their In
structors.
The candidates for citiaenship are told
to answer yes or sure TO every question
put to them. Very often they know no
.
missioner Shields from discovering this,
the applicants are taken to the Federal
Building in big crowd so that IN the press
Of business the examinations will be hasty
and perfunctory.
Two or three Intelligent ones are kept In
the front TO 60 through the preliminary
PAGES before the others OF the band are
rushed through. But ingenious a. Ia this
plan. it was quickly understood by the
Commissioner, who has routed and SCAT
oh hAn
missioner Shields suspects that . candidate
is unworthy, he does not show II in his
demeanor He first puts the question:
DO you renouncs allegiance TO the King
OF Italy?'
-Will you take up arms against our Presi-
ocRsi stre. comes tho reply with promptn...
and note Of sincerity indicating long
will you trampIc upon the American
hag'' .
Sure 81
viii viii you sack and burn w..hinston''
.S'l win you glo.t over the nations ruin'..
At this point whom the candidate thinks
all is well, the Commissioner springs up and
shouts:
This 10 followed by q scramble and rush
III
by the frightened leaders who had schooled
Mr. Donovan says that. With some ex.
ceptions. tho immigrants coming to this
country are steadily improving In character
as Is shown by the applications for cttizen-
THE Irish. English and German appli-
GCent and educated men ne said. we
sec very little OF tho ignorant immigrants
sian v immi grafton, whioi, dropped on At
the time Of the Siberian boom. Ia nov in
creasing and we are getting much better
class than before.
Very few Frenchmeu come 70 this coun-
try and only q small number are citizens
apply for citizens papers In one day. wal
seven. This surprising event occurred not
long ago whom the walters at q popular
French restaurant agreed 70 % In body
to the Federal Building and become Amsri-
action after hearing patriotic speeches At
a banquet, thus proving the power Of ora
tory even In the twentisth century.
About fortnight ago an lrishn,an 9 feet
4 inches in height wa'ked IN 70 So Mr.. pono-
How long have you been in the oountry''
Il got here this marnin'. was HE anewer.
well, wen max. citizen Of you In i've
years
.Ah. 60 on wid ye,' ericd the new arrival.
Sure, that's too long.
why are you In such . hurry
-I'm going on t'policc force, he ex-
planned. .I was on e Dublin force. foy
twinty ycars, an that makes me good enough
for force here
He went away after inquiring the way
to Police Headquarters,
II viii be a much easier thing for the
nation TO assimilate the men than sonne OF
tho names they bring with them. The
lists Of namsa Of the newest citizens show q
wonderful mixture OF vowels and con.
sonante.
A Greek has the record -hreaklng name.
II Ia Constantinious Angeloniarios Papa.
oonstantintipoulous. He IL crowded hard
by Athonaseos Nicholas Curtzsogocrecos
and 'Baseleos Pappacostapulos: Such
nam-s are the despair. OF city directory
makers.
While Gresk pushcart man with an IN.
usually long name was taking out his frst
papers several weeks ago he wae asked:
'why do. you wish to beconsc an Ameri-
can citisen''
Il want 20 pcddl-,' he answered., He
could not understand the burst OF laughter
thv followed his patriotic declaration.
The Italian nArnes arc the delight OF tho
young women visitors Of the Comnis-
sioner's otncc. -,