The Washington herald., 1909-03-07

ls CONSIDERED lllFQ IN importance. +InQse
Of New York and Philadelphia ranking
above il. largely because those cities are
ports OF entry. This brings Pittsburg
withE dispute into first place among
the districts away from the seaboard.
The field Of operation Of each Of the
eleven districts is most extensive. q great
deal Of travelling on the part Of the ex-
aminers. as they are called in Uncle
Sans phraseology, being necessary. In
the far West several States. each or huge
area, are included in each district. but
the number Of districts is kept al a low
level because many OF the Southern
States haze no need for the bureau. ac-
cessions IN population being gained there
without the aid Of foreign-born.
Considering the extent Of the territory.
which includes such great population cen
ters where the foreign-born figure as
Buffalo. Rochester. Cleveland, Columbus,
Youngstown. Canton. Akron. Charleston,
w Va. 70 say nothing OF the multitude
Of towns 70 which foreign laborers flock
generally. included in the magic name
'Plttsburg District the force which has
charge OF the examining OF ex-lmmf-
grants for fitness 10 become citizens IS a
small one.
At the head q the once is Assistant
United States District Att@Fney Palmer
5. Chambers, who represents the govern
ment before the courts. W. y. Razsdale
IS chief examiner. the other examiners
being P A Weatherbee and J. A. C.
Sitter 4 huge mass OF Office routine
IN the shape OF records Of cases IS also
IN the charge OF the examiners in connec-
ton with their work Of putting the ca
reers Of applicants under the microscope.
and IN this they are aided by stenOgra-
piers.
The business Of being an examiner is Dy
no means a sinecure. Any one can find
that out for himself by glancing into me
busy Office on the fourth floor OF the
Federal Building Another glance at the
fling cases where records OF applicants
are kept for reference IS guaranteed "a
turn the hrmesJ believer in the cynical
theory that life under the eovernmen;
Is easy % quite another way OF think
ing Such a glance VIII also cOnyince
him that the population Of the Pittsbure
district owes much cf its ever-increas-
ing size 10 the foreign born. II outside
evidence 70 that effect had not pene-
Irated.
Methods OF Procedure.
To understand just where the Bureau
OF Naturalization enters into the scheme
Of things IL IS necessary TO know 2 LITTLE
about the method used in converting ar
aspiring immigrant into a citizen. and II
Is possible many people know little OF the
practice in use. Two papers. called frst
and second papers. are the written In
struments OF prime importance in ths
system The newly arrived immigrant
may take out his first papers al the mo-
ment OF landing II he wishes. but he car
not apply for the second papers. until hs
IS able 10 prove a residence IN the Unite
States OF Eve years.
But there Is a strict Limitation on tht
value of the first paper. After sever
years, as shown by the date on the paper
IL becomes valueless and IL gains nJ
value until i- is two years old. Thus 4
an immigrant lands with fuu intention
10 become naturaIiZed and takes out Dc
pers Immediately after leaving shin. bu
pays no further attention 70 the matter
until eight years later. his case is giveI
20 further consideration. He must z,
through the mill all over again. with thi.
in HIS favor. On refusal Of his petition 3,
can take our new first papers, appear be
fore the clerk OF courts OF commissions
at the end Of two years for second paper
and then stand good chances for adnis
sion 20 citizenship.
Look Up Each Case
Five years residence in the country anC
ability 70 prove that residence Is wha
Uncle Sam insists upon from his adul
male citizens OF Old World birth. and Il
q - s----r-o -rr- 4r--a a. D--s.---rr---. -
Bureau bends its efforts. irs work com
mencing when the second papers hav,
been granted the prospective citizen. Fo-
the law has wisely placed a hiatus o,
ninety days between the immigrants tax
ing out his second papers and his appear
ance before the court. and il is within
that three months space OF time tha-
viduaI case.
No slightest personal detail IN the mas
careers Of the applicants for citizenship {,
overlooked by the natural aIiZation exam
iners after the second papers have beer
granted. The examiners are kept on th.
jump looking up cases. hearing creditab bI.
business. or. when fraud is SUSPECTED
doing detective work in UncoverinE thc
guilty
After an applicant receives his second
papers, he must appear before the ex-
aminerS with two witnesses and trace
his career on American soil; also he mus
prove his ability 10 read and write IL
English. and must pass satisfactorily Z
cross-examinatiOn on the American form
OF government This appearance befor,
the examiners IS usually made on the day
Of the granting OF the final papers. espe-
cialy in Pittsburg, where both commis-
siOner and examiner are IN the sans
building In other cities certain dav.
are set aside by the examiners on which
they meet applicants and their witnesses
Qualifications Of Witnesses.
But too great credence Is not placed in
the sworn testimony OF either mppIican-
or witnesses. A personal knowledge o.,
the applicant for five years and Amer
can citizenship are necessary cualffca-
tons OF witnesses. FaAItv IN proving
the truth or falsity OF the conte-5tans 81
applicants has been AT the disposs. n.
the naturalization examiners since Juna
1906. when. by law. the National Bureau
OF immigration was ordered 70 keen a
record OF each incoming foreigner on file
in its Washington Office.
The Bureau and the Court.
But II the wonderful files IN the fn1mi-
grafton bureau are Of such great assist
ance to the naturalization examiners
they can prove OF Just as great service
TO the applicants for citizenship them.
selves. They themselves may write for
the record OF their landing and the cir
cumstances surrounding IL, and armed
with this valuable document and their
second papers. charge the ranks OF the
examiners, and win their way 20 free
citizenship without a struggle.
But even when the five years residence
is proved with no hitch. the work OF the
examiners does not end Often the scru.
tiny into the personality OF the petitioner.