The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-07-27
NATURALIZATION IS
MADE VERY HARD
Continued from Page onel.

Some of the startling features of the
new law are as follows,
All matters pertaining to naturaliza-
ton are placed within the Jurisdiction
of the department of Commerce and
| Labor, and are handled by the immi-
| grafton department. Clerks of courts
are required to furnish complete re-
ports to this department The depart
ment is supposed to keep close track
of all applications. and to see that in
fraction of the law are punished
All aliens arriving within the United
| States must procure from the immigra-
tion officials at the port at which they
arrive certificates, containing a de-
| scription of the person, etc, the date
of arrival, and other particulars. Up
on application for citizenship, this GER
| tifcate must be produced 1t would
appear from a reading of the act that
this provision would be applicable to
japanese arriving at Honolulu, not
withstanding the fact that under I'm
Gle Sans laws, they may not become
citizens.
Jurisdiction in citizenship matters is
conferred on all courts of record in any
state or territory. This disposes of the
mooted question as to whether or not
Circuit courts of the Territory of Ha-
wall have jurisdiction. The act plain
ly provides that they have.
No hurry-up naturalizations can be
had under the new law. The appli-
cant first presents petition, in pre-
scribed form The clerk of court posts
public notice that such a petition has
been filed, and ninety days elapse be-
fore the petition can be heard. Even
then it can be heard orhy on a rule
day, which must be fixed by general
rule of court. At the hearing the Unit
| ed States is a party, can be heard, can
cross examine the witnesses and the
applicant. and can introduce witnesses
of it's own
After declaring his intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States
the alien may file his petition when
two years have elapsed, but cannot file
it after seven years have elapsed.
The act recognizes prediction natu'
| ralizations. The courts, as courts o
naturalization, shut up for thirty days
prior to any general election, the ac
prohibiting any court from naturaliz
ing any person within thirty days o
such general election.
The act bristles with penalties 70
forging false swearing, etc. Evidently
many frauds have been committed il
the past.
With reference to Hawaii, at leas
two very interesting questions arise
Under the present law, by virtue o
the Organic Act, no prior declaration
of intention to becomu a citizen Il
necessary where the applicant resided
in the islands for more than five year
prior to the adoption a the Organi
Act,-that is. who resided here befor
June IA, 1895. The question as t
whether the new act implicitly repeal
this provision is one which will hav
to be settled at an early day.
Another question,-and this is one II
which all of the clerks of courts are in
terested,-is as to the disposition o
the fees. For services when an aliei
is admitted to citizenship a fee of fou
dollars is paid the clerk. One-half o
this, says the act, must be paid to tn
immigration department, and the othe
half belongs to the clerk. 1t will un
questionably be maintained by thu
clerks resident in Hawaii that thu
other two dollars belongs to them, anC
this in addition to the salary paid.