New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-06

a gratifying condition, and there mas been q
great Improvement in fleet practice. We need
additional seamen; we need large store Oh re-
serve guns need sufficient money FOR ample
target practice, ample practice of every KIND at
sea. We should substitute for comparatively
inefficient types-the old third class oattleshlp
Texas the single turreted monitors above men
toned and indeed all the monitors and some
of the old crufsers-efficient modern, Seagoing
vessels. Sea going torpedo boat destroyers should
be substituted for some of the smaller torpedo
boats During the present Congress there need
be additions to the aggregate number OF units
of the navy Our navy, though very small rela-
lively TO the navies of other nations, is for the
present sufficient in point of numbers for our
needss and while must constantly strive 70
make it's efficiency higher. there need be no adj
ditions TO the total number of ships now built
and building. save in the way of substitution
as above outlined. I recommend the report of
the Secretary of the Navy to the careful consid-
grafton of the Congress, especially with view
to the legislation therein advocated.
During the past year evidence has accumu-
lated to confirm the expressions contained in
my last two annual messages as to the I'M
portance of revising by
NATURALIZATION appropriate legisla ton
LAWS. our system of naturaliz-
ing aliens. | appointed
last March a commission to make careful eX-
animation of our naturalization laws. and TO
suggest appropriate measures to avoid the no.
torious abuses resulting from the improvement
unlawful granting of citizenship. ms coil-
mission, composed of officer OF the Depart
ment of State of the Department of Justice and
of the Department Of Commerce ana LABOR mas
discharged the duty imposed upon it, ana mas
submitted report. which VIII De IranSnhIlIeu
to the Congress for its consideration, and,
hope, for it's favorable action.
The distinguishing recommendations of the
commission are:
First-A federal bureau of naturalization, to
be established in the Department of Commerce
and Labor to supervise the administration OF
the naturalization laws and to receive returns
of turazations pending and accomplished
Second-Unformity of naturalization certih-
ca tes, fees to be charged and procedure.
Third-Nore exacting qualifications for citizen
ship
Fourth-The preliminary declaration Of in
tenton to be abolished and no alien to be nat
urazed until at least ninety days after the fling
of his petition.
Fffth-Jurisdiction TO naturaze aliens to be
confined to United States district courts and to
such State courts as have jurisdiction in civil
actions i'll which the amount in controversy is
unlimited: in cities of over 100000 inhabitants
the United States district courts to have ex-
elusive Jurisdiction in the naturalization of the
alien residents of such cities.
In my last message I asked the attention or
the Congress to the urgent need of action to
make criminal law more effective; and
l most earnestly request
CRIMINAL LAWS. that you pay heed to the
report of the Attorney
General on this subject. Centuries ago it was
especially needful to throw every safeguard
round the accused. The danger then was lest
he should be wronged by the State. The danger
toms tell Immensely in favor of the criminal
and against the interests of the public he has
wronged. Some antiquated and outworn rules
which once safeguarded the threatened rights
of private citizens now merely work harm TO
the general body polite. The criminal law of
the United States stands in urgent need OF
revision The criminal process of any court of
the United States should run throughout the
entire territorial extent of our country. The
delays of the criminal law, no less than or the
civil now amount to a very great evil.
There seems to be no statute of the United
States which provides for the punishment of a
United States attorney other officer of the
government who corrupt
BREACHES OF " agrees to wrongfully
TRUST IN do or wrongfully refrain
PUBLIC SERVICE. from doing any act when
the consideration for such
corrupt agreement is other than one possessing
money value. This ought to be reInedied by
appropriate legislation. Legislation should also
be enacted to cover, explicitly, unequivocally
and beyond question, breach of trust in the
shape of prematurely dvulging official secrets
by an officer or employee of the United States,
and to provide a suitable penalty therefor. Such
officer employee owes the duty to the United
States to guard carefully and not to dfvulge or
in any manner use. prenlaturely, information
which is accessible to the officer emplOye by
reason of his official position. Most breaches of
public trust already covered by law, and
this should be. 1t is impossible, no matter
how much care is used. to prevent the occa-
sional appointment to the public service of a
man who when tempted proves unfaithful but
every means should be provided to detect and
eTery effort made to punish the wrongdoer. So
far as in my power lies each and every such
wrongdoer shall be reentessly hunted down:
in no instance in the past has he been spared;
in no instance in the future shall he be spared.
His crime is a crime against every honest man
IN the nation, for it is crime against the whole
body polite. Yet in dwelling on such nisdeeds,
1t is unjust not to add that they are altogether
and that on the whole the employees
Of the government render upright and faithful
service to the people. There are exceptions,
notably in one two branches OF the service;
but at no time IN the nations history has the
public service of the nation taken a whole
stood on a higher plane than now. alike re-
CARDS honesty and as regards efficiency