The bill under consideration. the bill of the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Owrnx]. provides for an appeal from the decision of the commissioner to the Secretary. I wish to state in this connection. calling the attention of the committee parxicularly to that point. that the bill which I proposeoffering cs a substitute does not stop with the regulation of immigration. Nine sections of it apply to that subiect. and cover it. I think. pretty completely. but from the tenth to the seventeenth sections inclusive are amendments to the naturalization laws. I believe that the two subjects ought to be considered. and the laws of each made to harmonize. because as the law now stands. if you pass this bill. you will have the anomaly of excluding people from landing in this country who. if landed. are eligible to naturalization. Those who are prohibited from coming to this country ought to be prohibited from becoming citizens in the event they come here. The chief features in the bill to amend the naturalization laws are these. ! do not wish to take up any time. but will merely state them. The first is the abolition of the declaration of intention. which leads to confusion and fraud. so that it provides when an allen who comes here. and is such as can be lawfully admitted under the immigration laws. and resides here as a good citizen for five years. he may file his petition in any courtthe circuit or district court of the United States. the courts of the Territories or of the District of Columbia. and of the State courtq. the highest original commonlaw jurisdiction. It prescribes the form of petition and allegations that must be set out in it. and the affidavits that must be made. and that hemustgivehisparticularplace of residence. must allege that he has resided in this country for five years. and give the place ot his residence for one year. describing the place of residence so that it can be found. He must give the names of the two witnesses by whom he proposes to prove the allegations of his petition. and their particular residence.
Keywords matched
immigration naturalization