JANUARY, 1925
THE UNITED AMERICAN
Page Twenty-seven
Congress Expected to Make Many Changes in Naturalization Law
C WEEPING CHANGES in the naturalization law
may be expected during the spring session of
congress. These changes will probably follow the re
commendation made by Raymond F. Crist, Commis
sioner of Naturalization, in his annual report to the
Secretary of Labor. Briefly, they call for a clearer
definition of the special naturalization privilege
I granted to all honorably discharged soldiers and
I sailors serving during the world war to conform to
I peace time conditions; a uniform seaman's discharge
certificate for elimination of fraudulent naturaliza
tions ; the use of depositions to prove residence within
I the same state in which petition has been filed instead
of requiring physical presence of two witnesses to
I prove state residence; repeal of the prohibitions in the
■ naturalization law against filing of declarations of in
fl tention and the hearing of naturalization petitions
B within thirty days of election days and the posting of
11 naturalization petitions for at least ninety days before
11 hearing; the extension of the period within which
I I unlawfully arriving aliens may be deported for not-
I less than five years after illegal entry and prohibi-
II tion against their naturalization until at least five
fl years continuous approved lawful residence; the en-
B actment of a provision requiring annual registration
B and enrollment of all aliens as a means of checking
■ the wholesale railroading of aliens into the United
B States and subsequently their admission to citizenship
B irrespective of illegal entry into the United States, to
B facilitate the taking of steps for the deportation of
B those who are barred under our immigration statutes
B and to legalize the admission of those found worthy
B of remaining, placing them in the position where they
II have nothing to hide so that they may take their place
I as worthy Americans, side by side with other Ameri-
II cans of similar worth; and that naturalization pro
fl ceedings be brought entirely within the administra-
■ five branch of the Government and thereby relieve
■ the judiciary of the tedium of naturalization, with the
fl right of appeal from the Commissioner of Naturaliza-
■ tion or a Naturalization Commission to the appellate
■ court of the United States in whose jurisdiction the
I alien petitioner resides.”
Commissioner Crist’s recommendations for this
I remedial legislation are supplemented by a recital of
clearly defined benefits to the candidates for citizen-
“■ ship and the citizenry of the country. They are based
upon facts and are consistently in line with the budget
plan of efficiency and economy in the administration
of the “business” Of the government relating to the
process of assimilating the political family of the
United States.
During the year 1923, 145,084 were admitted to
American citizenship, 24,874 of whom were from
Italy, 22,621 from Poland, 17,190 from Russia, 16,953
from Great Britain and possessions (except Canada),
12,064 from Germany and the remainder from smaller
countries and their possessions.
The report shows that 24,884 were denied or re
jected for various causes, most of which will be
avoided in the future, according to Commissioner
Crist, under the recently adopted plan for simplifying
the administrative machinery by establishing a con
tact between the naturalization examining force and
the applicant for naturalization before he flies his
naturalization petition instead of after. Under this
plan the field officer will be able to adjust such defects
as may be disclosed by his examination and insure the
filing of a petition free from the risk of dismissal be
cause of legal defects: “In short, the Government at
once becomes the ‘friend’ of its adopted son instead of
acting in the time-old conception of hindering, rather
than aiding our foreign bom to become citizens.”
To improve the citizenry of the country, the Bureau
has supplied the public schools of 2,461 communities
throughout the United States with 239,995 copies of
the Federal Citizenship Text Book and its several
supplements. Under the law this text book is fur
nished by the Government to teach English and citi
zenship to candidates for citizenship in attendance
upon public schools.
A notable feature of the report brings out'the fact
that 22,209 declarations of intention were filed by
women under the “Cable Act” of September 22, 1922,
which accorded separate citizenship rights to women.
The law providing independent naturalization and
citizenship for married women has resulted in the ex
tension of women’s classes all over the country. Sta
tistics compiled subsequent to the preparation of the
report show that women in attendance upon public
school classes for adult immigrants averaged thirty-
five per cent of the approximately 250,000 reported to
have been enrolled in 1923. In New York City alone
131 classes were conducted for women with an enroll
ment of 1,257, up to February 1, 1923; Hibbing,
Minn., had six Americanization home teachers, each
with an enrollment of over 502; Jackson, Miss., con
ducted classes in thirty-one homes; Kansas City,
Kans., had thirty, and similar favorable reports have
come from other sections of the country.
In spite of the political turmoil in Europe and the
tendency against organized government, the work of
1923 resulting from the co-operation of the Bureau of
Naturalization with municipalities throughout the
country shows a high wave of optimism and an in
creasing spirit of Americanism in every locality where
patriotic exercises for new citizens were held.
Commissioner Crist points out in his report that
all of these activities in so far as the cost of adminis
tration by the Bureau of Naturalization is concerned,
including the cost of publishing the Citizenship Text
Book, and the administration of .the naturalization
law, are being paid for practically in their entirety
from the fees paid by candidates for their naturaliza
tion papers.
GET USED TO IT
William von Humboldt
It is a proverbial saying that everyone makes his own
destiny; and this is usually interpreted that everyone, by his
wise or unwise conduct, prepares good or evil for himself, but
we may also understand it that whatever it be that he re
ceives from the hand of Providence, he may so accommodate
himself to it that he will find his lot good for him, however
much may seem to others to be wanting.
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