Mr. Speaker. I have tried to arrange with the gentleman from Massachusetts that he withhold his motion for the previous question. in order that I might move to amend by adding a new section to. the measure that will bring clearly before the House at this time tile matter of atfirming or withholding affirmation from the lresent naturalization laws. I have sent to the Clerks desk. in order that it might lie presented to the House. a proposed amendment. which I will now riad : Sevenlh. That any alien of the age of 21 years and upward. who has lived continuously for five years in the United States of America. has declared his intention to forswear allegiance to any king. queen. prince. qr foreign potentate. and to become a citizen of the United States of America. and has satisfied the judge of any court authorized to grant citizenship that the applicant alien is of sound mind and of healthy body. may petition for naturalization in any court authorized to grant citizenship. and the petition of any such alien shall be docketed and final hearing had thereon by ihe court Immediately. or at tite convenience of the court. and within 90 days. Mr. Speaker. the purpose of that amendiment is to get away from some of fihe conditions which. to illy mind. are entire hardships in the matter of the administration of the present naturalization laws. My first question to the gentleman froln Massaihusets. my colleague Est]. When I succeeded in obtaining recognition was to ask him to state directly what are the present requirements of the naturalization laws. That stateutent has not been made to the House. and the reason wily the gentleman is withholding a statement of the present requirements of the naturalizat ion laws is known to him. but is not known to ine. It may be that it is because even lie recognizes that Ihose requirements are aigsh. indeed. for any nmin who is of the right sort and the right nmaterial to become a valued citizen of our country.
Keywords matched
naturalization