Mr. Chairman. it seems to me that all of this large number of spurious naturalization papers enumerated by the gentleman are to be found--or nearly all of themin our great cities. and it is there that the remedies must be applied. I have no doubt this may result very largely from the fact that it is in those cities where so many courts and so many different courts of unlike jurisdiction exercise the right of naturalization.- Now. I live in a border State. I live in a district where there are a good many naturalizations. I live in a district and State where. as I stated to you. no courts but those that I have mentioned. namely. the United States court and the supreme and superior courts of the State. exercise the power and the right of naturalization. and I never yet have heard an intimation of a spurious naturalization paper ever having been granted either in my district or my State. Certainly there has never been any criminal prosecution or indictment of any person on any such charge. There are a great many safeguards in this bill in reference to the declaration and all the preliminary proceedings. some of which. I think. are unnecessary and uncalled for. But I do believe that if we are to have naturalization that shall be correctly. legally. and wisely administered. which shall not be spurious. vicious. or granted without due and proper care and consideration. that we must have this naturalization confined and granted in courts of such jurisdiction and such standing that *there can be no question about them and the judicial care that will be taken in every case. Therefore I am opposed to tile amendment of the gentleman from Massachusetts . As I have not the faith in the high staiiding and judicial learning of municipal and police courts as would lead me to deem it wise and safe to grant to them this powerthough I do not desireto be understood as in any way reflecting upon these courts--they perform important functions. yet naturalization. in my judgment. is not a proper subject for their consideration.
Keywords matched
naturalizations naturalization