Speech #600128499

Mr. Speaker. in order to see whether this bill has merit. it is a very good idea to take a little notice of what the clerks have to do in the naturalization of aliens. Gentlemen say this bill is in the interest of a few clerks in the large cities. As has been stated. the clerks in the very large cities. under the limitation of law. will not get a cent out of the bill. They will get their maximum even if the increase is not made. Now. all over the countryI know in my own town the clerk has called my attention to it. he has said he is going to get out of -the business of naturalizing aliens. because half of the fees go to the department. and what is left does not pay him for looking after it. Gentlemen forget that half of this $5 which the clerk gets in naturalization cases is returned in thirty days to the bureau. so that the clerk gets only $2.50 out of it. The result of it is. Mr. Speaker. if the clerks in the smaller cities of the country refuse to make out the papers. if the state courts refuse to take action. the alien desiring to be naturalized is forced to go 40. 60..or 100 miles to where there is a federal court whose duty it is to naturalize him. It is a mere matter of grace as to whether the state court will grant this naturalization or not. The Federal Government and Congress have no right to force a state court or a state clerk to grant naturalization or to fill out these papers. Hence. if they are not forced to do thatand we can not force themthe result is that when the clerks of the state court refuse to make out the papers the judges will refuse to grant the naturalizations. The result will be increased expense and inconvenience to the alien in the rural districts. for he will be put to the trouble and expense of going to the larger cities. where federal courts are held. Gentlemen are mistaken when they say that the clerks in the country districts have not desired the passage of this bill. I have heard from Members of Congress on this floor. I have heard from many of the clerks of my state courts. where naturalization is being done. and they do not desire to continue this work unless the fees are increased. In order. as I said. to see something about what the clerks have to do. let me read one or two sections of the act as it now stands.