Speech #660024062

I am not inclined to oppose the amendment. AMr. Chairman. the report shows thatThe Bureau of Naturalization of the Department of Labor has for five years been securing the organization by the public schools of classes. both night and day. for the instruction of adult foreigners In English and citizenship responsibilities. Primarily this has been for foreigners who are candidates for citizenship. It is now in contact with 3.277 cities. towns. and small communities in every State in the Union and Alaska and Hawaii. The superintendents of schools have pledged the organization of classes in 2.193 places and already tens of thousands of classes are in the process of organization. while in approximately 1.084 places classes will be organized in the coming year according to present reports from the school authorities in those places. These places represent the places of residence of the foreign popnlation of the country and a large percentage of the native illiterates. While these classes were originally organized for the foreign born. they ire now being attended in ever increasing numbers by native Americans. This work has been specifically authorized by the act of Congress of May 9. 1918. which carried an.appropriation of $400.000. and was prior to that time inaugurated under the general authority in the act of June 21). 1906. giving charge of all matters concerning the naturalization of aliens to the Bureau of Naturalization. The machinery has therefore been estalblished between the Federal Government. working through the Bureau of Naturalization and the public schools of the entire country with which to deal with the whole problem of illiteracy. not only among the foreign born but with the native adult illiterates as well. The cost of the Federal administration in all its phases is borne by the naturalization fees collected from the candidates fbr citizenship and deposited in the Treasury of the United States. A Federal textbook has been published and is distributed free to the foreign horn who are candidates for citizenship attending these public school classes. and cerlificates of graduation are being presented by the public schools in conjunction with the Bureau of Naturalization to suc foreigners. Motion pictures carrying the message of loyalty to our Governmcnt and visualizing its activities arc distributed and are shown to these foreigners and illiterate Americans. Industrial. labor. racial. educational. religious. lettriotic. commercial. and other organizations are wvorking with the pulblic schools and the Federal Government in this Aniericanizing undertaking. Approximately from 15.000 to 20.000 schoolteachers and officers of the public echools are engaged in this work in conjunction with the Fedeiral Government. and hundreds of thousands of foreigners who heretofore were unable to do so are now having educational facilities and are learning of the institutions of the United States Goverfiment. This support of the Federal Government is responsible for the present Organization and development of these classes in probably 80 per cent of the communities referred to where adults were never before taught. This work constitutes now by far the largest responsibility of the Bureau of Naturalization and has necessitated the creation by the Secretary of Labor of the position of director of citizenship and the placing of that ollicer in direct supervision of this work. The report shows further: Foreigni born applying for Years. 1907 .......................... 1 08 .......................... 1909 ...................... 1910 ...................... loll .......................... 1912 ............... .......... 1913 .......................... 1914 .......................... 1915 .......................... 1916 .......................... 1917 .......................... 1918 .......................... 1919: 10 mrnths ................ 2 initlm 3 ............... "1B.". citizenship through the Bureau of atstralizqtioa. Incoming imimigianlt. 1. 285.349 782.870 751.786 1.041.570 87S. 687 1.17.32 1. 218. 450 S26. 700 298.5.26 205.403 110. 0S Declarations filed. 73.723 137.229 105. 794 167.226 186.157 169.142 181.632 214.016 245. 815 438.748 335. 09 Petit icns filed. 132.320 151. 449 Total candidates. "........ 489.518 Total applying for citizenshipf including deriaIi.-e cit izes. 1.142.31 .97..03.. ........... 311. 05 155.485 467.390 934.780 ........... 62.381 31.097 93.478 186.956 1 y r 3 ..................... 374.286 186.582 560.868 1.121.730 " Nine months only. - 1epresents petitions on which certificates issued during the fiscal y~ar.