The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-07-14

Naturalization Of Foreigners WIN Not
Be So Easy

congress by the board now consider
ing this important question Some i
tarling evidences OF the improper be-
stowal Of citizenship on foreigners
and OF the wholesale disregard Of the /
Of the existing laws have /
been discovered by the board
Those charged with the duty OF |
Oyerhauiing the naturalization laws |
and suggesting changes in them are |
Assistant Attorney General Milton D.
Purdy. Richard Campbell OF the i'm
migration bureau and Ballard Hunt
chief Of the passport bureau OF the
state department. They were ap-
pointed at the suggestion Of President
Roosevelt, who some time since be
came convinced that there was a na-
Gonal scandal in the methods Of GER
tain court officials in grinding out
naturalization certificates to thous-
ands Of persons who were not entitled
to them This suspicion has been
confirmed by the investigating board,
and as 2 result il will urge upon con-
greSs the necessity for extreme iegis-
latiOn that viii put a high premium
on citizenship as acquired by aliens.
It was found by the members Of
the board that there is absolutely no
uniformity in the character and form
Of naturalization certificates as now
issued Eeach court prepares a pa
per of a type to suit its own officials,
without regard to the practices Of
other courts. This is one Of the evils
Of the indiscriminate distribution Of
the power to bestOw citizenship Even
the corporation courts Of the cities
have authority to naturalize aliens.
This fact gives rise to one Of the
greatest frauds against the law, that
Of naturalization foreigners in whole
sale numbers during political excite
ment, in order to get the advantage
Of their votes on election day.
A Traffic in Citizenship.
One Of the bad results OF the vary
ing style in the certificates is the
tramcing that is done in them, par
dicularly abroad. Bogus certificates
are printed and bought and sold in
the ports Of European cities like ar
ticles Of ordinary merchandise Ger
tifcates Of naturalization, bearing
counterfeit signatures and seals, have
a regular market all over continental
Europe. The usual price is 81. As
there is no means Of Identifying the
person presenting the certificates on
his arrival here, the immigration au-
| thorities can DO nothing but admit
/ the stranger.
In most cases the signature Of the
holder is not even on the paper. The
manufacturers Of these counterfeit
| certificates are beyond the jurisdic-
/ ton Of the American authorities, even
| though they might be located.
Another common practice is for
| foreigners to become naturalized here
and then send their certificates to
/ the old country to be used by their
| friends and relations as a means Of
securing admission to the United
L
| grafton inspectors last year detected
| 200 cases Of fraud Of this sort at the
| port Of New York alone. Some Of
| the offenders were prosecuted, pub
| lished and then deported. It is pro
/ missed by the board to prepare a law
/ that will restrict the power Of issuing
| naturalization certificates to certain
| courts Of important Jurisdiction. It
| is proposed to take this privilege
away from the petty courts and lodge
/ it only with the more important state
courts and the federal courts
Remedies to Be Suggested.
| The board will doubtless recon-
mend that there be but one official
/ form Of certificate Of naturalization,
| and that it be printed on paper which
i cannot be duplicated except in viola
ton Of the law. This certificate will
probably have on its face some means
Of Identifying the holder as the per
son naturalized. It is also likely that
the proposed law viii require that all
! the preliminary proceedings be tax
en- in court, and not before a clerk,
as is the case under present cOndi-
tons.
It is likely also that the bord viii
recommend that public notice be Civ
en- the fact that application has been
made for naturalization II is thought
that this scheme will prevent many
Of the frauds which are now perpe-
trated for political purposes The or
der Of publication will give Opportu-
nifty for rival political leaders to pro-
duce evidence that will serve as a
bar to the improper naturalization Of
aliens. As a further guarantee against
this kind Of fraud, it may be suggest
ed that no certificate Of naturaliza-
ton be issued for a period Of thirty
days prior to a national or congress
sionaI election
The qualifications for acquiring CT
tizenship will also be increased. 1t
is held that candidates for naturali-
zation ouht to be able to speak the
English language at least or possess an
ability to read or write in some other
language There is now no test what
ever, except to inquire about the
period Of residence in the United
States. This point is frequently slur-
red over in the most careless manner
particularly where the oaths are ad-
ministered in groups just before cleo
ton time
Another safeguard against the is
suance Of naturalization papers to
persons not entitled to them, viii be
a provision permitting the govern
ment to be represented in the court
at the time Of examination for the
purpose Of introducing evidence.
Since the immigration system has ad-
opted the system Of keeping a record
Of the name and date Of arrival Of
all aliens, It may be recommended
that reference be made to these Of
fetal records to prove the statements
Of candidates for citizenship regard
ing the length Of their stay in this
country
Train PeIte7 nv Hail