The San Francisco call., 1903-12-08
immigration LdWS
Need Improvement
System Must Be Devised by
Which Undesirable For
eignerS May Be Kept ont
and Others Protected.

We cannot have too much immigration Of
the right kind, and we should have none at all
OF the wrong kind. The need is to devise some
system by which undesirable immigrants shall
be keUt out entirely, while desirable immi-
grants properly distributed throughout
the country. At present some districts which
need immigrants have none and in others,
where the population is already congested, inn
migrants come IN such numbers to depress
the conditions of life for those already there.
During the last two years the immigration
service at New York has been greatly improved
and the corruption and ineficiency which for
merly obtained there have been eradfcated
This service has just been investigated by a
committee OF New York citizens of high
standing, Messrs. Arthur Briesen Lee X.
Frankel Eugene A. Philbin, Thomas w.
Hynes and Ralph Trautman. Their report
deals with the whole situation at length and
concludes with certain recommendations for
administrative and legislative action. 1t is
now receiving the attention OF the Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor.
The special investigation Of the subject of
naturalization under the direction OF the At
torney General and the consequent prosecu-
tions reveal condition of affairs calling for
the immediate attention of the Congress. For
geries and perjuries of shameless and fragrant
character have been perpetrated, not only in
the dense centers OF population, but through
out the country and II is established beyond
doubt that very many sO-called citizens of the
United States have no title whatever to that
right and are asserting and enjoying the ben
efits of the same through the grossest frauds.
1t is never to be forgotten that citizenship is,
TO quote the words recently used by the Su-
prene Court of the United States, an 'inesti-
mable heritage" whether it proceeds from
birth within the country or is obtained by
naturalization; and we poison the sources of
our national character and strength at the
fountain IL the privilege is claimed and exer-
cised without right and by means Of fraud and
corruption. The body polite cannot be sound
and healthy If many Of its constituent men,
bers claim their standing through the prosti-
tuition of the high right and calling of citizen
citizen Of the United States and in the process
no looDhole whatever should be left open to
fraud.
The methods by which these frauds-now un-
der full investigation with view TO melting out
punishment and providing adequate remedies
are perpetrated include many vsriations Of pro-
are forged in their entirety; genuine certih-
Gates fraudulently collusively obtained in
blank are filled in by the criminal conspirators;
or certificates are obtained on fraudulent state
ments as to the time Of arrival and residence in
this country; or imposition and substitution CT
another party for the real petitioner occur in
court; or certificates made the subject of
barter and sale and transferred from the right
tihcates are forged by erasure of the original
names and the insertion of the of other
persons not entitled TO the same.
1t is not necessary for me to refer here at
large TO tee causes leading TO this state of af-
fairs. The desire for naturalization is heartily
TO be commended where it springs from sin
cere and permanent intention to become citizens
and a real appreciation of the privilege. But it
is traceable to selfish and dishonest motives
such as the effort by artificial and improper
Hedhos Al NuOitsdlt IdsDlon TO create voters
who are ready-made tools of corrupt politicians
or the desire to evade certain labor laws Gre
ating determinations against alien labor. All
good citizens, whether naturalized or native
born. are equally interested in protecting our
citizenship against fraud in any form, and on
the other hand, in afording every facility for
naturalization to those who in good faith desire
to share alike our privileges and RESPONSE
bilities.
The Federal Grand Jury lately in session In
New York City dealt with this subject and
made presentment which states the situation
briefly and forcibly and contains important sug-
gestions for the consideration of the Congress-.
This presentment is included as an appendix TO
the report Of the Attorney General.