Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-10


10y state laws having special applica-
ton. Tie federal statutes permit nat
uralization by any court of record i'm
the United States having common law
jurisdiction and seal and clerk. ex-
cept the police court of the District of
Columbia, and nearly ali these courts
exercise this important function. 1t
results that where so many courts of
such varying grades have jurisdiction
there is lack of uniformity in the rules
applied in comforting naturalization
Some courts are strict and others Ian.
An alien who may secure naturaliza-
ton In one place might be denied it i'm
another, and the intent of the constitu-
uonal provision is, in fact. defeated.
Furthermore. the certificates of nat
uralization issued by the courts differ
widely in wording and appearance and
when they are brought into use in for
eign countries are frequently subject
to suspicion
Naturalization Laws Should be Revised.
There should be q comprehensive re-
vision of the naturalization laws. The
courts having power to naturalize
should be definitely named by national
authority; the testimony upon which
naturalization may be conferred should
be definitely prescribed; publication of
impending naturalization applications
should be required in advance of their
hearing in court; the form and wording
OF all certifica ties issued should be uni
form throughout the country, and the
courts should be required to make re-
turns to the secretary Of state ut stated
periods Of all naturalizations conferred.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Not only are the laws relating to
naturalization now defective. but those
relating to citizenship of the United
States ought also TO be made the sub
1ect OF scientific inquiry with view to
probable further legislation. By what
acts expatriation may be assumed to
have been accomplished. how long an
American citizen may reside abroad
and receive the protection OF our pass
port whether any degree of protection
should be extended to one who has
made the declaration OF intention to be-
come 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 I recon-
mend that an examination be made in
10 the subjects of citizenship. expatria-
ton and protection of Americans
abroad. with a view to appropriate
legislation.
Protection Of Elections.
The power Of the government to pro-
tect the integrity of the elections of
Its own officials is inherent and has
been recognized and affirmed by re-
peated declarations of the supreme
court There is no enemy of free gov
eminent more dangerous and none so
insidious as the corruption OF the elect
crate. No one defends or excuses cor
rupuon, and 1t would seem to follow
that none would oppose vigorous meas
ureS to eradicate IL. | recommend the
enactment OF a law directed against
bribery anCs corruption 81 federal cleo
tons. The details Of such la'T may
be safely left to the wise discretion of
the congress, but 1t should go as far as
under the constitution Ii Is possible to
20 and should include severe penalties
against him who gives or receives n
bride intended to influence his act or
opinion as an elector, and provisions
for the publication not only Of the ex-
pcnditures for nominations and cleo
lions of all candidates, but also of all
contributions received and expendI-
lures made by political committees.
Delays In Criminal Prosecutions.
No subject is better worthy the at
tention of the congress than that por-
ton Of the report OF the attorney gen.
tral dealing with the long delays and
the great obstruction TO justice expe-
yienced in the cases OF Beavers, Green
and Gaynor and Benson. Were these
Isolated and special cases / should not
call your attention to them, but the
difficulties encountered as regards these
men who have been Indicted for Grim
inal practices are not exceptional. They
are precisely similar in kind to what
occurs again and again in the case of
criminals who have sufficient means to
enable them to take advantage OF
system of procedure which has grown
up in the federal courts and which
in effect to making the law
easy of enforcement against the man
who has no money and difficult OF en-
forcement, even to the point OF some
times 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 s-.ould not be clog
ged, as they have been clogged in the
cases above mentioned, where 1t has
proved absolutely impossible to bring
the accused TO the place appointed by
the constitution for his trial. OF re-
cent years there has been grave and
increasing complaint of the difficulty
OF bringing to justice those criminals
whose criminality instead OF being
against one person In the republic Is
against all persons In the republic. be
cause it Is against the republic itself.
Under any circumstance and from the
very nature of the case 1t Is often ex-
ceedingly difficult to secure proper pun
ishment of those who have been guilty