The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-05
MAKING CITIZENS
TEDIOUS PROCESS
RUSSIAN rs FIRST TO APPLY UNI
S& DER NEW LAW.
Routine Of Filling Out Application
!: Blanks Takes Two Clerks Half an
Hour-Would-B Citizen Must Wait
Ninety Days TO Secure Final Docu-
ment.

3 Morris Wasserman, 1011 Bassett place
N, is the first to apply for his final
papers under the new, naturalization
law which went into effect Sept. 81.
Thursday afternoon he appeared in the
office of the clerk of the United States
circuit court and asked for his final
papers. He was Informed that he could
not go directly before the Judge and
appertaining to American citizenship,
but must first file petition which
would entitle him to final papers ninety
The task of filing out this petition
took half an hour. Wasserman gave
the required data, while two clerks
filed, out the duplicate petition blanks,
one bound in a book for the court rec
mission to the new bureau Of immi-
grafton and naturalization, a branch
Of the department of commerce and
labor. az. t,,.<.z. ..-.-sS -
All About Himself.
He told his age, place and date Of
birth, the date on which and the steam
er by which he came to the United
States; backed this up with declara
tion Of residence in Minnesota; gave
the life history and name Of his wife,
the names and date and place Of birth
residence. This was the first round
Next Mr.. Wasserman swore that he
would renounce all allegiance to the
car of Russia; that he was not an
anarchist or polygamist; that he would
support the constitution Of the United
States and could speak English. Then
he said distinctly, as it was printed on
come a citizen. Incidentally he had to
shOw his first naDerS-
This done, the proceedings stopped.
Two witnesses We're required to appear
and swear that they knew what Was
serman had said was true; that they
knew he had lived in the state Of Min
nesota one year and in the United
States five years. He did not have
such witnesses and went out to find
them. When these witnesses are sworn
and placed on the record, Mr.. Wasser-
man will pay 50 and wait ninety days.
c. After Probation.
over he will appear before the Judge,
in open court, with, his two witnesses,
and if the petition is approved by the
bureau of immigration and naturaliza-
| ton, the trio will be sworn all over
again Then Mr.. .Wasserman will pay
another So and receive a certificate of
| naturalization. A duplicate Of this GER
| tlhcate, With MS uescr!pIlon, Will De
| filed for reference in the archives of
| the bureau. !. $$t
The proceedings yesterday and today
were long and tedious and would have
been too much for man less intelli'
gent than Mr.. Wasserman, who has
become thoroly imbued with the Ameri;
can spirit and mastered English well
enough to- speak, and write il
with considerable ease. When the
work is compIeted, however, it viii
be we'll done.Es The duplicate record
will guard the newly made either
against Inconvenience thru the loss o:
his certificate and establish the citizen
ship of his wife and children. 1t vii
also prevent the transfer of the certifi
cate to another: J,
Five declarations of intention hav
been made in the United States cour
under the new law, but Mr.. Wasse1
man enjoys the distinction of being tn
first to take out his final papers.