Mr. Chairman. I am of the opinion that the conditions existing in the city of New York concerning naturalization matters are not fully understood by many Members of this House. They certainly can not be understood by the gentlemen who have already arisen to oppose the pending bill. My colleague from New York has called. attention to the inadequate facilities that there are now in the three offices of the courts that have jurisdiction over naturalization proceedingsone the county clerk of the county. the other the clerk of the circuit court of the second circuit of the United States. and the third the clerk of the district court for the southern district of New York. These are the three officials who have charge of clerical matters pertaining to naturalization proceedings in the city of New York. For a long time past a large number of those who came to declare their intention to become citizens and a large number of those who came to apply for naturalization. accompanied by their witnesses. were compelled to stand in long lines awaiting an opportunity to reach the clerk so that they might make their declaration.. application. or proofs. as the case might be. Many of those who were compelled to come time and time again. until tired out. refused to appear again and abandoned either their intention to make a declaration or their intention to take out their final naturalization papers. Such a condition is not creditable to the United States. It certainly ought not to exist in any offices having jurisdiction over naturalization. Workmen. mechanics. wageearners of every description. merchants. and 6thers have come the and time again to the clerks office only. to be turned away. and now it is proposed by this bill to provide an adequate clerical force to attend to the necessary business of the three offices to which I have referred. What objection can there be to it?
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naturalization