New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-08
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
KNOWS ANNUAL REPORT.
Naturalization Frauds-FiUe Year
Statute of Limitations FaUOred.

Washington. Dec. The annual report Of the
Attorney General OF the United States calls at
tention the naturalization frauds disclosed in
the last year in every section Of the country and
says that every honest citizen is deeply concerned
in repelng and preventing dishonest claims to
that high right. He therefore recommends for the
considerable of Congress the enactment Of a law
which will provide for the following results:
The omission from the statutes as they now stand
where an offender has TN his possession fraud
ulent certificate OF naturalization unlaWfuly OBJ
tanned in any manner whatever. OF where "a fraud
ulent certificate 50 held and obtained IS used for
AiIt ProstGuuohs Tor the possession OF fraud
ulent certificate unlawfully obtained. for the
intent OF the oath of the applicant and witness
on the certificate. which is TO be regarded pre-
senting merely a question of fast.
That the law be amended so as to compel an alien
the time Of applying for citizenship TO present
from the appropriate immiCrstion authorities a
certificate showing his age and the date of his ar
sbnnid f 70 tnat IN passport ms eeItinc9[e
application for citizenship
The petition and application and all certificates
the final certificate Of citizenship issued BY any
court throughout the country should contain
on the back thereof for the purpose OF identiaca-
ton and to avoid substitution.
The certificates should be printed in Washington
under government direction. containing a water
unlawful possession Of OF counterfeiting Of. such
United States. The blank certificates should be
distributed to the various courts on requisiton.
pe na deGn one should be properly numbered and
The power. of issuing certificates Of nsturaIza-
ton should be Withdrawn by Congress from the
various state courts and should be restricted 10
All administrative matters relating to natural
ration should be committed to one central govern
II SHOULD be made crime against the United
40 =. sbI % f'lL-e ,z5 81
anu II sh0uid De PROVIDED that after suncleht
proof has been submitted to a court establishing
the fact that certificate is fraudulent in any
respect said certificate shall be cancelled Of record
The Attorney General calls attention to the act
OF February 3 1875. aDpropriating 10000 for the
employment OF special counsel 10 conduct pro-
ceedings under the various trust and interstate
commerce laws and says it has become highly i'm
portant that this appropriation should he made
available for the enforcement OF the laws OF the
United States generally. and especially those re-
lating to public lands. postal offences and natural
ization frauds.
The Attorney General renews his recOnmenda-
ton made in previous annual reports relating 70
the necessity OF providing for appeal on the
partof the government in cases Of decisions adverse
to the United States by the courts on demurrers
interposed TO indictments He urges the necessity
OF amending tiOu 1926 of the Revised Statutes
permit the government, when demurrer to
an indictment is sustained. 10 have review, on
writ OF error. Of the question Of law involved
therein by the Supreme Court of the United States
by a Circuit Court of Appeals
Referring 10 the statute OF limitations the report
says;
criminal cases. in my judgment. rests in many
cases upon the passage of too brief a period OF
time after the commission of the offence IL seems
three IS ordinarily the
case. is not n sufficient period in reason OF upon
principle terminate certain criminal liabilities
and condone particular offences. especially in rea
ton to offences directly against the property OF
the government or its administration. as shown by
recent revelations respecting postal affairs and
public lands. and especially where such offences
have been committed by officers or employees OF
the government ] strongly Of the opinion that
the Limitation 10 bar prosecutions in such cases
should be at least FIVE years
The Attorney General recommends that the
Office OF Assistant Attorney General for the Post
Office Department be abolished and that the law
officer for that department be designated So
Hctor for the Postof1ce Department.
The report shows that there increase Of
two in the number Of cases docketed on the ap-
peIlate docket of the Supreme Court and in
crease of forty-eight in the number disposed OF.