Evening star., 1925-01-11

One of the busiest and also one
of the few money taking bureaus OF
the Government is the Division OF
Passport Control, Department of
State. It has been estimated that
the cost OF issuing a passport is
something under So, while the fee
required by act of Congress approved
June 4. 1920, is SO. II II is executed
by a Federal officer an additional fee
Of 81 is charged. This cost includes
not only the overhead in the depart
ment, but also an estimate OF the
expense to the Foreign Service Tor
the time they devote to such service.
| The total amount collected In fees
during 1924 was si.l97,713.
Most Americans respond to the lure
of strange countries along about May
and June-just at the best golf sea-
son. as the secretary to the chief OF
| this division means. These two
I months always show the greatest
number of passports issued. and dur
| ing this period the chief is literally
buried beneath stacks Of important
| looking documents tied with red
tape. Messengers hurry in and out
| several telephones jangle at the same
time and pompous individuals wait
! impatiently for an opportunity to
submit reasons why their passports
! should receive immediate attention
! In 1924 26,347 passports were issued
| during May and 22.207 during June
as compared with 22,S85 in May and
1910 IN June, 1928.
In order to obtain a passport ii
is necessary that a native-born
American send in a birth certificate
! II this is not obtainable, q baptismal
- ~
| sician who attended the birth, OF
affidavit Of parents or reputable
persons having SUFFICIENT knowledge
to be able TO testify as to the place
and date of the applicants birth
may accompany tho application for
passport. An amazing number OF
| applicants take exception TO this
| rule. They will come into the office
| and protest in vigorous tones that
the mere fact of their presence
proves that they have been born
and that since they have been reared
and lived all their lives in this coun-
try, 1t Is ridiculous to insist upon
birth certificates, affidavits and such
| However, since it Is impossible to
obtain a passport without such data
the storm eventually calms and the
applicant produces the required in
| formation. 1t should be. realized
that this rule is made for the pro-
! lection Of the citizen as well as the
| department, since its purpose is tc
prevent fraudulent application for
passports and because the Depart.
ment OF State cannot be expected
TO assert as fact something which
has not been clearly proved.
Regulations for Naturanxed Citizens
A naturalized citizen must submit
with his application for passport his
certificate of naturalization, or a duly
certified copy of the court record
thereof. This will be returned TO hin,
after inspection.
A naturalized citizen returning to
his native country for a visit som e.
times experiences difficulty in re-
turning to the United States, owing
to the fact that he has overstaye ed
the limit of time set by law, which
Is two years. 1t Is then necessary tc
prove that II was his intention to re.
turn within the specified time, but
through no fault of his, he was pre-
vented from so doing. His word or
this is not considered sufficient He
must submit the actual fact and cir.
cumstances. II he can prove that he
comes under one Of the following
heads the presumption of expatria-
tion may be overcome:
| First, his residence abroad may b.
principally as a representative Of
American commerce, and he intend.
eventually to return TO the United
States to reside permanently.
Second, his residence abroad may
ba In good faith for reasons of health
or for education, and he intendi
eventually to take up his permanent
restd dence in the United States.
| Third some unforeseeable ant
controlling exigency beyond his pow
er to foresee may prevent his carry
ing out a bona-fide intention to re
turn to the United States within tht
time limited by law, and he intendi
to return and reside per1nan emily II
the United States at the earliest pos
sibis date. He may have met will
an accident which prevents his trav
cling, he may have been taken III