Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-03-19
KEEP MORE OF
UNDESIRABLE
CLASSES OUT
immigration Laws May be
Made More Strict in
the Future.
A TAX ON THOSE NOT
DESIRING TO BE CITIZENS
Believe that Present Cost OF
Naturalization Is Too Low
MAY Be $40.
fFrom the NEWS oorreseondent.j

fFronI the NEWS Corresrondent)
Washington, March 19:-Whils
the tariff question will have the
most consideration for the nexi
three months, it is evident that the
question of restricting immigration
is also a live one throughout the
country, and there is a lot of senti-
ment in favor of some legislation
that Will keep more of the undesira-
bic classes from coming to this
country. There is still a diversity of
opinion among experts on this SUBJ
Jeet as to the best plan for accom-
plishing what is desired
A plan to restrict immigration and
at the same time to provide a con-
siderable revenue for the goyern-
ment, and this is hat is wanted In
connection with the proposed reyi-
sion of the tariff, might be outlined
briefly as follows. Upon every alien
who could not speak English, whc
comes to this country, impose tai
OF twenty dollars year SO long az
he rem aims here and is not natff-
allied citizen. This would result, al
matter of course, IN excluding
many of the foreigners who are con-
sidered objectionable.
Too Many Come and Return. -
Too many aliens come here foI
the purpose of accommodating one OF
two thousand dollars and then re-.
turn to their own country, where
they can live well for term oi
years without doing much work.
These aliens often take the place OF
iaboring people who may be native
born, and at all events when they
take one or two thousand dollars
out of the country to spend it abroad
they diminish the wealth OF this
country to that extent.
II tax Of twenty-five dollars
year were imposed upon aliens OF
this class 1t might not result in
keeping a large percentage Of them
from coming here to enjoy the bene-
fits of this country and its advant-
ages, but if they did come they
would contribute, as a result Of ths
collection Of the annual tax sufne-
thing toward supporting this gpxezn
ment under which they were ,enjo A--
ing prosperity they could not obtain
at home. An alien of this class who
remained here ten years without be-
coming naturalized citizen would
in that time contribute two hundred
and fifty dollars to the government,
and there is no doubt that many of
them would be glad to pay that tax
rather than remain in their own
country on the other side of the At
lantic ocean.
Cost of Naturalization.
Still another means of revenue
might be obtained in connection
with the aliens The cost of naturz
alization is too little compared With
the advantages. and under the pres
ent law it is believed, in some cir
cles, that the alien is naturalized in
too brief a time If the time which
an alien should have to be IN this
country before he could be natural-
lied could be extended from hve to
ten years, il would make citizenship
more appreciated by that class Of
citizens.
It is true that the present natural
ization law is great Improvement
over the law, or rather the lack or
law, of several years ago when there
was no national law governing the :
matter. However, five years is none
too long to require an alien to re-
side in this country before citizen
ship can be conferred upon him, and
the country would be the better of
If this time could be extended to ten
years
The present fee for naturalization
is believed TO be too low. There ara
not many countries in Europe that
do not charge more than the five
dollars which the alien must pay
here to become fuli-fiedged natur-
allied citizen. The house committee
on immigration and naturalization
was in favor of Increasing this
and the senate was also In
favor OF doing the same but the
House OF Representative voted
against the increase this winter, and
the fee still remains five dollars.
Would Charge $40.
When the privileges which the
alien obtains when he becom es a
citizen are considered it is believed
that fee OF at least ten dollars, or
even more, ought to he imposed.
That which is obtained too cheaply
IS never appreciated as much as that
which requires a lot OF effort or
which costs something. Hence, IL
the alien was required TO pay ten
dollars to become an American eitt-
gen he would have a keener appre-
citation of what it meant; and il he
has already been ten years in this
country there would be little doubt
about his being a good citizen and
Imbued with some of the principles
Of the country.
iCoprinued on naee Al