Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06


accumulated showing that many courts Is
sue certificates of naturalization oarelessly
and upon insufficient evidence
Under the Constitution II IS In the power
of the Congress ito establish a uniform
rule OF naturalization" and numerous laws
have from time to time been enacted for
that purpose, which have been supplement-
ed In a few States by State laws having
special application The Federal statutes
permit naturalization by any court or rec
ord in the United States having common
law Jurisdiction and a seal and clerk. ex-
cept the police court of the District OF Co
lumbia, and nearly all these courts exer-
else this important function IL results
that where so many courts OF such varying
grades have Jurisdiction. there is lack OF
uniformity In the rules applied In confer
ring naturalization. Some courts are strict
and others lax. An alien who may secure
naturalization in one place might be denied
II In another, and the intent OF the consul
tutional provision is in fact defeated. Fur
thermore. the certificates OF naturalization
issued by the courts differ widely In word
ing and appearance, and when they are
brought into use in foreign countries, are
frequently subject to suspicion.
Naturalization Laws Should Be Re
vised.
There should be a comprehensive revision
of the naturalization laws. The courts hav-
ing power to naturaiize should be definitely
named by national authority; the testimony
upon which naturalization may be conferred
should be definitely prescribed; puoicatloh
of impending naturalization applications
should be required In advance OF their hear
ing in court; the form and wording OF all
certificates issued should be UNIFORM
throughout the country. and the courts
should be required to make returns TO the
Secretary of State at stated periods OF ali
naturalzations conferred.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Not only are the laws relating to natur-
alization now defective, but those relating
to citizenship of the United States ought
also to be made the subject of scientific IN
quiry with a view to probable further legis-
lation. BY what acts eXpatriation- may be
assumed to have been accomplished how
long an American citizen may reside
abroad and receive the protection or our
passport. whether any degree OF protec-
ton should be extended to one who has
made the declaration OF intention TO be
come a citizen of the United States. but has
not secured naturalization. are questions OF
serious import, Involving personal rights
and often producing friction between this
Government and foreign governments Yet
upon these questions our laws are silent.
l recommend that an examination be made
into the subjects of citizenship, eNpatria-
ton, and protection of Americans abroad.
with view to appropriate legislation.
The power of the Government to protect
the integrity of the elections of its own off
Gals Is inherent and has been recognized
the Supreme Court. There is no enemy
of free government more dangerous and
none so insidious as the corruption of the
electorate. No one defends or excuses cor
ruption and IL would seem to follow that
none would oppose vigorous measures TO
eradicate it. 1 recommend the enactment
of law directed against bribery and cor
ruption In Federal elections. The details
of such a law may be safely left To the
wise discretion Of the Congress. but 1t
should go as far as under the Constitution
1t is possible to go, and should include Sc
we're penalties against him who gives or re-
ceives a bride intended to influence his act
or opinion as an elector; and provisions for
the publca tion not only of the expenditures
for nominations and elections of all candi-
dates, but also of all contributions received
and expenditures made by political COM
mittees
Delays in Criminal Prosecutions.
No subject is better worthy the attention
of the Congress than that portion of the
report of the Attorney GENERAL dealing with
the long delays and the great obstruction
to justice experienced in the cases OF Bea-
vers, Green and Gaynor and Benson. Were
these isolated and special cases, 1 should
not call your attention to them; but the
difficulties encountered as regards these
men who have been indicted for criminal
practices are not exceptional; they are pre-
cisely similar in kind to what occurs again
and again in the case of criminals who have
sufficient means to enable them to take adj
vantage of a system of procedure which
has grown up In the federal courts and
which amounts in effect to making the law
easy of enforcement against the man who
has no money, and difficult OF enforcement.
even to the point of sometimes securing
immunity, as regards the man who has
money. In criminal cases the writ of the
United States should run throughout its
borders. The wheels of justice should not
be clogged, as they have been clogged in
! the cases above mentioned, where it has
/ proved absolutely impossible to bring the
accused to the place appointed by the Con-
sdtution for his trial. OF recent years
there has been grave and increasing COM
plant of the difficulty of bringing to justice
those criminals whose crfmnality, instead
of being against one person in the republic.
Is against all persons in the republic, be-
cause tx is against the republic itself. I'm
der any circumstance and from the very
nature of the case it Is often exceedingly
difficult to secure proper punishment of
those who have been guilty of wrongdoing
against the government By the time the
offender can be brought into court the pop
uIar wrath against him has generally sub
sided; and there is in most instances very
slight danger indeed of any prejudice exist
ing in the minds of the jury against him.
At present the interests of the innocent
man are amply safeguarded; but the inter-
| ests of the government that Is the Inter
ests of honest administration, that is the
interests of the people. are not recognized
as they should be. No subject better war;
rants the attention of the Congress. In
ton of the bench and the bar throughout
the United States
Alaska.
Alaska like all our Territorial acquisi-
TONS has proved resourceful beyond the
expecta lions of those who made the pur-
chase 1t has become the home of many
hardy. Industrious. and thrifty American
citizens. Towns of a permanent character
have been built The extent OF its wealth
in minerals, timber. fisheries. and agricul-
ture, while great, is probably not compre-
hended yet in any just measure by our peo-
pie. We do know. however, that from a
very small beginning its products have
grown until they steady and ma
terial contribution to the wealth of the Ma
ton. Owing to the immensely of Alaska
and its location in the far north, Ii is
difficult matter to provide many things es-
sential to it's growth and to the happiness
and comfort of its people by private enter
prise alone. 1t should. therefore, receive
reasonable aid from the Government The
Government has already done excellent
work for Alaska In laying cables and build
ing telegraph lines. This work has been
done in the most economical and efficient
way by the Signal Corps of the Army.
In some respects it has outgrown its pres
ent laws. while in others those laws have