Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1906-08-30
A New Naturalization Law.

1t NAV not be generally known
that Congress quite recently passed
new naturalization law, and that
same was approved June %, '06,
and goes into effect on Sept. 81,
'O6. On and after the last mem
toned date all applicants for
naturalization must be made to
speak the English language; sub
ject to the provisions recited in
said law.
Applications are to be filed with
the Clerks of the Courts authorized
to naturalize under the said act Of
Congress, who must give public
notice of the filing of such applica-
tons, and such matters must be
heard in open court. With every
application filed with the clerk,
there must be filed also certificate
from the department of commerce
and labor, in which is stated the
date, place and manner of the APP
plicants arrival in the United
States, the declaration of intention
of such applicant must also accom-
pany such application.
This act is very exacting in de-
tail, and has no doubt been passed
owing to the gross frauds that have
been committed by corrupt officials
in the various courts. The declar-
alton OF intention of an alien must
be filed at least two years prior to
to his admission to citizenship, and
not less than two and not more
than seven years after he has
filed his declaration of intention,
the applicant shall make and file
in duplicate "A petition with the
clerk of the court. The petition
shall set forth that she is not
disbeliever in or opposed to organ
lied government, or "A member oil
or affiliated with any organization
or body of persons teaching dis
belief in or opposed to organized
government, polygamist or be-
lever in the practice of polygamy,"
and the usual other declarations
heretofore by former naturaliza-
ton laws, required. This petition
is verified by two witnesses aiiida-
Wits, who are citizens, who must
state they have personally known
the applicant for five years at least,
continuously. At the same time
Congress passed an act to make
valid certain defective certificates
of naturalization.
The "bureau of Immigration
and Naturalization has charge of
all matters concerning naturaliza-
ton and furnishes all books, blanks
etc. upon proper requisition made
by the clerks of courts entitled to adj
nit alien to citizenship when a
certificate accompanies such re-
QUESTION from the "chief law
officer of the state reciting that
such court is authorized under the
provisions of this act to admit to
citizenship.
Ample provision is made in this
law for those aliens who have here
tofore made their declarations of
intentions to become citizens.
The provision Of the law requiring
the applicant to be able to speak
our language does not apply to
those physically unable etc, nor to
those who prior to the passage of
the act in question have declared
their intention to become citizens.
One half of the fees collected
uuder this law are to go to the u.
S. Government. The law provides
for penalties for officers and others
who violate the provisions thereof.
We understand that the clerk,
Mr.. Overman, has already made
his requistion for the records and
blanks necessary under this law,
and has received "a copy of the law
and the rules of the department
relating to same so that there will
be no delay in carrying out the
provisions of the law in this coun-
ty.
i