Many of these men came to our country after their school days had passedthey became part of the hardtoiling classes of the landand though versed in the language of their own country. have not had an opportunity to acquire the use of the English language so as to read it. speak it. understand it as this bill requires they should. "Would you exclude such men as I have described from. citizenship? My time is running on and I can not discuss this matter more in detail. This bill fixes the fees for naturalization at entirely too high a figure. The bill fixes the total fees in each case at $11. While the committee is willing to reduce that by about half. as I understand. even that figure would be rather high. You can not improve quality of citizenship by an increase in the present fees for naturalization. Whether he pay a dollar or a dozen dollars does not improve or take from his quality. An increase in fees Is but the imposition of a hardship. Many of our present naturalized citizens when they were naturalized could ill afford to pay the fees which this bill would fix as a price for naturalization. Yet. poor as these men were. they through honest labor improved their condition. made good homes. provided for families. voted honestly and intelligently at the polls. and became worthy of the honor and the name of an American citizen. I regard it a high honor for any man coming to dwell amongst us to be admitted to citizenship. for the proudest title he can bear is that of a citizen of this great American libertyloving Republic.
Keywords matched
naturalized naturalization