Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-10
NATURALIZATION.
The Present Laws Said to be
Much Abused.
The Next Congress will Deal With
the Problem.
The Grave Menace of the Fraudulent
Making of citizena

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9.-The abuse of
our naturalization laws is one of the
phases of the immigration problem
which il certain to be brought to the
attention of Congress. 1t is impossible
to make any prophecy as to what Con-
gress will do with this feature of the
problem, but it is to be doubted If any
remedial legislation is to be expected
at the approaching session. For this
there are several reasons. One is, of
itself, probably sufficient to prevent
action. That is the fact that the
Presidential election is so near at
hand. Politicians are VIGOROUSLY
timid about taking any radical action
at such a time, and the fear that any
thing that Congress might do might
be misconstrued by the voters of our
population who are of foreign birth.
might be twisted into hostility to the
granting the rights of citizenship to
foreigners, will certainly be very pro-
nounced. Then, other questions may
enormously to be sure, be considered as
of more pressing importance, and the
argument will be used that it is best to
complete the work of Congress at an
early date, because Of the ACCESSIBILITY
of adjourning some time before the two
great national conventions. Then. too,
certain interests, chiefly steamships,
will antagonize any additional legisla-
ton dealing with the immigration
question, as they quietly opposed the
passage of the stricter immigration
laws which went tinto effect on March
3. Again, the naturalization phase of
the immigration question is compare
lively new. There will be a tendency
toward conservatism, for fear that a
mistake may be made by hasty action.
However, it is certain that the Com
mittee on immigration of the House
and the Senate will give further con-
sideration to the immigration prob
lem and that the immense frauds, by
which foreigners are naturalized in
droves, contrary to the law, will re-
ceive attention. The idea of increasing
the number of years of residence be-
fore n foreigner can become a citizen
of the United States is certain to be
carefully studied. This may make it
possible to get data in shape for legis-
lating upon the question in the last
session of the new Congress. That
would enable members of the, House
and the Senate to approach the sub
5ect understandingly.. There are evil
dences, too, that the fact that public
opinion is awakening to the dangers to
the nation involved in the admittance
Of vast hordes of aliens. and that their
fraudulent naturalization may force
Congress to act. The immigration
question is being discussed more gen.
orally than ever before, and the
efficient immigration Bureau of the
Department of Commerce and Labor is
preparing statistics that will direct
public attention to the question so as
to decidedly increase the interest mani
tested.
Proof is at hand that in several large
cities aliens have hardly been landed
before they have been put through the
naturalization mills" and We're thus
placed on an equality. as citizens, with
men who have been legally naturalzed
and with those who are natives of the
United States. IT would be astonishing
If figures as to the extent of naturaliZa =
ton frauds could now be printed. But
they will appear in the report of the
immigration Bureau, which will be
published before the assembling of
Congress. 1t seems certain that the
startling facts brought forth in that
report will command public attention.
Judge Gregor of the Country Court,
Albany, i'm refusing to naturaiZe for
eigners who could not speak English
well enough to make themselves under
stood has been generally commended.
Perhaps his action was a straining of
the letter of the naturalization laws,
but it certainly was in touch with their
spirit. and in such matters judges have
to be satisfied of the propriety of
issuing naturalization papers. Fraudu-
lent naturalization papers are granted
frequently in all the large cities St.
Louis and Chicago have been the scenes
of sensational disclosures. In st.
Louis. Judge Rogers, of the United
States Circuit Court, and United States
Attorney Dyer have done good work in
exposing and thwarting naturalization
frauds. These instances are taken as
showing the growing tendency o.
judges to scrutinize closely every ap-
plication for naturalization.
1t is difficult to secure convictions 70
naturalization frauds. The evidence is
sometimes understandable. Judges must
depend upon the affldavits of citizens of
supposed repute as to the time an alien
who seeks citizenship, has been in the
United States. There have been
numerous cases of perjury, and even of
forged naturalization certificates.
Uutil n year ago there was no suitable
record of the arrival of aliens in the
United States. There We're the ship
manifests, to be sure, but these We're
not accurate guides, and it has been
almost impossible to discover frauds
through them, even if would-be-
citizens must declare when and on
what vessel they came to the United
States.
A year ago the Immigration Bureau
began to keep an accurate record of ev-
cry alien who arrived at a port OF entry
The name, age, country of nativity
destination and physical description are
recorded. When it is remembered that
almost million aliens landed in the
United States in the fiscal year, ending
with June 80 last, it can be seen what