As the time is so short. it might perhaps be better if I would break In wherever Mr. Houghton forgets ahy particular point. and that will save a subsequent statement on the subject. With regard to this question of identification by means of a certificate from the Commissioner of Immigration. that certificate will absolutely and correctly give the age of the immigrant. because In all foreign countries except England. in such countries as Italy. the country that we have mainly in view. no man can leave without obtaining a passport. and of course the passport is issued on the certificate of his irth. and certain other papers. so that when he comes to the port of New York he has in his possession a passport which correctly gives the date of his birth. Consequently. at the first step in his process of becoming a citizen. we have the correct date of his birth. so that when we ask the Commissioner of Immigration to take the date from his records (we practically do that by compelling the man. before he can file his declaration of intentions. to produce this certificate of the Commissioner of Immigration). we have on record the correct date. not from the mans memory. not as he and his friends would wish us to have it. but as it actually appears from the certificate of his birth at the place where he was born in Italy. In that way. by means of this certificate. we know exactly the date on which the man was born. and no man can then say that he arrived in the United States under the age of 18 if such was not the case. That Is the object of the certificate.
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Immigration immigrant