Speech #650269750

Mr. Chairman. this language is subject to a point of order. but in support of the paragraph I desire to .make this very brief statement in the hope that if we can not have the legislation we may at least have a reform. In a number of the larger cities where there is a great deal of .naturalization work a practice has grown up in connection with naturalization that is anything but creditable to the people engaged in it. Certain hangerson of the clerks offices have taken *advantage of the ignorance of men of foreign birth who were applying for naturalization in order to get money from them and .to control them in connection with their naturalization. without justification of any sort. The clerks who have been hired and paid for out of the naturalization fees. as addition to the reguflar force in the clerks office. are not governmental employees in any way and are not subject to governmental discipline. It !ilas been difficult to get any sort of discipline from the clerks of the courts and from the State courts themselves to correct some of the abuses. and it was Jioped that by providing that these people should be subject to civilservice. regulations a higher grade of employees might be secured who would not permit the abuses to grow up In connection with naturalization proceedings. For that reason this language was carried in the bill. My understanding is that the objection of tie gentleman from 1Mississippi [Mr.