From my observation of the manner in which the Federal departments of the Government handle the naturalization problem it has been most satisfactory. The investigators of the Federal Government go into the State courts. appear when these petitions are heard. exanine witnesses. and give the court the benefit of their judgment. But I do want to take the position that I am opposed to any limitation or restriction upon the power of the State courts to hear naturalization cases or upon the accessibility of the State courts for applicants for naturalization. Let me say that there are some sections of the country where a Federal court is hundreds of miles away from certain com. munities. while the State courts are in each county and are accessible to applicants for naturalization. It is altogether too expensive now for an imnilgrant or applicant to become naturalized. He has to leave his home and lose a days pay to go to the court to file his petition. Then lie has to come back ill two years and bring two witnesses with him. when ie again loses his days pay and must pay the (lays wages of his two witnesses. He must also pay the fee required and the traveling expenses required to and from the courthouse. So it already is a latter of from $25 to $50 for these poor people to become naturalized . and if the congested condition of which the Senator from New York complains exists. it means that the applicant and his witnesses must remain days about the court waiting to have their cases heard. That is not the way to treat people who are honestly and sincerely aspiring to American citizenship and who have been schooled and trained by Americanization societies and organizations to become Anrican citizens. I want to put myself clearly in the position of being absolutely opposed to any effort to limit the fund designed to assist in hearing si)eedily and satisfactorily the petitions of applicants for naturalization.
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naturalization naturalized