Mr. Speaker. the necessity for this bill arises out of these facts: In March. 1903. there was approved an immigration bill which had. among other provisions. this: All courts and tribunals and all judges and officers thereof having jurisdiction of naturalization proceedings or duties to perform in regard thereto. shall on final application for naturalization make careful inquiry into such matters. and before issuing the final order or certificate of naturalization cause to be entered of record the affidavit of the applicant and his witnesses so far applicable. reciting and affirming the truth of every material fact requisite for naturalization. Then it had this: All final orders and certificates of haturalization hereafter made shall show on their face specifically that said affidavits were duly made and recorded. and all orders and certificates that fail to show such facts shall be null and void. It will be seen from this there was no duty cast on the applicant for naturalization. The form of these certificates was at that time as the will of the clerk of each particular court made. There were nmnbers of courts. countycourts and higher courts. throughout the States which never heard of this law of 1903. and they went on issuing certificates of naturalization without complying with this law. All those naturalizations were void and are void. Applications come continually to the office of the Secretary of State for passports based on these certificates.. and they are all rejected. as they necessarily must be.
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naturalizations immigration naturalization