Speech #650233928

Mr. Speaker. this bill is a substitute for House bill 3132. which was passed by the House some two months ago. The House Immigration and Naturalization Committee has had before it an extended bill. introduced by Judge SABATH. covering a great many questions of naturalization and. a recodification of some of the naturalization laws that already exist. That bill is substantially the same as the one that the Senate passed as a substitute for the Raker bill. H. R. 3132. with the amendments that have been agreed to in conference. Tle original Raker bill is section 11 in the bill reported by- the conference committee. The first subdivislon of the bill as it now is permits the naturalization of native Filipinos of the age of 21 years and upward who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States and have enlisted or may hereafter enlist in the United States Navy or Marine Corps or the naval auxiliary service. That was put in at the request of the Secretary of the Navy. and. also. there is an amendment to the bill as passed by the Senate. beginning on line 19 of the bill as passed by the Senate. striking out the language. "who may be honorably discharged therefrom after an enlistment of not less than four years or who may receive an ordinary discharge with recommendation for reenlistment." In order to have uniformity in regard to tile three years service. that was stricken out. and an amendment adopted by the conferees. the substance of which amendment is merely to change the word "four " to the word " three" and the transposition of the sentence. and then adding "any alien or Porto Rican. not a citizen of the United States of the age of 21 years or upward. who -has enlisted. or entered or may hereafter enlist or enter in the Army of the United States." and so forth. In regard to the Porto Ricans. there was a general act passed