Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-20
VIEW NATURALIZATION LAW.
Conditions Under which Aliens MAY
Become American CitiHens.

conditions lnder winch Aliens Way
Become American CttiHens.
The law passed by congress providing
uniformity in naturalization and defining
the qualifications aliens must possess TO
become American citizens goes into eject
September q. Execution Of the law is
conferred upon the Department OF Com
merce and Labor and Secretary Metcalf Is
preparing the necessary regulations. A bu-
reau OF naturalization has been created
with Richard X. Campbell as chief Of the
bureau. Mr.. Campbell was a member OF
the commission on naturalization appointed
by President Roosevelt, the report OF which
formed the basis Of the law enacted by con-
Eress.
In an interview with the washington
correspondent Of the Chicago Tribune Mr..
Campbell explained certain features OF the
law, and the difference between the new
and the old method Of securing naturalisa-
| tion papers.
The new naturalization law" Mr.. Camp
bell SAID does not in any way conflict with
the continued naturalization Of aliens under
the present law up to September q next.
It's present vital provisions simply are
those which relate to the organization Of
the administrative once here in Washing
and district federal courts shall have au-
thority to naturalist, as they have had
| heretofore. Only those state courts which
have a SEAL clerk and jurisdiction in &C
lions at law or equity In which the amount
| in controversy is unlimited can act as
courts Of naturalization after septem-
Der a.
The methods heretofore observed OF MAX
| ing and keeping a naturalization record in
| both federal and state courts were as va
rious as the procedure in such cases. Thus
| the declaration of intention in some courts
consisted merely Of the bare statement Of
| intention and the name and allegiance of
the alien, while in other courts It also in
cluded a history OF the alien. In some
| courts the alien was required to sign the
| declaration and in others not. In many
instances the record OF declaration Of in
tention and final naturalization show only
| the initials of the Christian name OF the
allen; in other cases they have been nat
uralised under nicknames and contractions
of Christian names.
In some courts the alien admitted was re-
quired to sign a record and in others not.
In some courts the allen signed his name on
the face Of the certificate and in others on
the back, but In the majority he was not
required to sign in either place. Many Of
the naturalization records practically are
| worthless from the fact that they never
have been certified BY either the clerk or
the judge and consist only Of the insertion
of names and dates in a printed form
Now all this is to be changed.
! "All the courts having authority TO nat
uralize,r said Mr.. Campbell, will, prior to
| September q. be furnished with various
blank forms, prescribed by the new law,
such as a declaration Of intention, the peti-
ton for citizenship, the afldavits of wit
nesses and certificates of naturalization.
The certificates will be issued only from
headquarters in Washington They will
be uniform and numbered consecutively
and clerks respectively will be charged with
certificates they receive and be required TO
account for them TO the department under
the penalty prescribed by the act for failure
| to do So"
THE provisions OF tie new act as to
qualifications for naturalization are not
materially different from those existing
now except that the applicant must be
able to speak the English language. The
duration OF residence is the same as that
provided by the existing law Under the
new act the witnesses must be American
citizens. With respect to whether the
declaration OF intention made under exist
ing laws will be accepted in lieu OF CORE
spending declaration to be made under the
new act, I may say that II is a matter
which is under consideration and when
decided will be embodied in the reguIa-
lions to be forwarded TO the various
courts.
"one of the striking provisions OF the
at L.
lions for naturalization shall be filed at
least ninety days before a hearing. Under
the present system applicant can be heard
the same day he fles his petition. The
delay will give administrative officers an
opportunity TO investigate those cases
where there may be some doubt as TO the
moral qualifications OF the applicant. The
new law provides also that naturalization
shall not be granted within thirty days
of any general election.
THE new law deprives clerks Of courts
Of the power to grant certificates. Certih-
Gates must be given by a Judge after
hearing in open court and the government
has a right to oppose II IL II chooses II
It notifies the court that It is opposed to
the granting OF a certificate the court is
forbidden to issue that certificate until
after thirty days. thus giving the govern
| ment thirty Gays time IN which 20 inStt-
tute proceedings against naturalization :"
Mr.. Campbell was asked how the gov
eminent would track an alien seeking
citizenship.
AT all ports Of entry" he replied, "a
record book must be kept showing the
name. age, characteristics. date OF arrival,
and, II by water, the vessel on which the
alien arrived. II is further provided by
the law that any alien who desires II may
secure from the person In charge OF the
record a certificate OF the entry which will
be evidence to establish the length Of his
residence in the United States.
This applies TO all those who arrived
after the passage OF this act. June % last
As TO those aliens who have been here
some time any competent evidence may
be introduced provided evidence be fur
nished by citizens OF the United States.
When an applicant files his petition he
must nle Il with a certificate obtained
from the once OF the port where he en-
tered.
! The point we would have 10 investigate