Speech #680181274

Chairman. the committee in preparing this bill gave very full and careful consideration to this matter. and while conflicting statements were made in reference to the cost of this work. yet the c6mmittee in its reportand I suggest that the gentleman from New York read this part of the reporthave clearly indicated what. it their judgment. would be a reasonable compensation for this service on the part of county officials. I will later insert as a part of my remarks that part of the committees report bearing on this question. As a result of the restrictive immigration law many have been stimulated to file applications for citizenship. and on June 30. 1924. more than 100.000 applications were pending and this number has steadily increased since that time. The committee were unanimous in concluding that it was important to provide the Secretary of Labor with a fund so that he could secure the cooperation of State and county officials at all congested offices and thus speedily dispose of the applications for naturalization. I The facts submitted to our committee made It clear that this could be done at a reasonable cost. and the report of the committee was unanimous in Increasing this appropriation $50.000. $20.000 of which is made immediately available. I think the report will make sutliciently clear to the House the wisdom of the committees action. I quote from the report. as follows: The Budget estimate for the Department of Naturalization has been increased by $50.000. $20.000 of which is to be Immediately available. making a total appropriation for this service of $780.000 for the fiscal year 1926. This Increase is granted in order that the congestion which now obtains at sone of the offices can be corrected. On June :30. 1924. there were about 100.000 petitions waiting to be filed or awaiting final action. and this number has steadily increased. The committee feels that with the increase herein provided the cooperation of State courts can be had on a basis that will prove helpful in the removal of this congestion and without undue expense to the Government. The law provides for such cooperation and the work. of the State officials is entirely under the supervision of the Bureau of Naturalization. and any part of this appropriation prudently expended for this purpose will be immediately returned several times over to the Federal Treasury. It is estimated that the cost for preparing declarations and petitions for naturalization represents approximately 25 per cent of the amount received from the petitioners. tln(er these circulnstances it seems but simple Justice that parties entitled to citizenship )e given fair consideration and that facilities he provided to insure the prompt handling of their applications. When the new Congress convenes. if it Is found that the amount provided by the committee is insufficient. additional funds can be secured. If the suggestions of the committee are followed. as we feel they will be. there will certainly be no complaint such as the gentleman from New York seems apprehensive of. that we are providing an expensive method for the handling of naturalization papers. It is simply continuing the old method on a perfectly rational basis.