New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-02
ASKS INQUIRY INTO
NATURALIZATION LAWS
representative Murdoch Intro.
duCes Bill for Commits
sion To-day.
MANY ABUSES DISCLOSED
Progressive Leaders Stand Due
to Results Of Investigations
Which Have Been Made
in Last Two Years.

Representative Victor Murdoch. OF Kan
cas-. the Progressive leader Of the House.
viii introduce bill to-day for the Gre
alton Of q federal naturalization commits
son. to consist Of FIVE congressman. whose
duties will be to make a nationwide in
ouiry into the naturalization laws with =
view to passing new laws governing aliens
ard their admission u citizenship
That the proposed commission intends
70 take up the ownership Of land by jap
snese and other Asiatics is manifest from
one provision .ot the bill. which calls uron
the commission "to inquire into tho status
Of aliens with respect 20 acquire
nent and disposition OF property"
IN a statement ISSUED 10y tho Progress
sve National Committee Yesterday the
following paragraph explained tho rur-
poses Of the bill with respect TO the Jap
snese-C california question and other mat
ters
"Fairer treatment for immigrants under
Ahe land owning and employees compcn-
<atlon acts is desired as well as harmouv
I'm the present widely contrasting state
naturalization laws. and Up TO date. accu-
rate bookkeeping systems In connection
with the naturalization records m tho fed
eral courts and county clerks Offices"
The members Of the commission are 70
Re- appointed by President Wilson ana 81
preliminary appropriation Of s5Q.ooo TO
cover travelling and other expenses will
10 asked for The members will receive
70 salary. They are 20 report back %
congress before January 1918. and make
recommendations for the relief OF present
conditions
Mr. Murdock's bill is tho result Of two
years Of quiet investigation into naturali-
zation conditions throughout tho country.
which has been carried on by several i'm
migrant welfare organizations.
The Investigation has led 70 the uncov-
ering o. many abuses I'm relation 20 the
immigrant. amcng which are the diff
culties experienced by applicants for Cit
rsnship papers Delay and graft are the
chief abuses that the Investigators would
have remedied
In the statement issued Yesterday Il is
made clear that there Is no intention
On the part n those behind the proposed
brl 10 lot down the bars 20 citizenship.
which. they believe. are not high enough
IN some states.
One Of the evils pointed out is that.
while a knowledge Of English and civics
on the part % the prospective citizen IS
demanded by the government, there are
10 provisions made by the government
TO teach these subjects Mr.. Murdock
and his associates believe the government
should establish high schools 20 teach
English and ciyics 20 Immigrant
Another evil mentioned is tho laws Of
some states. like those ~ New York.
where foreigners are required 10 declare
their intention % becoming citizens be-
fore they IAN be employed on public con-
tracts The investigators found many
swindes 6eset the alien anxious ~ get
out his paper. ard none more rampant
than some so-caIcd citizenship schools
and constitutional clubs. which take
the immigrants money anywhere from
& 10 rs. and promise 20 obtain his nat
ursHzation papers for him.
Section 4 OF the bin reads.
That said commission shall inquire into
tie condition OF admitted aliens within
several sfdI~~ WIN respect ~ ioNi4At4N0'
methods and opportunities for naturaliza-
ton M tho various state and federal
courts and the relation 81 s-"h court
procedure % the federal Bureau Of Nat
uraiizaton. shall inquire into the educs-
tonsl preparation and opportunities az
forded 800 each state for such admitted
aliens 90 comply with the provisions Of
the naturalization laws and shall inquire
into the status ~ aliens In the various
states with resrect 10 equality before the
Law. acquirement and disposition OF prop
erty. holding Of public Office and voting
and such other conditions concerning nat
ursuzatlon or admitted aliens a. AFFECT
the welfare and progress Of this country
and as encourage or retard immigration
Attention IL called 70 the fact that there
are 10000 adults Of voting age who are
not citizens